Perk Up Your Child’s Room

step 1

Start with color.

 Did you know that changing a wall color can affect mood? In fact, you might consider colors that balance the extremes in your child’s personality. For example, an overly active child might be soothed by cool blues or pale pastels. If your child tends to be disorganized, white walls scale down the effect of visual clutter. And if you want to give your child a lift, intense rich colors will create drama and energy. But first, make sure you incorporate your child’s favorite colors. From an early age, my children loved to go down to the paint store with me and browse through the books of paint swatches. They enjoyed learning about the range of available colors and I noticed their artwork became more colorful. My son wanted a bright red room when he was four. He was already full of energy so we settled on one bright red wall and three blue ones. He was thrilled.

step 2

Pump up the texture.

 Kids love to feel textures—that’s why cuddly teddy bears and stuffed animals are so beloved. Invest in a soft flannel sheet or a chenille throw for the bed. Or maybe a fun animal throw rug for the floor. Schedule a “Texture Day” and invite your child to experience a range of new textures. Remember to include examples of velvet, silk, smooth cotton and even itchy fibers (like burlap and mohair). But as you choose fabrics for your kid’s room, think about how easy or difficult they are to clean. (And make sure your child does not have a common allergy to natural fibers like mohair and angora.)

step 3

Reinvent the chalkboard.

 It’s amazing how easy it is to turn an entire wall into a chalkboard. To create a bold canvas for your child’s creativity, all you need is chalkboard paint, which now comes in a variety of colors. If you like, you can formalize the area by framing it with washable paint in a contrasting color or wood molding found at any hardware store—and most stores are willing to cut the molding to size. Kids can use their newfound canvas to make drawings, invent puzzles, leave notes, play math games and generally just have fun. To reduce allergies, invest in low-dust chalk and consider installing a hook nearby to hold a bucket for the chalk.

step 4

Reposition the shower curtain.

 Does a shower curtain belong in a bedroom? Maybe not. But kids get a kick out of that kind of slightly out-of-kilter décor. And, actually, a cute shower curtain can add some fun to a boring bedroom wall or be a fun replacement for a closet door. Choose a design that your kids will love (dolphins, cartoon characters, etc.) and install curtain rods on a wall (or a shower curtain rod inside a closet door frame). Then create a space of retreat by adding a furry rug, comfy bean chair and knickknacks that relate to the curtain’s theme (like shells for an aquarium motif, or stuffed animals for a zoo or jungle décor, etc.).

step 5

Magnetize the wall.

 Like chalkboard paint, magnetic paint—yes, it makes the whole painted area magnetic!—is simply a marvel. Apply to a wall as you would any other paint; just mix thoroughly first and use a foam roller for a smooth finish. Usually two coats can be used as a primer, followed by a third coat of normal paint in the color of your choice (check product application directions). The general recommended coverage is 25 square feet per quart, which creates a magnetic surface of 5 feet x 5 feet, 2 feet x 12 feet, or a 4 foot x 6 foot surface. Be sure to scale the area to your child’s height, however. When the magnetic wall is dry, you can adhere magnetic jigsaw puzzles or board games or even create your own magnets. You can also buy magnetized foam letters and numbers (great as educational aids) as well as magnetic maps and games. (To avoid damage to your computer, keep it away from magnetized objects.)

step 6

Frame those masterpieces.

 Your child’s artwork is special. So make your child feel like Van Gogh and encourage his or her artistic interests by framing artwork and hanging it in a prime spot. Choose a wall to make a gallery and mount several pieces in matching frames. As time goes by, it should be easy to exchange the artwork for new “masterpieces.” Name the gallery after your child (e.g., “Betsy’s Museum,” “Tim’s Gallery”) and help your child to host a showing for friends and family.