[Kristin]

By: Pamela Cole Harris

Source: http://slodive.com/

Decorating a boy's room can be hard if your son a super hero one day and a fireman the next. How can you keep up with all the changes he goes through? And how do you decorate his bedroom to reflect all of those changes? The answer" You don't. The secret is to build a room that will be right for years with just a few inexpensive changes to reflect his current passion. Here's how:

1. Furniture. As soon as is practical, buy well-made full-sized wood furniture for the room. The bed sizes can be changed to accommodate a growing child, but the other furniture can be easily made to reflect the tastes of of both young and older children and need not be downsized.

2. Paint. Paint your child’s room instead of using expensive wallpaper. The room will be easier to change (no scraping!) and more durable. Create fun shapes such as stripes or geometric shapes with your inkjet print and window decal paper available at your local office supply. This is allow you to quickly update the windows or walls and give the room a bright, cheerful feel.

3. Floors. Choose quality floor coverings which will prove durable under the natural wear it will undoubted receive in a child’s room. Choose neutral colors and avoid patterned coverings that can become quickly dated. Add an area rug in a fun pattern that can be changed in a couple of years.

4. Themes. Create themed roman shades easily with sheets. Or use roller shades and decorate with fabric or cut-out shapes that can be attached with fusible interfacing available at any craft or sewing store. All you have to do is iron it on.

5. Go wild. Go wild with the rest! You easily and inexpensively change the accessories in the room to reflect your child’s current interests. Among the items you can change:
- Window treatments, tiebacks and rods
- Drawer knobs and pulls
- Wall color
- Wall accessories (posters, clocks, art, shelving, etc.)
- Lamps
- Bedding and linens
- Storage bins and baskets
- Throw pillows

A neutral room foundation and colorful accessories can turn any boy’s bedroom into a dream room — for whichever super hero they are!



Article Source: http://budgetdecorating.about.com/

[Kristin]

Decorating a Girls Bedroom: Giving Her Decor She will Love on a Budget

Source: www.houzz.com

Is your daughter a pink princess, a tomboy or a teen queen? Whatever your girls age or style, decorating a bedroom that she will adore for years, and on a budget is easier than you think. With a little creativity and an investment of a few weekends, your princess will have her own castle. Here's how:

1. Furniture. If you don't have the funds to afford new furniture, search yard sales and thrift shops for quality solid wood furniture you can refinish. First wash the furniture down with a disinfecting cleaner and let dry. Then sand and paint with a color that will fit with your design theme.

2. Accents. Paint her room and embellish with accents. For instance, make a faux chair rail treatment with wide ribbon and lace. Glue the lace atop the ribbon at about 3 1/2 feet from the floor all around the room. The same thing can be done with bead or pompom trim for a bright, cheerful look.

3. Floor Coverings. Choose floor coverings that can be easily changed as styles come and go or the covering becomes too worn.

Use carpet tiles which can be easily replaced or area rugs which can add to the design you have chosen.

4. Window Treatments. Use roller shades for window treatments and edge with trim such as lace or ribbon. Or create a striped treatment by cutting strips of various colored fabrics and attaching to the shade with fusible webbing available at any craft or sewing store. All you have to do is iron the fabric on and trim the shade with beads.

5. Customize. Be sure to allow your child to make the room her own! You easily and inexpensively change things like:
- Window tiebacks and rods
- Drawer knobs and pulls
- Wall color
- Wall accessories (posters, clocks, art, shelving, etc.
- Lamps
- Bedding and linens
- Storage bins and baskets
- Throw pillows

The girly-girl or tomboy in your life will love making her own fashion statement in her room. And if that statement is bright red with yellow polka-dots - just hang on. As they say, "This too, shall pass!



Article Source: http://budgetdecorating.about.com/