Wallnutz

So you want to decorate your child’s room, but you aren’t Martha Stewart, an interior decorator isn’t in the budget and ordering an entire room out of Pottery Barn Kids isn’t feasible either. There are plenty of unique and inexpensive ways to decorate an exciting room for your child, and the first step in your planning is to pick a theme.

Theme
While determining the theme seems like the easy part, it is worth taking some time to think about. Selecting characters like Power Rangers are fine, but consider that three months from now your child may demand Scooby Doo and you’ll have an ongoing battle about how you just redecorated. Three months is forever to a young child! If you choose a specific character, consider wall stickers or wall decals that can easily be replaced.
Think about decorating kids’ rooms using color palettes as a theme, rather than specific characters. “Primary colors” can be a theme, with wall hangings, curtains and comforters to match. Or try a topic that can grow with your child. For examples, a room done in a “Jungle” theme can work all the way from a nursery into a room for a 9-year-old child.

Walls
Once your theme is chosen, it’s time to start decorating. The four walls of kids’ bedrooms are empty canvases for your creativity. Some simple but impressive decorating techniques can turn plain walls into works of art.
A solid color of paint can go a long way in changing a blah white room into a cheery environment. Remember that small hands leave prints and these will be much easier to clean off if you use a semi-gloss paint rather than flat.
Be brave with paint! Try doing some faux finishing on your child’s walls. It’s easy to paint a base color, then dampen a natural sponge, dip into the second color of paint and dab lightly on the walls. And hey, if you don’t like it, just paint over the top! Our Cloudwash Kit makes it simple to finish walls like a pro and take the same amount of time as painting a room in a solid color. All you need is one kit for a standard size room if you already have white or off-white walls.
Chalkboard paint is a great option to inexpensively add modern creativity and activity to a room. Our favorite idea is to paint some of the images in the Wallnutz paint by number mural kits with chalkboard paint. For example, in the On the Move Mural Kit you can use the chalkboard paint for the car or the road while still having colors in the other parts. You can also use the paint on a section of a room and use a high gloss paint to paint a protective border around the edges and to add dimension.
In addition to painting, wood accents can add a nice touch to a wall. For example, wainscoting or plate rails are easy to install. Paint the wood white or match other trim in the room, then nail into place with carpenter’s nails. Plate rails are also functional; they make a wonderful display area for pictures or to store children’s books.
Or consider hanging a magnetic strip around the room instead of a plate rail; this will make a fabulous “art gallery” for all those special pieces your child brings home from school.

Furniture
Children’s furniture is the most expensive part of a child’s room decor, and it can be easier on your pocketbook if you plan ahead. For example, bunkbeds are a great option for people who are short on space and need children to share rooms. But consider that many kids outgrow twin sized beds by their teen years, so maybe a full or even queen sized bed is a better buy if you are able to accomodate it in the space.
Storage is also a concern, and there are some space saving options here as well. Trundle drawers that slide under beds are a fantastic way to store clothing or other treasures. Look for flatter, plastic storage bins that slide under beds as well for items that don’t need to be accessed on a daily basis.
Don’t overlook garage sales in your search for furniture. Often you can spot a real find in an old chest of drawers. Paint the chest with a high gloss paint and replace the hardware with some cute handles found at your local hardware store.
Also, look for dual function in furniture pieces. Instead of a changing table, find a dresser that is about waist high. Buy a changing pad to adhere on top (less than $20) and fill the top drawers with your diapering necessities. The dresser will convert to a functional chest of drawers once your child is out of diapers.

Window Treatments
Now window treatments are a place where you can really save money by doing the work yourself. Here are some options:

Secure attractive curtain rods and holders to the wall, then drape loosely with sheer fabric. The fabric can be secured with a coordinating color of ribbon or simply wrapped several times around the curtain rod to prevent slipping. Sheer fabrics are available in many colors and even prints, so watch for sales at your local fabric store.
Another inexpensive way to make curtains is to use twin sheets for the fabric, since sheets often go on sale. (This method is also helpful if you can’t find any curtains to match a store bought comforter.) You do need an iron and sewing machine, but only need to know how to sew in a straight line. Just cut the sheet in half horizontally and hem raw edges of each piece. Fold over the tops (side you just hemmed) by 4″, then iron to form crease. Sew a seam 1″ from top all the way across. Then sew a second seam 5/8″ from the bottom of the folded section. Repeat process for second piece of fabric. Slip a curtain rod through the pockets you’ve created and bunch the fabric together so that both pieces fit on one rod. Tie the fabric in the middle with a bow made from 1″ or larger ribbon.

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