{fantasy rooms for children}

“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” transports children to the far away land of Narnia – encountering dragons, dwarves and lost warriors.

"The Chronicles of Narnia"

The movie, and book, may have your child dreaming of fantastical adventures. What better way to spur his or her imagination than with a bedroom that immerses them in a land of make-believe?

First, start with the bed. This can be as simple as the bedding you choose – but you can also get creative with headboards. Why not create a castle or shield for the head of a bed?

HGTV

If painting on a wall seems intimidating – there are some amazing stick-and-peel products to use. You can check out catalogs for Wall Pops and RoomMates products at Hirshfield’s. If you have a younger child, these Dragon Hunter wall stickers are fun and colorful.

RoomMates Wall Stickers

How about creating a magic wardrobe for your child? This is an amazing addition to a room – if you have the space. It could even be a do-it-yourself project with a reclaimed armoire.

Magic Wardrobe

Consider using an image of a lamppost – which is a key part of the stories – or lion in honor of the character Aslan to bring “Narnia” home to your child.

Etsy

Finally, use maps to lead your children through the story of a magical journey. Decorating with maps is a big trend right now and popular in all kinds of spaces. You can be literal and use a map from Narnia, or simply look for a map of the world to plan your adventures.

Map of Narnia

Room for Children by Susanna Salk

{gender neutral nurseries}

Right now my husband and I are expecting our first child. As soon-to-be parents we’re inundated with information about what to expect, what to do (or more specifically what not to do), and what to buy. And this is all before our little one arrives!

One of the biggest projects expectant parents tackle is getting the nursery ready. Some people take a minimalist approach to baby’s first room…

HGTV

…while others really go all out in creating a fantasy room fit for a little prince or princess.

Project Nursery

Benjamin Moore

We’re waiting to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl – so we have the added challenge of making sure the nursery is “gender neutral.” Don’t mistake gender neutral for boring.  You can use the rainbow of colors available to paint your walls, or maybe use a more subtle all-over hue and then make it pop with stripes, an accent wall or mural!

Photos from: The Design File, HGTV & BabyCenter

Green is actually the most popular color for nurseries. It’s a great canvas for any theme you choose – from animals to characters to simple shapes.

The Design File

We chose to stick with the soft yellow that was already in the room we’re using as the nursery – it was once our office and exercise space.

Benjamin Moore Mellow Yellow

It’s similar to Benjamin Moore Mellow Yellow and is a great backdrop for almost any accent we decided on. The room will soon be filled with black furniture, colorful artwork and black and white accents. I’ll share the finished product in a future post.

When you’re designing a space for a little boy or girl, it’s great to have the room be able to grow with them. One way to do that is to look at what you put on the walls. Murals and wall decals are a great way to add personality without a long-term commitment.

RoomMates Wall Decals

You can order WallPops and RoomMates at Hirshfield’s. The best part? They can be changed out as your child grows and his or her interests form.

One tip to remember if you’re putting together a nursery without knowing your baby’s gender: leave a space or two open to personalize the room when your little one arrives. This can be as simple as his or her name in letters or monogram above the crib.

HGTV

{using bamboo on your walls}

Wallcoverings are all the rage right now – thanks to modern designs and modern materials. We’ve talked about the benefits of grasscloth and how great it can be even as just an accent to a wall in your home. Now, it’s time to think about using bamboo.

Bamboo Wallcovering

You’re probably familiar with bamboo as a green option for flooring or even cabinets since it’s harvested from the seasonal growth of natural bamboo.  As a wallcovering, bamboo is also an eco-friendly option to really add high-end design to your home. It adds texture and natural drama to any space. Many are backed with fabric and accented with eco-conscious elements like jute and hemp.

At Hirshfield’s you’ll find bamboo wallcoverings from Phillip Jeffries’ Wall Bamboo Forest and Woven Bamboo lines.

For the Wall Bamboo Forest collection, authentic bamboo is backed with fabric to create dramatic panels for your home. It could make a great statement as a backsplash in a kitchen or an accent wall.

Green Wall Bamboo Forest

Brown Wall Bamboo Forest

Woven Bamboo is also a great option to add texture to your room. You’ll find different textures and colors to create just the look you’re going for in your home.

Woven Bamboo

So don’t just think about bamboo as an option for your floors. It can bring a lovely, natural touch to the walls of your home.

{transitioning girl bedroom from tween to teen}

What seems like only a few years ago, my then 13-year old daughter wanted to leave the tween years behind and get an updated room in the basement. We reluctantly acquiesced, and then went to work to create a teenage room that she could be proud of!

She insisted on lime green walls against the good advice of a skilled Hirshfield’s associate. And, much to my teenager’s chagrin, we had to go back to said associate and have him help us tame the now mixed lime paint color to make it livable without the need for sunglasses to enter.

I learned these pointers when I “partnered” with my daughter to create a sophisticated teenage girl’s room:

– Let her lead; but gently steer the process: Decorating with your teenager is like childrearing on steroid: the more you push her toward the soft colors, the harder she’ll lean on neon. Trust me!