COMING SOON:

COMING SOON:
Watch Trailers To 'New Moon,' More

°

Homepage / Family
Text Size

Get Creative With Kids' Rooms

Murals Help Stimulate Creativity

POSTED: Thursday, June 14, 2007

Crystal McNerney, a mother of four, considers herself an expert on creating spaces that kids can enjoy. She also understands how to design a creative, cozy room for kids on a budget.
Remodel Spare Room | Before And After Images


McNerney, of Organizing And Decorating Kid's Rooms, did just that when she designed a room shared by three of her four boys.

McNerney is like many parents who create theme rooms in which their children enjoy sleeping and playing.

There are several avenues that a parent can take when creating a theme room. But before you start stocking up on Elmo bedroom paraphernalia, get a few ideas from parents who have managed to create a room their kids enjoy without breaking the bank.

Get Kids Involved

"They couldn't decide on a color," McNerney said of her three older boys. Her children are 4, 7, 9 and 16.

To appease everyone, she said she sectioned the room off, using colors that the boys agreed upon -- blue and white. She also used a border that contained red, yellow and green as accent colors.

She also got her sons involved by allowing them to put their handprints on the walls using the accent colors.

"They loved looking at it," she said. "They would put their hands up there to see how much they grew."

Although many parents decorate rooms using TV or movie characters, McNerney does not advise doing so.

"You want something that will hold a child's interest," she said. "They don't usually hold interest in characters that long."

Getting Great Ideas

With this in mind, she suggested that parents talk with their child about interests and favorite colors to come up with a theme.

McNerney also said she does not recommend buying themed furniture for a room.

"I would not suggest buying furniture, but instead pulling in bedding, curtains and accessories," she said. "Go after sturdy furniture that will grow with a child. You can make any furniture go with a theme."

McNerney said buying SpongeBob headboards and kid recliners do not really make "financial sense."

Choosing Furniture

Misti Norusis, of Wish Rooms, disagrees. She believes that a child's space should be created with kids' furniture.

Additionally, she said hand-painted children's furniture is extremely popular.

Norusis said that after ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover" aired a show that included a fire engine theme room, she got numerous requests for the firefighter set.

Some of the other sets Wish Room offers include All Star Sports, Our Little Angel and the Noah's Ark Collection, Princess Sets and Rock-A-My-Baby Furniture.

"The (Rock-A-My-Baby) sets are awesome for little girls as they provide space for a doll baby," said Norusis.

She said pink is in with girls of all ages.

"We sell a lot of pink products and are constantly getting questions about them. For example, our most popular item overall is the girl's pink camouflage sleeping bag," she said.

Make Room For Learning

For educational purposes, Norusis said a space should be created in the room for a book display or art easels.

"Desks are real popular as there is a growing trend to replace the TV in children's rooms with a computer and desk," she said. "Roll-top desks made for kids are very popular and provide the functional use of a great desk with a bit of old-world charm."

Bring A Story To Life

Creating a kids room doesn't have to be focused on furniture, however. Another way to decorate a kid's theme room is by painting a mural on the walls.

"Kids want exciting, fun," said Randy Triplett, a mural artist for Creative For Kids based in Chicago. "They want bright."

Triplett, who has been painting murals all over the country for about 10 years, said a mural in a kid's room offers more than a coat of paint.

"Creativity is trained out of children by age 6," Triplett said. "Creativity is lost because of our rigid educational system. They love this stuff because it generates creativity."

In addition to spurring more imagination and creativity, Triplett said murals help kids enjoy being in and playing in their room.

He knows this firsthand because Triplett has painted murals on the walls of his children's rooms. He said it brought him great satisfaction.

"It is that miniscule of a moment, when the kids see it and go, 'Wow,' 'Holy moly,' 'This is great, dad,'" Triplett said.

Triplett, who offers mural kits on his Web site, said parents should not be intimidated by taking on the task of painting their kid's room.

"I started out with a $3 cartoon book," he said. More Resources
The views expressed are not those of clickorlando.com, WKMG or its affiliated companies. This is a community moderated forum. (Please note the 'Like' and 'Report' tabs.) By posting your comments you agree to accept our Terms of Use.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus

Sponsored Links

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Don’t believe everything people tell you about home improvement. Check out the top 4 myths and stop throwing away your money. More

If you have aspirations of becoming a millionaire, check out these five habits that may be worth emulating. More

Jillian Michaels of TV’s Biggest Loser has a diet and fitness plan to help you burn fat faster and stay in shape. MoreClick Here

Find out exactly what Medicare covers with our easy-to-use Medicare coverage tool. More

Most Popular

Marketplace

  • AutoClick to Expand

  • JobsClick to Expand

    • Six Answers Interviewers Need To Hire You

      During the typical job interview, you'll be asked a lot of questions. But do you really understand what the interviewer needs to know?

    • Guide To Negotiating A Great Salary

      You can start laying the groundwork for your salary negotiation even before the first interview. Here's a step-by-step guide.

    • Should You Say Yes To A Buyout?

      In today’s economy, the lure of a big-bucks buyout can be tempting, but before you say yes, take the time to understand what it will mean for you.

    • Ten Rules For Interviewing

      In the current job market, you'd better have your act together, or you won't stand a chance. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before your next interview.

  • WomenClick to Expand

    • Healthy Living In Your 40s

      Your guide to looking and feeling your best.

    • Manage Stress, Find Balance

      The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.

    • Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix

      Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.

  • InsuranceClick to Expand

    • Auto Insurance Quotes

      Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!

    • Health Insurance Quotes

      No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.

    • Home Insurance Quotes

      Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

    • Life Insurance Quotes

      What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.

    • Business Insurance Quotes

      Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.

  • HomesClick to Expand