Decorating a child's room can be as much fun for the adults as it is for the children. There are hundreds of different styles, designs, techniques and themes you can choose to employ. The most important place to start is obviously with your child. Make sure you take the time to really listen to what they like and want before you embark on any drastic changes to their personal space. That's not to say you have to agree to paint their room neon pink with lime stripes, just that it's important to incorporate what they want in keeping with your financial means and general standards and ideals.
If your child is too young to have any real input then try to keep to a neutral theme that you are confident will appeal to their personality. A few popular examples for young children are Winnie-the-Pooh, Farm Animals, Teddy Bears, Disney Princesses and CBeebies. If you think you'll be redecorating in a year or two's time then opt for plain walls and trimmings with removable themed decorations.
THE BASICS
Starting with the walls, the most popular technique to employ is obviously to paint the walls. You can opt for wallpaper instead though it's not a popular choice these days due to the time it takes to apply and the difficulties in removing it when it's gone out of fashion. It can be easy to tear too which then ruins the whole wall. You don't have to just paint the walls in one colour and be done with it though.
Multi-colours: If your child can't decide on one colour, then go for two complementary colours and paint them onto opposing walls. If you're not sure about which colours would work well with this technique then try asking in store for advice as most DIY stores will be able to advise on this. Alternatively you could paint the walls one colour and the skirting board and doors another to complement.
Mottling: A great way to bring texture to the walls is to mottle the colour(s). You can either choose one colour and use a sponge to add texture to the second coat; or you can use two or three colours to get an effect coming through the layers. Paint on two solid coats of the darkest colour you're using then paint on the second colour and smudge and sponge over it to bring the darker base colour through in places. This effect works particularly well with different shades of the same colour.
Stencilling: If you want to add character to plain walls without the fuss of wallpapering then try stencilling. You can buy stencils in all kinds of shapes, patterns and characters, from most DIY stores, that are applied by simple masking taping the stencil to the wall then painting over it.
Stickarounds: Stickarounds have become very popular in recent years due to how convenient they are to apply and to change. They are basically giant reusable stickers that can be stuck straight onto painted walls then removed or moved around at a later date. This is ideal for use in a room where you choose to paint the walls a single ordinary colour like blue or magnolia. Stickarounds are sold in a wide variety of characters and themes including Disney characters, television characters, generic shapes and farm animals.
ADDING A THEME
When the basics are in, it's time to add your theme. Whatever character, animal or pattern your child is keen on there are lots of different ways to add this to the room. If you're concerned your child might have a passing interest in their chosen theme then try to stick to removable themed items that can be changed at a later date.
Trimmings: Start with the basic trimmings because it will give you a big sense of achievement before you've even really begun! Installing matching curtains, lampshade and bed linen will take you less than half an hour and the bedroom looking like it's half way there. It doesn't matter if you can afford to buy brand name items, you can choose to use plain colours in keeping with your general theme and add transfers or stickers for a fraction of the price.
Stencilling: Stencilling isn't just for walls. You can also choose to use this on the furniture. As an example, my son has a blue Disney Nemo bedroom and we've added to this theme by stencilling blue fish onto his white cupboards. This keeps the room all in the same theme while at the same time bringing the boring plain furniture to life.
Stickers: Can add a classy touch to bedroom features where used in the right way. Plain light switches can be incorporated into your themed room quickly and simply with the addition of a small neat sticker placed in one of the corners. You can try running a line of them up the side of a piece of furniture or even adding some window stickers to the corner or edge of one of the windows.
Hardboard/MDF: A cheap and easy way to transform a plain bedroom into something special is with the addition of a bit of shaped hardboard or MDF. You can turn a plain bed into a racing car quite cheaply with the right tools and know-how. If you don't think it's a project you personally could undertake, try talking to friends and family to see if someone can help you out.
FINISHING OFF
Storage: Make sure your child's bedroom has sufficient storage to cope with the room contents. If you don't think you have enough cupboards and drawers to hold your child's things then mount some shelves in keeping with the bedroom theme. You can do this by simply painting them the same colour as the skirting board and door or by adding some stickers that match the theme of the room.
Finishing Touches: You can really bring a basic room to life with a few finishing touches. If you've opted for inexpensive plain curtains then see if you can track down some themed tie-backs cheaply to really bring them out. Look out for table lamps, changing mats and picture frames that will complement your chosen theme (depending on your child's age). Try adding a few fluffy pillows or a co-ordinating blanket to your child's bed or put a themed rug down to finish things off.
Whether you're working on a budget or to a time schedule, getting that themed room up and running is just a matter of knowing how.