Room For Bright Young Things

Nov 2 2008 Justin And Colin

ROLL OUT THE RUG

Try using a lovely rug to soften proceedings and add a splash of colour. Here, we added a huge red tufted circle to provide a graphic shape while breaking up the white. Ours is soft underfoot and looks fabulous. Who says rugs should be rectangular?

FUTURE PROOFING

The trick to future proofing any kid's room is to avoid decor that's too age specific. Go for a clean colourful approach that can be enjoyed by tots and teens alike. You can add age-appropriate artwork and toys that can be easily changed as your child grows.

FURNITURE PLACEMENT

The best place for any bed is in the middle of the largest unbroken wall. This should leave ample space for bedside tables. If you fancy a change of style without spending money, try moving existing furniture around - a change of orientation freshens - at no cost.

ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT

We went all-out white using milky emulsion on walls and satin white on the timber floor. To paint a wooden floor properly, sand surface, remove loose nails and fill in holes and cracks. Next, vacuum, wash with a sugar soap solution and apply several light coats of paint.

FABRIC INSPIRATION

The inspiration for this design came from the fabric we chose for the blind, cushions and headboard. We colourmatched paint to fabric using the Dulux machine at B&Q then created our own hand-painted border using masking tape and a great deal of patience. The results speak for themselves and cost little more than a litre of each colour. IKEA (www.ikea.com) have a huge range of kids' textiles that are fun, colourful and well priced.

ACCESSORIES

Don't let your little 'uns become clutterers. Adopt a one-in, one-out approach to toys. Losing old, broken toys will free up space and stop your room becoming a dumping ground with no sense of order. Do this from a young age to get your kids into the habit of keeping rooms tidy.