Choosing a colour for your child’s bedroom
Choosing paint colours for your child’s bedroom can be a minefield. There are so many factors to consider. There’s the existing furniture to consider as well as durability and staying power. Maybe the child has a favourite colour, but then do you paint the whole room that colour? It’s hard to know where to start.
A Bedroom Fit for Sleeping and Growing Children
The experts agree that a child’s bedroom should first of all be restful and able to promote calm feelings. Secondly, it should be able to withstand the changing whims of a child, tweeny or teenager. This means two things: bright single colour schemes should be avoided, and neutral tones, which will appeal to older children, should be incorporated.
What to Avoid
The big colour problem for young girls is hot pink. If you ask a seven-year-old what colour her room should be, this is likely to be the answer. But remember that she also thinks ice cream is a good breakfast choice. Studies show that the colour pink promotes feelings of annoyance and anger in children, so painting her whole room this colour should be avoided. Likewise, red and black tend to be the colour choices of younger boys. Red is also an aggressive colour, and black sucks light from the room, making for a very small and dismal environment.
What Colours Work Best?
If you have complete control over the colour choice, aim for a three-colour pastel, neutral and white colour collection. This means picking a mild green, blue, pink, peach or lemon shade alongside a taupe, grey or light brown and then a complementary white or off-white shade.
All children should have colour in their rooms, and pastels are a restful way to introduce a colour that will never go out of style. The stronger the colour, the more quickly your child will grow to dislike it.
The Magic of Green
Green has long been associated with both rest and concentration. There’s a reason the waiting area for a TV talk show is called the green room. Just thinking of a rolling field of bright green grass is enough to sooth and relax us when we’re stressed out. However, not all children will relish the prospect of a totally green room. This is where pastels and neutrals come into play.
But It’s Their Room
Of course, if their hearts are set on pink and black, what can you do? The experts at the Children’s Bed Shop have seen this many times and know the secret to beautifully decorated bedroom is compromise. If your child wants a pink room, she’s not going to give up until she gets it. She might even veto the pastel option, so now it’s time to think long-term.
Accessories are always easier to replace than painted walls, so think hot pink curtains, lampshades and throw pillows. The same goes for black. Choose grey and white walls and agree to black soft furnishings. It might even be a look he can live with at eighteen.
A Feature Wall
If you really want to let your child or teenager express themselves, and are willing to repaint in a few years, you could also go for a feature wall. This means one wall is dedicated to colour and can be repainted more often, while the rest of the room stays the same. This is a great way to hand over the reins and the discussion with the least amount of effort in the long run.
In the end, as long as they are comfortable in their space and find it restful for sleeping, and calm for studying and play, any colour is a good colour. And with so many available, it would be a shame not to get creative.
XOXO
Debbie
