In previous blogs I detailed the work that went into transforming my daughter’s nursery into a “big girl’s room.” It was not as labor intensive or as expensive as I thought it would be. As a result, I’m thinking of updating it again soon. My daughter will be turning three in a few weeks and while she is not a very tall child, her toddler bed doesn’t seem to accommodate her… well, let’s just call it… active sleeping. Basically, she’s a roller. Some nights are better than others, but for the most part she has a hard time sleeping in one spot and on more than one occasion I’ve found her fast asleep on the floor.
Looking back, we really should have invested in a good quality convertible crib. It’s a versatile piece of furniture, but one I thought we could live without. We did look at one when I was about 6 months pregnant… the side rail could be removed and the entire piece transitioned into a child-size daybed. It even came with a pine step stool to assist the child as he/she climbed in and out of the bed. (Hindsight is 20/20.) I’m not going back to buy the bed. Rather, I’ve decided to move the double bed from our guest room into my daughter’s room. I plan to test it out for about a week and if she does well with it I will look for a bed set that will match with the room’s existing theme. (Currently, my daughter’s room is suffering from a major identity crisis—it’s the farm animal theme versus the Snoopy theme versus the Hello Kitty theme.)
If I have learned anything from this adventure in room redecorating it is the importance of packing a room with personality. There are so many lively design options suited to children (some a bit more expensive than others) it can be overwhelming to stick to just one theme. Luckily items like paint are affordable so trading pale pink walls for purple ones doesn’t mean having to take out a second mortgage.
Besides wall color there are a myriad of other decorating options you can include in your child’s room to give it a personal touch, including:
· Drawer knobs and pulls
· Wall accessories
· Window treatments
· Window hardware, like tiebacks
· Floor pillows
· Bedding (linens, blankets, and comforters)
· Storage bins and baskets
· Lampshades
It’ll be interesting to see where the room evolves from here. Stay tuned…
Related Articles:
Extreme Makeover–Children’s Room Edition (Part 1)
Extreme Makeover–Children’s Room Edition (Part 2)
More Toddler Room Decorating Tips
Creating Your Baby’s Haven–On A Budget
Would You Buy Your Child A King-Size Bed?
Decorating Your Child’s Bathroom