Decorating Kids Rooms
When Two Have to Share!
Decorating Kids RoomsWhen Two Have to Share!
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Decorating Kids RoomsHi there! Welcome to the DA newsletter for Sept!
On to the decorating! Of all the questions, suggestions, and ideas that we receive, children's rooms seem to take the cake! This month we will tackle some ideas for decorating a kid's room when two children are sharing and especially when they are brother and sister! A real problem sometimes. Even same sex kids have their own ideas, but mix a boy and girl and you may have design differences! Big time! Let's start with two of the same gender and move on to opposite sex kids. Two sweet girls. Precious and gentle. Until you try to impose some decor
ideas on one which the other suggested! Hmm...What do you do? First, you
find a neutral color for the walls that both can live with. You explain
that this color will allow you to do each section of the 'split room'
their way. Beige or off-white works, but you may find something that they
both like enough to make it your main color. Paint the entire room. Now
comes the 'split'. Decide whose bed and 'stuff' will go where. Be sure
they like this idea and you are almost home free. Then it becomes a matter
of using the colors and decor they like in each section. IF the colors
and decor are miles apart, how about a two-sided bookcase
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The four year old is a fairy princess and the ten year old thinks she is the next Britney. No panicking! It can be done. Pink tulle and a canopy over the bed, with all the treasures that a princess should have, and plenty of pictures to fill the neutral wall, should create a wonderful environment for the little one. On the other side of those bookcases, is a world of music and drama. Posters! And more posters!( she probably has them anyway!) And anything Britney! She will tell you what she wants, trust me on this! Hopefully, the carpet is neutral so small area rugs will finish the separate looks. For a really neat look they both will love, try a canopy that goes all the way around the bed. If you don't have canopy beds, make your own canopy frames with PVC pipe and hang the fabric from that framework. Imagine the picture below with the rich fabric wrapping all the way around and tiebacks for daytime! Luxury that any future rock star would love! Canopies for boys are good made with sheets and hand decorated. More "macho"! <grin> They are only little for a short time. Let them enjoy their space! The neutral background will allow you to make a nice spare bedroom down the line when they go off on their own! |
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This canopy has an open and airy feel. With added beads, ribbons, or tiny lights, it can become any little girl's dream! |
This canopy could be made to wrap all the way around for total privacy and a luxurious feel! |
| Now the question of how to handle a shared room with a boy and a girl! Chances are good that your son likes firemen, trucks and cars, or sports. Something like that. I am not sexist, but facts are facts! ~smile~ Chances are also good that your little girl likes horses, dolls, or something more feminine. Race cars and dolls don't blend very well, do they? Two approaches here. Almost all kids are drawn to underwater themes, especially with the popular "Finding Nemo". IF you can convince them of this theme, the rest is easy! Wall murals, under the sea decor, and colors that go well like blues and greens will work wonderfully. If they balk big time over this, try another theme. If that still does not work and he wants sports and she wants frills, we are back to the bookcase idea. Only with the two different sexes, I do like to see privacy brought into play. Here is where an enveloping bed canopy is nice. For both of them. Make his in a solid color with sports balls stamped all over it, and hers with her frills! Stamps are so easy to find and apply these days. Use sheets and make the canopies! If the room is large enough, make the canopies larger than the beds for extra space for "alone time" play. |
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See how a neutral (above pictures) can work with many colors? The tan blends with all the other colors shown. |
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Maybe both would like this! |
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The split bedroom has rules. Yours or theirs! Guarantee it! Be sure they decide on a common play area! An area that either one can use for his/her play! No fighting in this zone! Define this space with more neutral decor. If your two children have similar ideas, a trundle bed is another idea that works. More space left over for active play. This will NOT work if they are miles apart in decor ideas! And a lot depends on how well they get along. If both are independent and miles apart in personality, two beds make more sense. I speak from experience! Head squabbles off at the pass and split the room! When finished, your room may not take prizes for having the most coordinated decor, but it will win you and your kids some peace and happiness! |
Still need help with that
room? "Decor Doc" can help you get it just right! |
Another palette with softer colors to begin the "split" room. |
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