By Melissa Grant
Spring is the perfect time to give your child’s room a refresh.
But where do you start and how do you ensure your styling is on trend?
Interior designer Rosaria Miot has styled countless children’s bedrooms over the past 15 years.
The founder of Welcome Home Interiors, who has clients across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, says parents are going all out when decorating kids’ rooms, unlike in decades gone by when little thought was given to furnishings and window dressings.
Here, Rosaria shares the latest in kids’ bedroom trends from walls to windows to art.
*Walls
Wallpaper is huge at the moment. Forget about the retro designs from the 1960s and 1970s – they are long gone. Rosaria says wallpaper featuring stripes, large stylised floral designs, large polka dots and watercolour effects are on trend.
She’s also been selling a lot of textured grasscloth and grass weave wallpaper for children’s bedrooms, study areas and playrooms.
“The trend is the wallpaper – sometimes even wallpapering two walls instead of one feature wall.”
It’s a good idea to select a design that will grow with your child, Rosaria adds.
Wallpaper not only looks good – it’s sure to stand the test of time.
“Textured wallpapers are very hard-wearing.
“When you choose a vinyl or textured vinyl based wallpaper it actually protects your wall. People find they don’t have to touch up their walls.”
The glue is much different than it was in the 1970s, so removal isn’t destructive.
*Furniture
Round bedside tables are in. While these aren’t as functional as traditional bedside tables with drawers, Rosaria says the softer edges provide a “nice touch”.
The interior designer says small desks and upholstered toy boxes with a seat on top, which provide extra storage, are also popular items.
You are also likely to find a low ottoman and shelving (to display books and figurines) in a child’s room.
However, Rosaria says you’re unlikely to see chests of drawers as these are generally hidden away in wardrobes as a safety measure.
*Beds
Rosaria says many parents are thinking long-term when purchasing their child’s first real bed.
“They’re buying king single or even a double rather than making two purchases in 10 years.”
*Floors
Inexpensive brown rugs purchased from department stores such as Kmart have become a real trend.
While most rooms are carpeted these days, Rosaria says it’s common for parents to throw a rug over the top of carpet to soften their child’s room.
“I often suggest large inexpensive ones with kids,” she advises.
*Window dressings
Plantation shutters are hugely popular as window treatments, Rosaria says.
They are easy to clean and don’t gather dust, which is great for children with allergies. Blockout blinds are also popular.
*Art
Contemporary artwork has become a popular feature for kids bedrooms. In years gone by, pictures of animals and the alphabet adorned the walls of a child’s room. However, parents are now purchasing more grown-up artwork that can hang around for years.
“With artwork they tend to pick out pieces that are limited edition and can carry through until their (child’s) teens,” Rosaria said.
