Children’s Room Decor : How to Create a Meaningful Bedroom Space

With the big move getting ever closer I feel like time is speeding up.  I have started packing, which makes everything seem much more real as I see the garage full of boxes holding our possessions that may never return to this home.  This is so much more than a home.  It’s a part of the family.  We built it from the ground up.  Moved in when Andy was just 18 months old.  Brought Ashley home from the hospital here.  SO many memories have been made within these walls.  I had so much fun as a young mom personalizing the space and trying to make every nook and cranny meaningful.  It has evolved over time just as our family has.  As I look through the kids room’s and start to pack them up, and thoughts of creating new spaces for them in the new house start to formulate, I thought I’d talk for a minute about children’s room decor and how to create a meaningful bedroom for them.  A space of their own that is lovingly designed especially for them.

I really try to infuse special meaning into every space I create, that is what makes it beautiful to us.  I have mentioned before how I purchase souvenirs as we travel to include in our decor and such in other rooms of the house…trinkets that have special meaning and memories attached to them.  When it comes to designing a kid’s space, I try to do the same.  I always want their spaces to really reflect their little personalities.

she’s so teeny here! 

When I designed Ashley’s room she was tiny and she loved all things pink and sparkly.  (she still does 😉 ) I love children’s literature and we love to adventure together as a family.  I wanted to tie as many of these things together when I designed her  room.  We all want to create a home that is inspired by who we are and reflects where we have been and where we’re headed.  We can create a meaningful space by making it unique and authentic to who you are.  I spotted an image of a Lily Pulitzer boutique in Florida with this hand painted script all over the walls and I knew that was a wall treatment that would be fun, unique and affordable.  So, I set out to piece together passages from several of the Madeline books to create something fun that you could read on the walls.  I ended up with the following:

“In an old house is Paris all covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.  They left the house at twelve past nine in two straight lines in rain or shine.  The smallest one was Madeline.  Fasten your seat belts, in half an hour you will see the Eiffel Tower.  Welcome to London the weather’s fine, and it’s exactly half past nine.  Madeline, Madeline, where have you been? We’ve been to London to see the queen.  You wouldn’t believe the things that we’ve seen.  They went home and broke their break and brushed their teeth and went to bed.  Good night little girls, thank the Lord you are well, and now go to sleep said Miss Clavel.  She turned out the light and closed the door, and that’s all there is, there isn’t any more.”

The actual hand painting of the verse took me about two hours and a teeny bit of paint.  I had to buy a quart, but I didn’t even come close to using half of it.  I totally free-handed the script…I didn’t even plan out where the words would end up.  I just went for it, and I could not believe it when it worked out that the passage fit on the walls exactly two times.  It’s crazy how things work out like that sometimes!  We’ve made a few updates to her room over the years, like adding a dresser, a headboard, and a slightly more “tween” looking bed set from HomeGoods (it was such a steal!) but other than that, it has remained mostly the same for the last 7 years.

I love the idea of this hand painted wall for a few reasons.  First and foremost, it was done with love.  I know that every night when she reads the story…and we still do…she knows that I painted that for her.  Second, it didn’t cost me hardly anything.  An inexpensive paint brush from Michaels, and a small can of paint.  That is in anyone’s budget. 🙂  Third, even without any other decor or furniture, the room looked decorated and caught people’s attention…proving that it doesn’t cost a lot to make a statement.

The decor on her dresser has changed a bit over the years, but almost everything displayed has personal meaning by either reflecting Ashley’s interests or special memories. was a gift, the gorgeous Alice in Wonderland book with the hand illustrated cover and the peach notebook are from HomeGoods amazing stationary aisle…one of my favorite spots!   The notebook is full of Ashley’s drawings and notes…she loves to doodle!  The picture of her and her favorite person in the world…her brother is in a frame (also from HomeGoods) that is from her baptism, and the tiara is a souvenir from a family trip.  I added in a few other decorative elements to tie it all together.  The  (HomeGoods) corrals everything but doesn’t take up any visual space. softens everything and reminds me that even though she acts like she’s 16 most of the time, she’s still just a kid…and my baby. 😉

When you design a space that reflects who you are, it is more meaningful to you and that makes it even more beautiful.  Incorporate things in your children’s rooms that have meaning to you both… favorite story, a favorite toy or past time.  Something that carries memories with it.  I did this when I decorated my son’s room too.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be expensive or perfect to be beautiful and meaningful.  I hope you are feeling inspired to continue creating your own meaningful space.

Have a wonderful day!

Tammy