Tag Archives: children’s bedrooms

How to transform your child’s room into a princess paradise

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Every princess needs a palace, but sometimes they have to just settle for a bedroom. But if your child does have a princess complex, is obsessed with all things Disney, and will frankly wear any shade as long as it is pink, then you might just need to turn that staid bedroom into something resembling a princess paradise. This can be done with a few choice accessories, some savvy furniture ideas and a little bit of imagination.

 

The Bed

A white bedstead works well for a princess bedroom, especially if you are able to use your DIY skills to erect some sort of canopy above the bed that could be topped with a crown or tiara. If (like me as a child) you have two princesses who have to share a room, the good news is that many online companies have a great selection of children’s bunk beds that offer more than just practical design. With white frames, carved headboards and pretty shaped spindles, these beds show that bunk beds do not have to scrimp on the pretty!

A little DIY

The furniture you already have can be revitalised with a touch of paint and some clever stencils. Painting a wardrobe white, and then adding a magic mirror stencil could be a really lovely and special touch, whilst stencils can also be used to create a feature wall, or a princess style border. The great thing is that stencils can be really easy to apply, and they don’t break the bank either.

 

Colour Schemes

Pink is obviously the first colour that comes to mind when it comes to creating an environment fit for a princess, but it doesn’t have to be the only choice. The smash hit film ‘Frozen’ showed that not all princesses wear Pink, making a glamorous icy shade of blue a great choice for an slightly older princess. Belle style yellow can also make a wonderfully sunny run, great for princesses who already have minds of their own.

Accessories

This is where you can really enjoy yourself and let your inner interior designer take over. A  chandelier is the perfect shimmering form of light for a princess bedroom, and makes a perfect statement piece to add to any room. Soft and fluffy cushions, mixed with a few jewelled and sequined ones look lovely scattered on a bed. Anything that screams opulence works well, with velvet being another great fabric to tie in with your design. You can still pick up 1970s style velour bedroom chairs quite cheaply in antique and junk shops and these look great in a princess bedroom. The great news is that, once again, many of the accessories that will work well can be picked up quite cheaply in places like Primark and Wilkinsons. You could also add a few of the ubicquitous Unicorn accessories that seem to be everywhere this Autumn.

With a little bit of work, a small injection of cash and a whole lot of imagination, you can create a room that your princess will be proud to call a Kingdom.

 

Choosing children’s wallpaper to create a perfect bedroom

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For some parents, getting their children to sleep in their own bed for even a few hours, yet alone a full night, can be a difficult and frustrating task. From my own experience, it is very easy to put a child to bed each night, but keeping them there is quite another thing. Therefore, creating a warm and welcoming bedroom environment where a child feels safe and secure is of paramount importance.

One of the ways you can achieve this is with your choice of wallpaper or wall covering. Your choice can be something that is calm and tranquil, and therefore conducive to sleep, or it could be related to a place that is special to your child – like a zoo, or a farm. It could be an imaginary land, or have a pirate theme, or even be a world under the sea, quite literally anything that gives your child a happy place, and allows them to have a sense of ownership.

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Choosing the right wallpaper of covering is important, so I’ve come up with a few things you could consider to help you make the right choice for your child.

A feature wall

A good idea for a small bedroom is a feature wall.  Large prints and images could swamp the room if used throughout, but just keeping the paper choice to a feature wall this avoids making the room smaller.  You can then add a plain paper or neutral or complimentary colours to the other walls.

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A Transfer or design

A transfer of Batman, or Elsa from Frozen, or your child’s favourite football team emblem, these can be a way of creating a child’s themed room without having to cover every inch of the room in the same design. It may also prove easy to remove once your child has grown out of that particular interest.

Smaller prints and patterns

Wallpapers with smaller, continuous patterns are another way to make a smaller bedroom seem bigger. These are less jarring than big patterns for the senses, and this can also be a good idea if the print in question is one that could become scary once the lights have gone out. Small cute dinosaurs can seem much more friendly than a huge, threatening T-Rex!

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Whatever you choose, the key thing is to let your child be involved in choosing too. Let them know it is their special space, and hopefully you will all be getting that good night’s sleep.

Creating your child’s perfect bedroom

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A question – do you have children? Yes? Another question – when was the last time you had a good night’s sleep? For many parents, me included, a good night’s sleep is that elusive beast that is very much dependent on whether your child sleeps well. So many children find it difficult to sleep the night in their own bed, making their way into yours once, twice, sometimes three times in a night. What to do about it?

A good way to help children stay in their own rooms is to create the perfect bedroom space. Making the bedroom somewhere where they want to spend their time is really important, and can aid a good night’s sleep. Here are a few essentials that can help create a perfect little hideaway for your child.

The bed

Children’s beds can be a minefield. Do you have a full-sized bed, or a mini child’s bed that only lasts for a few years and then needs changing again? What about if your child shares a room? I think the perfect answer lies in bunk beds. Bunk beds save space for children who have to share their bedroom, leaving plenty of room to play. But they are also great for those lucky enough to have their own room. Friends can have a sleepover, mom or dad can take a bunk if children are ill, and for really young children it leaves a space for teddy to sleep, making them feel less alone.

Add some light

Many children have a real fear of the dark, so a child friendly night-light is an absolute must.  The best sort are the ones that a child can control themselves, the soft push button ones are perfect. Ikea do a range where the button glows even when the lamp is unlit, meaning the child can have control of the light. There are also Disney character and animal designs that are very comforting and familiar to children.

Choose that bed quilt carefully

A cautionary tale. My son was absolutely crazy on Fireman Sam last year, so much that he had every single toy for Christmas. He also had the duvet for his bed. His fixation on Sam lasted around four months – he no longer likes or watches Sam now, and refuses to sleep in the bed, wanting Postman Pat instead.

When choosing a duvet, try to avoid that whole character theme if possible. Children are very fickle and quickly move onto another TV programme/film. Instead try to be broad in your choices; a general pirate theme will have more longevity  than ‘Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Similarly, something like Hello Kitty seems to appeal to both little girls, and much bigger girls, so is a fairly safe choice.

These are just a few ideas to help your child see their room as their own haven, and thus the perfect place to get a good night’s sleep, which may just aid your sleep too!