If it's time to promote your little one from a nursery to a big-kid room, we've got some tips to design the bedroom of his or her dreams. All you need is a little inspiration, creativity and some crafts-y resources. Check out these fun boy and girl themes:
Book-Lovers Paradise
Encourage your youngster's love of the written word by making him a fun and imaginative book nook out of three tall bookshelves. Arrange the bookshelves in a U-shape with two standing vertically on top of a horizontal one. Secure the bookshelves with screws and then fasten the whole thing to the wall. Next, place a seat cushion and matching pillows on the "seat" to make a comfortable reading area. For wall art, frame covers of favorite children's books or pages of poems.Wall of Frames
Not sure what to do with those ever-growing piles of clutter, paper and pictures? Give school artwork, old photos and summer camp memorabilia a purpose and frame them. Keep this project affordable by shopping second-hand stores and clearance shelves for fun frames in all shapes and sizes. Once you and your child have picked out bedding and other decor, buy paint in matching colors and paint the frames. Next you can adorn them with glitter, gemstones or buttons, and then arrange them in the center of one wall. Work outwards as your collection grows into a mix-and-match pattern.Race Car Track
Give your race car driver in-the-making a bed frame that looks like a dream race car. Place a Little Tikes sports car bed and a Macy's mattress in the center of the room and accent it with race-themed bedding. Create a racetrack on the floor using paint or create one with fabric if the floor is carpeted. Place pennants or framed pics of his favorite drivers on the wall.Around the World
If you have a future world traveler, frame and hang up maps of faraway places your child can discover one day. Shop online for a vintage globe, buy a light fixture kit and re-purpose it as a pendant light to illuminate the bedroom. Outfit the bed and windows in solid colors like red, navy or green. Store tiny trinkets and souvenirs from family trips in shadow boxes. Decoupage ticket stubs, postcards and photos onto a small table.Closet Hideout
A bed that tucks into the closet is a space-saving solution for a small children's bedroom and creates open space for play. Paint the door a bright color or replace it with a curtain for less of a boxed-in feel. Decorate the room to resemble a clubhouse or treehouse by painting wooden boards or tree branches on the walls. Break out some old-school gingham fabric for tie-back curtains, and don't forget to come up with a secret handshake to keep out the bad guys.Flower Power
For an undoubtedly girly girl, first create a focal point with funky, geometric-patterned bedding set in soft, feminine colors. Find solid-colored pillow shams and pick up paints in a variety of colors. Then channel your inner Van Gogh and start free-handing blooming flowers onto the pillows. Adorn a window bench, the bed, bedroom corners and chairs with your hand-painted floral pillows.Make sure to personalize themes so that they reflect your child's personality. Involve your child in the decision making and you'll make fond memories while designing and building this room together as a team.
Guest post by Nicole Dunlap
Interior design is Nicole's passion. She loves introducing new and freshly colored themes into her clients' homes.
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