Make Redecorating Fun By Involving Your Children In Redecorating Their Room

Kids love painting, and involving them is a great way to keep them occupied.

Children grow up quickly, and as they grow their tastes change just as quickly. This means parents will either have to redecorate their rooms on a biyearly basis or be pestered regularly about work they don’t have the time or energy to do by themselves. However it does not have to be like this. With children at home with little to do the long summer months are the perfect time to involve them in the redecoration process. They will also love being involved in this creative process regardless of their age, and once finished the ownership created by their participation means they are much more likely to look after it. They might even start tidying their room.

Safety First

As with anything to do with children, the first thing to think about is safety. In order to not put their health at risk by breathing in noxious fumes that could result in a Napoleon-like exit from this world it is advisable to buy paint that does not contain any volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This room will also experience more than its fair share of wear and tear, and choosing paint that also has an eggshell finish will increase its longevity.

Planning Your Project

With this in mind, it is good to start by sitting down with your child to research and plan the project together and to flick through magazines and catalogues so that your child can show you elements he likes. And while younger children will not necessarily be as articulate as (some) adults and their choices will probably be all over the place, you will notice some overriding themes that you can use to guide their decision process.

Guide is the operative word since if your child has full control you may end up with an expensive kaleidoscopic colour scheme that incorporates every colour of the rainbow, as well as a subsequent argument as you try to change their mind. It is best to instead limit the choice to three colours at the most and to remember that children are much more sensitive to their environment than adults and the choice of colour can have a real effect on mood. Bright yellows and oranges have been well established to increase anger and most parents would want to avoid this in their children. Black, despite being perceived as a moody and depressive choice, actually signifies passiveness and is a timeless and stylish choice that your child could enjoy well into the future. When making the choice it is best to use a neutral colour on the ceiling and floor; designate one wall as the focal point and give it a dramatic and powerful colour. You can then add more understated shades on the other walls, using the room’s accessories to add further brightness. Even the furniture can be painted to increase the reach of the design.

Forget The Rules

When it comes to children you can throw the rulebook out the window and go as far as your creative process will take you. Paint giant green aliens on the wall, a portal into a fairy tale on the ceiling or a caricature of their evil parents on the wall, slipper (or axe) in hand. Children and particularly teenagers see their bedroom as their only area of independence in the world they would relish a room resigned around their hobbies and interests.

As you can see, the redecoration of this room is only limited by your (and your child’s) imagination, and a new lick of paint is a cheap way to dramatically alter the look and feel of a space. And since the older children get, the more conservative the design will be, there is no point wasting any time because this is as fun as decorating gets. It can also prove to be a wonderful bonding time for you and your children and, crazy as this may sound, it might even make them look forward to going back to school more.

Stuart Bem is a full time dad, part time blogger and run the Sussex decorating company www.bembuilders.co.uk