Childhood Memories
Choosing the colors for your child's room from your own history will give lots to talk about. You'll be able to share your childhood with your little one and the memories will be right in front of him. You may have a set of vintage prints from a child's classic book or a collection of cherished toys and games. If you kept some of your own childhood clothes, you may be able to use the fabrics to create a very special quilt, bedskirt, or matting for pictures. Or display treasured items like these in shadowboxes. When decorating around vintage art or fabrics, it’s best to use soft, rather than vibrant, colors. Be sure to make space for your child's own toys and pictures so the room becomes his own.
Your Travels
Design a room with treasures from your own travels as the foundation. I love to pick up reminders from trips I’ve taken. It might be a poster from a museum that I loved or figurine from some tiny town. You may have fallen in love with the colors of Provence or Tuscany or the feeling of the southwest, relaxed casual warmth of Hawaii, or traditions of New England. These memories can easily be preserved in the room of your child. Colors in Tuscan-inspired rooms would be muted and washed, while Provence uses bold primary colors which are wonderful for children. Be sure to leave plenty of room for your child’s own additions.
A Special Piece of Furniture
Do you have a treasured toddler bed from your grandmother or an armoire from your own room from childhood? Often these pieces can be the starting point for decorating a new child’s room. Using a special piece of older furniture is a wise choice, since it has already proved its utility over many years. Merge it into its new home by placing it in a room with fresh colors and patterns. You may even want to paint the old piece (if it is not a valuable antique) to fit into a newer, bright décor. But you’ll always have the memories of the older piece to hand down to the next generation.
Do something unique and have fun!