Decorating Your Child's Room without Depleting the Budget
When my daughter and I first discussed a theme for her room, we talked about favorite hobbies and activities, but everything was too common. What she was certain of was that she wanted something different.
When my daughter’s best friend moved away last fall, she was in dire need of a distraction. To chase away the blues, I suggested redecorating her bedroom. It worked like a charm! Revamping her room took the attention off of her troubles and focused her energies on the place she calls her own.
There was just one problem with this whole redecorating thing: our budget was tight. So I gave her a guideline of $300. Redoing a room for that amount wouldn’t be easy, but with a little creative thinking and wise spending, it came together perfectly. If you want to redecorate your child’s room but your budget is tight, consider the following.
Choose a Theme
“When choosing a theme, the best place to start is with your child,” says John Bondeson, interior design specialist for RTKL Associates, Inc. “Get his input and consider his interests.” Does he have a favorite movie character? Any special collections? Is he into a particular sport? Does she like stuffed animals or flowers?
“The first thing I ask when I redecorate a child’s room is ‘What is your favorite color?’ Then I work from there,” says Teri D’Amico of D’Amico Design Associates. “Consider how the color scheme can play into the walls, bedding, furniture, and art.” There is nothing wrong with choosing a character theme, she says. The problem comes when your child outgrows it and you have to totally redo the room. Her advice? “Use colors as the main theme then support it with bedding and other items that are easy to switch out.”
When my daughter and I first discussed a theme for her room, we talked about favorite hobbies and activities, but everything was too common. She wasn’t even sure about color. What she was certain of was that she wanted something different—something she hadn’t seen in her friends’ rooms. She liked fashion, but how could that be done in a room? Then it hit her, Paris—the fashion capital of the world! We had seen a lot of French fashion décor in the stores and knew this would work! Voila!
Establish a Budget
Make a list of what you need and prioritize it. What has to be purchased? Are there ways to cut corners? “Rather than spending most of your budget on wallpaper and a new bedspread, put your creative talents to work,” he suggests. “Not only will your children learn the importance of being thrifty, they may even acquire a new skill.”
Before we redecorated my daughter’s room, she didn’t know how to operate a sewing machine. I knew making a duvet cover to fit over her old comforter was an easy project and would save us a bundle. We searched local fabric stores until we found material she liked. Several days later we found a string of beads to sew around the sides of the duvet. By taking advantage of store coupons and sale ads, we saved on both items.
Another thing that rides up cost is wallpaper. The alternative? “Paint,” says D’Amico. Rather than settle for single-colored walls, consider one of the many painting techniques touted in home improvement stores—ragging, sponging, combing, marbling, or striping. You can even do whimsical shapes or abstracts. The point is it does not have to be boring. With a little ingenuity, you can create a unique wall design.
One key element that needs to be budgeted for is lighting. “There should be general lighting for all the activities that will take place in the room,” D’Amico recommends. One way to bring light into or out of the room is through the window. “I like layering windows with blinds and sheers so you can get a total black out in the middle of the day if your child needs to rest.” You may want to save room in the budget for fun lighting. “Something that sparkles, moves, or gives off a pattern—kids love it!”
Inventory Old Furniture
Before purchasing new furniture, take inventory of what you already have. Of course, you’ll want the basics—a good bed; a bedside table with a lamp; storage for clothes, toys, books, and games; and a desk and chair.
If you have to go with used furniture, shop at garage and rummage sales, and antique shops, says D’Amico. “You can take an old piece and paint it white—a common color for children’s furniture—and it’s as good as new.” While this can save money, she cautions parents about buying old furniture that may have lead-based paint. “Strip it down, then repaint it.”
Plan for an Organized Room
The first step to creating an organized room is to go through existing clothes, shoes, toys, and books to get rid of items no longer being used. Once this is done, look at what kind of storage you need for clothes. A traditional dresser is a good option but sometimes the drawers are hard to maintain. If your child has closet space, consider shelving units or side-stacked crates for storing folded items.
“When it comes to children’s toys, games, and books, I like to use standard shelving that has adjustable heights,” says D’Amico. “Then you can use little plastic baskets for sorting the items.”
Finishing Touches
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of decorating your child’s room is adding the finishing touches. “Accessories are what make a room appear finished,” says Bondeson. “The more they can be personalized to reflect his interest, the more they will ultimately make the room.”
Are there pictures or prints that compliment your theme? Can a lampshade be covered in fabric that picks up one of the secondary colors? Will throw pillows make the bed more inviting? Can you hang a magnetic or corkboard to display artwork and photos?
Bear in mind you do not you have to accessorize all at once. Although we purchased a few French fashion pictures and throw pillows while still in the decorating mode, I continued to look for other items that would go in my daughter’s room.
Above all, remember that redecorating your child’s room is not just about designing a special place for him. It is about spending quality time working on a project together. And for Bethany, it was more than that. What started out as a decoy for her lonely heart turned into a few valuable life lessons. Through this project, my daughter learned how to work with a budget, use her resources creatively, and master simple sewing projects.
Even more her now-complete bedroom is a place where she entertains new friends. Several months ago her old best friend was back in town. When she walked into my daughter’s room she said, “Wow! What inspired you to do this?” Bethany just looked at her and smiled.
-Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.