Kid's Rooms

Last night's episode of Design Star got me thinking- so many of us ignore our children's rooms. Kids are messy and outgrow things quickly but they still deserve a great space of their own. There are SO many ways to create a beautiful space for them that won't break the bank.

My suggestion is to select classic styles and finishes for your larger, more expensive pieces (ie- furniture). If you are beginning with baby furniture, select a bed that converts from crib to toddler bed to twin bed. That one piece can see the child from diapers through high school. Keep in mind that styles get discontinued so it is wise to purchase all the conversion pieces when you buy the crib, otherwise you may be back at square one in a few years.

Once you have the staples, it's very inexpensive to change the paint color every few years if desired. The finishing touches can be a number of things- custom murals, bold and graphic fabrics to bring out their personality, vivid paint colors, personalized items (monogrammed linens, name canvases, etc.). Personally, I like to give clients a mix of custom and store bought items. This allows me to give them a few unique/ big impact features that may cost a little more but then complete the space with some less expensive (but not less fabulous) items. For example, if I am painting an in-depth mural in the room we may bring in ready-made window treatments that look great but are more cost-effective than custom ones since most of the budget went into the mural as the "wow" factor. Another example- if I bring in really fun bedding for the child and window treatments that cost a little more, I will select a simple, cost effective rug like a fun shag to round out the look.

The possibilities really are endless AND attainable for any budget. So don't neglect the kids in your life!