Color is a key element in designing youth bedrooms.
A child's room should reflect his or her personality while serving as a retreat to play, read and rest. There are numerous themes for youth bedrooms, and color trends range from combining brown with pastel shades to going with bright and lively. There are many timeless themes that are both parent- and kid-friendly.
Animals
Animal themes can be girl- or boy-specific--or unisex. A jungle theme satisfies both girls and boys, with a basic neutral color palette complemented by animal print textiles such as leopard, giraffe and zebra prints. A girl's room can be covered in butterflies with monkeys "hanging" on the walls, while a boy's room can feature wilder prey such as cougars and elephants.
Nature
A nature theme can start with a blue ceiling "sky" dotted with fluffy white-painted clouds. Flowers, plants and trees can be painted on the lower part of the wall, stems or trunks popping up from the floor. Birds, bugs and butterflies painted on the walls and hanging from the ceiling on fishing wire bring the outdoors in. Linens can capture any of the colors on the paintings and include flowers or other foliage.
Boys and Girls
Nothing is more boyish than trucks, and nothing more girly than a princess-themed bedroom. For a boy's room, paint one wall with a mural of trucks or bulldozers. Use primary colors throughout. Start off a girl's room with vinyl wall princess crown decals, and princess curtains and bedding. A whimsical bed arrangement, such as a canopy covered in pink sheers, adds to the enchantment of a princess room.
Color and Shape
Color used in a simple, inexpensive way can create a mood in a child's bedroom. Color palettes of reds, pinks and purples can be used for girls, with blues, greens and browns more suitable for boys. Yellows and other neutral colors are good unisex options. Paint the walls a dominant shade in the color palette, and incorporate complementary shades in items such as textiles, furniture and fixtures. A simple wall color with boldly colored furniture creates interesting contrast. Basic shades of red, black and white are thought to enhance vision development in young children. Create a design motif with the use of stripes, polka dots, etc.
Music
A music theme can range from classical to rocker. Music notes can be stenciled on walls with a piano keyboard painted on the lower part of the wall. For a rock star room, hang a disco ball from the ceiling and rest electric guitars against the walls. Bold colors and shimmer should be prevalent in a room for a kid who likes to rock out, while sophisticated black and white creates a more subdued, classic look.
Letters
Use the alphabet--either ABCs or the child's initials--to create an attractive room that also promotes learning. Large plastic letters are available at arts and crafts stores, as well as alphabet stencils that can be used to paint a border on the wall. This can be done using any color palette.
Tags: color palette, , from ceiling, , lower part