Kids’ Bedrooms: The Art of Compromise

When you were eagerly awaiting your baby’s arrival, you probably poured over catalogs, caressed various layettes and spent hours deliberating between ducks and bears, baseballs and bunnies as you chose a theme for the nursery. Now that your child is older, though, you don’t have as much say over the room’s decor. Once they start putting sentences together, kids have an opinion about what should be featured in their bedrooms! Instead of allowing this to become a point of contention, find way to compromise on what your child’s bedroom should look like. Here are some tips on coming to a reasonable agreement.

Allow Him to Choose His Favorite Colors

Let’s face it; no one wants to be stuck in a room with a color scheme that they hate. Your son might prefer yellow or red over the typical boyish blue that you chose for him a few years ago, and that’s okay. If you started with neutral walls, then all you need to do is update the bedding and accessories. If you do need to repaint, though, avoid painting the walls a trendy color or one that will need to be re-chosen once he outgrows his current phase. If his favorite color is black, for example, choose black sheets and curtains and something else for the walls. Neutral colors are best for anything that requires a large investment of time or money.

Go Easy on Character Themes

Your four-year-old may be in love with Dora the Explorer, but once she gets to about the second grade or so, she may be embarrassed to have Dora and Boots comforters, area rugs and wallpaper borders. A few throw pillows, pillowcases and posters with favorite characters can add whimsy and joy to a child’s room, but don’t go overboard; chances are that the obsession will pass within a few months to a few years, meaning that you’ll have to listen to whining or do a complete makeover.

You Decide on the Big Stuff

Furniture purchases should be made with the future in mind, since these pieces can last for decades. Your son might want a bright red dresser now, but you know that he probably won’t want it when he hits middle school. If you don’t have another use in mind for a red dresser, insist on the one made with quality wood and let him use red somewhere else in the room. Similarly, if you know that you’re likely to move into a smaller home within the next few years, put the kibosh on your child’s desire for a queen-sized bed or other bulky furniture that may not fit in the new place.

Make Storage Decisions Together

Your child has a lot of stuff, and he needs to keep it somewhere. The organization techniques that work for you might not work for him. If your son refuses to hang clothing in the closet, find a way to let him store his clothes in a dresser, on shelving in the closet or in bins that slide into a bookcase.  If your daughter won’t let go of every school paper she brings home, find ways to fit a file cabinet in her room, but make sure she understands that it might have to do double-duty as a night stand, since there may not be room for both.

Decorating your kids’ bedrooms can be a delicate balancing act, with your preferences and your child’s desires both looming as important. The art of compromise will serve your child well now, and it’s good practice for you as your little one grows up and exerts more and more independence. Find ways to make both of you happy and remember that if your child’s tastes (and level of acceptable messiness) differ wildly from yours, you can always simply ask him to keep his bedroom door closed, a strategy that many parents employ when their kids become teenagers!

Author Resource: Adam Hill writes for Unique Storage and Organizers.

Unique Storage and Organizers is an affordable and reliable Company for Vancover BC. Custom Kids Closet