Your Home and Lifestyle

Sentimental Journey

Make your child’s surroundings meaningful right from the start. Cover a wall with a decal or painting of a large tree and hang family photos near the branches for a special memento that is tough to outgrow. Make the ceiling part of the solution by hanging a mobile that has clips to hold pictures or postcards. It can be updated with a variety of visual aids that progress as your child ages.

Keep in mind that murals are a big commitment when applied directly to the wall. If you decide to hire a professional, ask that the art be painted on canvas, which can easily be removed or relocated to another child’s room. When choosing decorative decals, make sure they will not damage the paint when discarded.

As soon as your children are old enough to do their own paintings, every creation is destined to become a masterpiece. Invest in a few good frames so their artwork can be proudly displayed. Rather than clutter up the front of the fridge, your child can have a rotating gallery in his or her room. Update the contents every few months, so the concept is permanent but the papers can go with the flow.

Teaching Tools

Why not incorporate some educational prompts into your decorating scheme by using numbers or letters in your child’s décor? Add a chair rail around the room to hold alphabetical or numerical cards. They add enough color and charm for your child to be tempted to look and learn. As your little one begins to appreciate reading and music, the chair rail can be used to showcase books or CDs. For young adults, maps are wonderful learning tools that happen to be attractive enough for display. Mix them with a collection of old and new globes for a unique look.

Sheet music is another fun find. Search music stores for popular children’s songs and flea markets for vintage varieties of the same. Frame them in a grouping for instant art with an educational edge. Cardboard cutouts of musical notes make a graphic statement in a child’s room, while instruments can add interest and intrigue.

Children seem to outgrow everything before you know it. Whether you’re funding their wardrobes, toys, or rooms, you might be inclined to believe the spending never ends. Still, there are ways to create a personal bedroom space with staying power, which can help to preserve your investment. • A surefire way to design with the future in mind is to stick with a basic background while introducing more whimsical items, such as pillows and other accent pieces, in smaller doses. Think long-term strategies. Instead of choosing a bed with a specific character or theme, select a neutral style and add youthful bedding that is more cost-effective to revise. • Consider the following ideas that will grow with your child:

Animal House

Furry creatures appeal to kids (and adults) of all ages, so it makes perfect sense to go with a four-legged-friend theme in a child’s room. This idea can go in a number of different directions, including safari, cats and dogs, and more. Animal-print bedding and other accents can grow with your child.

For a safari theme, look for exotic finds like a zebra-print rug or a large stuffed lion. If you want to keep it simple with cats and dogs, add some charm with flea market finds such as paint-by-number images that can be hung salon-style along a wall. Collect children’s books that feature animal themes and place them in easels throughout the room. You might just inspire a future veterinarian.

Nature’s Way

Birds and butterflies are living proof that nothing beats the beauty of Mother Nature. This organic theme can start out as something simple and become more mature as time goes on. Look for child-friendly art and accessories to go with your motif, such as a decorative birdcage filled with greenery or a pair of binoculars for birdwatchers.

Introduce texture with woven window treatments and wicker baskets that can go from storing stuffed animals to laundry later on. A rattan trunk can hold bulky toys and other items while doubling as a nightstand. Paint an accent wall a soft shade of green to bring the outdoors in.

When your children are old enough to form their own design opinions, get them involved in the process. If they can have some say in the creation of their personal spaces, they are bound to enjoy their surroundings for years to come. Written by Jeanine Matlow.