Click for more photos
Kid's room decor
Roomates kids' 32 litre storage bin on wheels - $10 each, available at Kmart.
While many babies start out sleeping in their parents' room (and many sneak back in for years to come!) it is important to create a space for your older child to call her own.
As children outgrow teddy bears and cot mobiles it's time to invest in furniture and accessories that will see them through to primary school. Here's a few tips to get you started.
Furniture: If you are short on space, a toddler bed with side rail makes an easy transition between cot and a ‘big bed’. Other children are happy to go straight to a king single bed. A chest of drawers and wardrobe are the other key items a room will need. Personalise furniture with removable stickers or DIY paint work.
Themes: Having a theme makes shopping and decorating easier. Themes may be as loose as a colour scheme, an object (e.g trains) or a movie or television character. Choosing a theme your child already loves willhelp get him or her excited about getting their new room. Boys themes include cars, trains, airplanes, Thomas the Tank Engine or Ben 10. Popular girls themes include Disney Princess, butterflies, flowers, fairies, Dora the Explorer and Russian dolls. Give your child the choice between a couple of themes so they feel involved in the decision making process. Use your theme on everything from bedspreads to curtains and wall art.
Colours: Think outside the box when it comes to paint colours. All pink or all blue can be overwhelming to the eye. A red feature wall can look great with wall decals, or try green or lavender for a soft girl's room colour which will last through to the teen years. Off-white is a practical colour which is useful if you plan on only using the room for a couple of years.
Home comforts: Encourage your child to feel comfortable hanging out in their room with soft furnishings like cushions, flip-out sofas and curtains to block out the bright morning sun and the chill. Some children like to listen to music while drifting off to sleep... having a small CD player in their room will help. Mosquito nets are practical in summer as well as providing a romantic look.
Storage: One of the biggest issues in any children's rooms is toy storage! The more storage the better. Make cleaning up fun with a mini wheelie bin to hold toys and other bric-a-brac. Utilise toy hammocks and other ceiling storage options to keep clutter off the floor. Sort toys into colour coded containers with a picture clue on the outside to help your child know which toys belong where. There are so many containers to choose from: storage units with sliding drawers, racks, wooden toy chests or soft-sided containers.
