From Chaos to Calm: Day 66

The Kids Bedrooms

Scripture Memory: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18: 10

You can read the rest of this series here. 

In my house, we have four bedrooms, three of which are devoted to the children. My oldest two girls share a bedroom and my youngest two share a bedroom. We are blessed to have large rooms although, they would tell you—they don’t think the rooms are big enough! And closet space when sharing a room between two girls is always an issue!

Recently, my daughters Sarah and Emily have expressed an interest in re-decorating their room. I repainted it a nice rich shade of blue last year. At first I was taken aback that they would want to change the look of their room when I thought it looked really nice. Then I realized the reason I was having a problem stemmed from the simple fact that I am not ready for them to grow up! I don’t like change!!

So, I told myself everything would be okay and let the girls know they could begin to “update” their room, but I had to approve the changes. So, everyone is happy. Now, my youngest daughters, Hannah and Laura, are taking the cue from their sisters and asking to repaint their walls and start a “fresh” new look in their own room. We’ll see.

Children’s rooms can be a lot of fun to decorate. Whether you have a lot of money or just a little money to spend, there are many creative ways to make your child’s room special. It is important to purchase furniture that will grow with your child and function well. It is also important to provide a space that will keep your child safe from harm.

If you are preparing a nursery for a new baby, be sure to keep up with the latest safety standards for cribs, infant swings, bouncers, and any other pieces of furniture or equipment you may want to use. If you are passing down a used crib, be sure that it meets requirements for safety as well.

As children grow they need space to keep their toys, clothes, books, and more. A thoughtful mother will see that her child has adequate storage space so that the room does not become a overwhelming mess with no place to put things away. Years ago, when my first born was just a little boy, I visited a lady’s home and loved how she had everything so neat and organized that here nearly twenty years later, those memories have stayed with me! She had decorated her home beautifully and thoughtfully. I noticed a neat the children’s rooms were and she told me that she never let the children keep toys and books in their bedrooms. That was what the playroom was for.

The children’s rooms were not decorated in childish characters or themes that the children would out grow. Instead, they were tastefully decorated in quality furniture, fine looking bedspreads and handsome accessories. They were rooms that would “grow with the children.” Years later, when I finally had a home of my own, we had a playroom for toys. I decorated the kids rooms with handsome antique dressers, antique iron bed frames, traditional patchwork quilts, and pictures on the walls that would not be outgrown.

This was my personal preference. I didn’t want to have to spend money on new bedspreads frequently when the children outgrew their current fads. I figured the rooms would still be there long after the children were grown and gone. So, as my daughters begin to plan a new look for their rooms, I have laid down some ground rules.

We won’t be buying new furniture. They will have to work around what they own. However, they can spend their own money on new accessories, a new bedspread set, they can paint the china cabinet in their room, they can buy new curtains for the windows, and a new shower curtain for their bathroom. They can have fun with their room within reason.

And, letting the girls figure out how to decorate their room in a way that is good looking, creative, and frugally decorated will be good practice for when they eventually have their own homes. Even if I do want to believe that they will never grow up and always be my little girls.

Here are a few things that you may want to consider when decorating your child’s bedroom:

1. Provide good storage space. Do not allow your child to accumulate more stuff that he or she has room to store.
2. Provide a place to study or read. A desk, a bookcase, and good lighting all help to encourage your child to love reading and instill a desire for learning within him.
3. Purchase practical furniture. Buying quality furniture that will grow with your child and still look good when they are grown will insure that you don’t have to replace expensive items as your child grows.
4. Do not allow your child to watch TV, get on the internet, play video games, or listen to music that you do not approve of in his bedroom.
5. Also, do not allow your child to spend hours alone daily in their bedroom. If you do, you are asking for trouble later down the road.

Do you have other tips to add? Share them in the comments below!