Room for your little princess

There is so much more to a girl’s room than pink paint. Suja Natarajan suggests ways to make the best of any space to match your daughter’ tastes.

Alittle girl’s bedroom is not just a place where she sleeps. It’s a space where she spends most of her time at home. It’s a place to study, play games, invite her friends over, read, keep her treasures...

Such a space needs to be playful and comfortable - something that will reflect her spirit and individuality.Decorating your little girl’s room can be fun and if you’re looking for inspiration to setup your princess’s room, allow us to inspire you:

Have a plan

Before you buy furniture or choose a colour theme, the foremost thing to do is create a plan. “The idea would be to invest in a room where your child can stay for at least through college, although few things like personal paraphernalia is very individualistic and can change down the years. It’s always better to have a basic plan for a bed, study and storage before you start choosing,” says Neelu Jain Prasanna, director of Child Space, a studio that specialises in children’s furniture.

Measure the dimensions of the room and keep your child’s age, interests and hobbies in mind before you zero in on a theme. It’s a good idea to involve your child in the whole process.

Choose pivotal points

What catches your eye when you walk into a room? This element is the room’s focal point, which makes the room inviting. Use visual elements to make the room cosy and attractive.

You can draw focus to a room by using bold patterns over the headboard, colours, accessories or even furniture. A large mirror, photo collage, a rug and posters emphasise and create natural focal points in the room. Make sure the elements that you choose are in harmony with the room’s theme, colour and furniture.

Bring on the hues

Choose colours that reflect your child’s personality. Take the time to choose the right colour since it affects the mood of the child and has the power to uplift the look and feel of the space.

“One of the healthy trends that I have seen in the last few years is moving out of the pure colour fixation of pink and its family. Don’t be stuck with the monotony of brown and cream, as it will be part of your child’s life when she starts growing older. There are a host of other colours, which are unexplored - like the yellows, blues and oranges that make a room warm and attractive. Don’t be afraid to choose multiple colours like light green and a hint of orange. You can have pink or lilac colours but with a lot of white to make it more appealing,” says Neelu.

Utility factor

“Your plan for furniture depends on how much space you have. You should plan for a bed, keeping at least the next five years in mind. You could go for a twin-size or a queen-size bed, which would serve well for growing children as well as double up as a guest bed. Trundle beds are great space-savers. Storage plays an important part, especially in a girl’s bedroom because of the various combinations of wardrobe that she may have. Look for a wardrobe that has ample shelf space and a good amount of space to hang clothes. Go for flexible study tables, or if there is a shortage of space, you could have corner units that work as a workstation-cum-study area,” suggests Neelu.

Light it up

You have several creative options that you can choose from to light up your daughter’s room. There are ceiling, pendant lights, wall, table and floor lamps and night-lights that offer excellent illumination and make the room visually interesting. Make sure you make a safe choice of lights and fixtures that are out of reach of your child.

“I would suggest having neutral white light in the child’s room because studying and playing are two main factors whether your child is eight or sixteen years old. White light brightens the setup. You could have a couple of decorative lights, if
required, but multi-colours that have reds, blues or greens in the shades are not preferable. Too much of colour with less of white is also not appealing. Dress up the room with curtains and linen,” says Neelu.

Personal touch

Make the room extra special for your little one by personalising it with creative and versatile décor. You have several options such as using decals that have fun prints and patterns, and they’re easier to apply and remove. Mirrors, knick-knacks, rugs or runner for the floor, a photo collage and other unique pieces of art can make your child’s room look one-of-a-kind.

Curtains give a sophisticated look to the room. Pick from a range of fun patterns and prints that are available in the market. You can also consider creating a small space to display your child’s achievements and art projects.

Know your pocket

Setting up a room for your little princess needn’t be overly expensive, but if you don’t have a budget planned, it’s easy to go overboard. Plan a budget that you can afford before you set off for shopping.

“There’s no end to the amount of things that you want in a child’s room. It’s
certainly doable if you have a plan in place. Look at setting up the basics such as a bed, study table, and a wardrobe before you consider accessories like a bookshelf, side table or a dressing table,” advises Neelu.

Turn a room into a unique haven for your child where she has a free reign in
nurturing her hopes and dreams. Work with your child to decorate her space that will be worth the effort and time for years to come.

Keep in mind

l Create more room space by laying the bed, study table and wardrobe towards the wall side as opposed to centralising it.

l Ensure the furniture has rounded corners and is easily accessible to the child.

l Have enough natural light and plants that will create a positive environment.

l Always look for products that restrict the presence of germs and bacteria - things that are safe and less toxic for the child and the environment. For example, cotton durries, chemical-free paint, lightweight curtains.