by Amy Lowe

Created on: July 30, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2010

Decorating a child's room can be a fun and challenging experience. With all the choices in children's room decor, deciding on a specific design can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some steps that might facilitate this decision:

-Who is the room for?
The room design will depend on the age of the child a room for an infant will be completely different than the design for a young adult. A room for an infant, for example, would benefit by having a flexible design that won't need to change as the baby enters toddlerhood. If you stick with a design that is a flexible and basic color, you can easily change accessories around for the move from nursery to toddler's room.

-What is the room's primary use?
Designing a bedroom will require a slightly different design than a playroom and likewise a different design from a playroom/bedroom combination. Determining the primary uses of the room will allow for a better design choice.

-What are the child's interests?
A child's room is their own personal space and it is important to keep their interests in mind. At the same time, a child's room should be a comfortable, interesting place that reflects the child's personality. It is also important to not get too narrow with the design concept. For example, if a child likes Star Wars and wants a room with that theme, you might consider making a more general space theme and adding in some Star Wars accessories Once the child outgrows or no longer likes Star Wars you can easily change these accessories while still keeping the outer space theme.

-What is your budget?
Determining your budget will allow you to determine what you can purchase. While it can be tempting to purchase all of your items from a retailer that specializes in children's room decor, it can be much more cost effective to purchase only the major pieces such as comforters, sheets or curtains from such places and piecing together various accessories, or even creating your own. Also keep in mind that one of the easiest and most frugal ways to achieve your look is through paint. For the cost of a few gallons of paint, you can entirely change the look of a room. You don't have to limit your design to just one color; by incorporating more than one color (in the form of stripes, accent walls and so on), you can cheaply accomplish a whole new look for the room.

Once you have determined your design by using the steps above, gather ideas and concepts to turn the room into a reality. Using catalogs from various sources, including retailers like Company Kids and Pottery Barn Kids, can assist in developing ideas for decorating the child's room. Home improvement websites and television shows can also provide decorating ideas, especially for the frugally-minded.

There are virtually limitless designs you can incorporate into a child's room. Utilizing the steps above, not limiting your creativity and having fun will allow you to create something a child can thoroughly enjoy for years to come.

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