Creating Fun Kids' Rooms

In Designing Fun Kids' Rooms, I talked about how to come up with the theme or design for your child's room. Here I'll lead you through taking your ideas and turning them into real-life bedrooms.

The most important thing you want to have done when you get started with actually doing the work or shopping involved is to have a really clear idea. This is the best way to be able to accurately set a budget, and not go over it. It also is the best way to save time and effort.

The more details that are worked out ahead of time, the better. Make sure everyone involved has some part they get to create or pick out, and the more of those parts that are shared choices, the happier both parents and children tend to be in the long run.

If you're redoing a room, you want to make sure that new things you do don't get messed up by work you have to do later. A pretty good order for work is to do any actual construction on the room and then

• install lighting fixtures
• painting
• wallpaper
• carpeting(wall-to-wall)
• blinds
• bring furniture back in

Now you might not have to do all those things if this is just a cosmetic makeover. Other good things to do at the same time that you're redoing a room are

• Go through clothes and get rid of things that are worn out or don't fit, or that you don't really like. This frees up closet and storage space.
• Go through books and games. For items that have been outgrown or are out-dated, consider donating to a charitable group, or handing down to younger friends and family.

Depending on the age of your child, their bedroom will wind up serving a number of functions.

• Sleeping
• Changing/Dressing
• Clothing Storage
• Toy/Possession Storage
• Play Area
• Desk/Work Space

Working out a floor-plan, so you know how much room each area gets, can be very helpful. A baby won't have preferences for how the room is laid out, but toddlers through teens often do. Younger children need more play room, older children need more work room. Does your child have lots of toys? Books? Clothes?

Do you need a dedicated space for your child to draw or paint? How about a table for doing puzzles or building models? Do you have a teen who needs a real desk for a computer and doing homework?

Making space for special possessions or collections can not only let them be part of the look of the room, but by giving them a space designed just for them, it's often easier to keep things neat and tidy!