Decorating your first home is a daunting task that barely ever seems complete, but wait until you get to decorate the kids’ room. As it’s to do with your little ones, a lot more thought goes into choosing each of the items of furniture, as well as accessories – at least it was so in my case. 

Never mind the budget and the overspending; there are more décor concerns and considerations that go into the creation of this room.

As I myself tried to simplify the process by looking up tips and ideas, and couldn’t exactly find what I was looking for, I know how time-consuming it can be. So, to take this weight off your shoulders, I’ve come up with these few simple tips for your next decorating project.

Choose the Best Materials

One of the main concerns parents have is whether something is safe for their children. The various choices of kids shop accessories aren’t any exception either – choose them wisely, paying particular attention to the materials from which they’re made.

There are too many options and you have to make the shopping process less of a hassle somehow, so why not start with the materials? Besides carefully selecting the furniture, preferably picking pieces made of natural materials, like timber and low VOC paints, it’s best to invest the same amount of care when selecting the fabrics too.

Take the curtains and rugs as examples – they’re two decorative elements that most of us use to add some colour and texture yet fail to realise the importance of the materials they’re made of. Synthetics may be easier to care for, however, think of how they can contribute to poor indoor air quality, and instead opt for the better alternative: cotton, linen, and bamboo.

The same goes for additional cheerful kids’ accessories such as fun-shaped cushions and throws. Even toys deserve the same thought! Again, here, the preference should be on natural fabrics because they’re simply better long-term for the children. They don’t lead to skin irritation, they don’t make for poor indoor air, and they don’t cause environmental pollution much like their synthetic counterparts.

Wool is another ideal option when it comes to organics, especially merino. However, it tends to be on the more expensive side, so think through whether it’s something your budget allows. On the bright side, it’s a highly durable option so you won’t regret purchasing it.

Pick Items That Have a Double Purpose

One of the things I’ve seen many parents guilty of is purchasing far too many items than they have room for. If you can’t imagine your living room all cluttered, and you’ve already established that minimalism isn’t such a bad thing after all, why not implement the same strategy in the kids’ room?

One of the safest ways to avoid clutter, and achieve decorating success along the way, is to count on items of kids’ shop accessories that are both purposeful and stylish. Can’t think of some examples? How does a combo of fancy bedding and play mat sound? They’re required for your little ones’ comfort, but why not use this necessity to your advantage and choose something that fits the overall décor?

Same as any furniture piece or decorative element, they can contribute to the style and add some much-needed colour and pattern. I love growth charts as well simply because they serve their role in measuring up a child’s growth and help inject some colour into the walls which is perfect if you don’t like to use wallpaper or repaint the room when in need of change. Table lamps in the shape of animals are also great, as are other fun accessories I covered some years ago.

Be Careful When Selecting Ornaments

It doesn’t matter whether it’s kids’ toys or décor items, one can never be too careful when shopping. The danger increases as the children’s age decrease, so the younger the child you’re buying them for, the bigger the danger. Sometimes, even details you consider harmless can turn into a hazard.

Take for instance the rugs embellished with fringes, pom poms, bling, buttons and whatnot, these can pose a threat to a curious baby or toddler who could easily pull and swallow them. The same can be said about pets who might choke on them too, so you ought to have double the caution if you share your home with cats and dogs. This refers to child accessories that are made of fabrics, as you might guess, in the likes of rugs, throws, cushions, pillows, mats, and even toys.

But don’t think other décor elements aren’t equally threatening. Anything that’s heavy, might fall and injure your child, or break and pose a threat of cuts is a no-no. And, at the very least if you still choose to invite such elements into the room make sure they’re at a height your children can’t reach.