Paint and decorate your childrens' bedroom to match wants, needs, interests and make them happy. If you have to decide on the theme or color scheme because they don't agree, try to choose something neutral or something both enjoy. The room should function smoothly to accommodate needs and provide a creative, harmonious place.
1 Prepare the room for painting by removing light switch and outlet covers or anything else that shouldn't be painted. Remove as much furniture as you can. Move everything else to the room's center. Place a tarp over the furniture and flooring. Use painter's tape to hold the tarp in place. Use the tape to cover baseboards, borders and ceiling edges. Cover windows with plastic.
2 Wash the walls with warm, soapy water and a clean cloth to remove any debris or dirt, which could cause the paint to chip or peel. Use primer if the walls are painted in a dark color that may bleed through.
3 Paint the room, using a ladder to reach the tops of walls, in a single, solid color. You can also break up two colors with a chair rail or border. Consider, too, painting each wall a different color or add a mural. Use stencils if you don't trust your artistic abilities. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 to 48 hours before entering the room.
4 Include both children in the design. For example, say one child wants polka dots and the other wants flowers. Together, though, they both want pink, black and white. Using this guidance, design the room to incorporate all wishes. Paint pink flowers with stems, leaves and grass on the lower walls. Create a border about two-thirds up the wall by painting black horizontal lines about 8 inches apart, Add black polka dots inside of the border. Paint the upper walls a light pink.
5 Arrange the furniture to create zones for activities and give each child a personal space. If the children have bunk beds, set up two shelves or dressers on the opposite wall. There should be zones for sleeping, playing, reading and displaying treasured items.
6 Hang items on walls that complement the room's decor. For simpler paint, frame and hang your childrens' art or pictures. Use walls to create a larger display area. HGTV.com suggests hanging a sheet of galvanized metal so the children can display pictures with magnets.
7 Complete the room with accessories, such as curtains, bedding, pillows, rugs, lamps and night lights. Each should complement the focus of the room, such as the paint, the bedding or a piece of artwork.For example, if the room's focus is the pink, black and white flowers and polka-dots walls, pink rugs, black- and white-striped or polka-dotted bedding, white curtains and flower-shaped pillows complete the theme.
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Provide baskets or containers under beds or on shelves to help children organize belongings and keep the room clean. Create low areas of storage so the children have easy access to belongings.
