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Decorating Tips
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The environments we create for our children are important in shaping their personalities, characters and interests, creating memories which are never forgotten. It is never too early to encourage awareness of color and form, textures, design, movement, pattern role playing, storytelling, even planning and delayed gratification. Where better to do this than in their very own rooms. You might decide to enter into this joyful and creative enterprise in preparation for a baby's arrival, a birthday or Christmas gift, school graduation, or no reason at all! Allow children to be a part of the design process; let imaginations run riot, encourage family brainstorming sessions, be prepared to have people wake up in the night with a 'wonderful idea' (give everyone a little pad or sheet of paper, a pencil and perhaps a flashlight to put next to their bed!!). Making choices from an amazing range, preparing the setting and finally placing the wonderful pieces of furniture and accessories as they arrive at your home, can be an exciting educational experience. Make the most of it! Available time and budget constraints are understandably the two most important issues so, as much as is humanly possible, we have done the spadework, research and 'homework', we even help you plan your modus operandum, leaving the fun part to you! Get Family and Friends Involved. If grandparents, uncles and aunts, godparents, close friends can be encouraged to participate, we could offer them your Wish List. They are at liberty to buy anything which is within their budget or consider purchasing 'The Crock of Gold at the End of the Rainbow' Gift Certificate to which everyone could contribute. This is the time to take the 'before' pictures, warts and all! Budget, Time and Decisions: After deciding on your budget, enjoy slowly browsing through the various themes on the CoolKids website and decide on one which would be most suitable, considering the child’s age, personality, interests etc. Remember - Less is more! Take a good look at what you already have and see if anything can be updated, redecorated and given a new look, especially something your child cannot bear to part with. If you are starting from scratch, the most important items are of course a bed, night stand, lamp, a rug, table and a couple of chairs, toy chest, perhaps a rocking horse. Planning: Check to find out how long these items would take to be delivered and pace yourself accordingly. Rather start early than be caught putting the final coat of polyurethane on the hardwood floor when the bed arrives at the front door! Preparation: Firstly be utterly ruthless and get rid of absolutely everything you will not need; things which do not fit in with the theme. Next does the floor needs sanding and refinishing? Could the carpet do with a good spring cleaning or should it be replaced? Take care of this first. We have suggestions for color co-ordination, treatment, painting and decorating of walls, ceiling, woodwork, hanging murals and friezes or pictures to provide the backdrop for the furniture. |
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