How to Decorate a Whimsical Children's Playroom

Young children need a place of their own where they can play and use their imagination. Create a whimsical playroom that they will surely love.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint (for walls, picket fences and furnishings)
• Stencils
• Stenciling paint
• Paintbrush
• White picket fences
• Manila rope
• Plywood or MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
• Screwdrivers
• Drill
• Hammer
• Nails
• Nail gun (optional)
• Nail glue
• Hand saw
• Circular saw
• Sandpaper
• Striped balloon shade
• Children's furnishings
• Toys
• Stuffed animals
• Area rug
• Ceiling fan with lights

1. Paint the walls a pale flat yellow paint. Do a couple or more coats if the original paint on the wall is dark. A primer will come in handy in super dark original paint to lessen the number of coats saving you time and money. Wait for the paint to dry.

2. Buy picket fences from a hardware or home improvement store. Some of them come in pre-painted in white and some come in unfinished. If you buy unfinished picket fences paint them in white semi-gloss paint. Buy enough to go around the room. Make sure to smooth the edges using sand papers to avoid splinter cuts. Install the picket fences on all four walls by first using nail glue to hold them and then use hammer and nail or nail gun to secure them on the walls. Make sure to cut-out areas for wall sockets.

3. Draw or stencil assorted garden flowers right above he picket fences. Make sure to use different colors. Draw or stencil bugs, bumblebees, birds, caterpillars and butterflies.

4. Add balloon shade made of striped fabric. You can also just buy a ready-made balloon valance topper to be hung above the window.

5. Install a ceiling fan with light fixtures. This will serve as light during the night and double duty as a fan during warm days. Buy a fan that will go with your garden theme. A plain fan white fan will also work better than those stainless steel or commercial type fans.

6. Add furnishings made for young kids. You can buy ready-to-assemble wood furnishings or build them yourself by using plywood or MDF (medium density fiberboard). Build a bookshelf in a shape of a house. Make this as low as possible for young children to reach. Paint it in white color. Paint the roof of the bookshelf in light green color to go along with the garden theme room. Add decorative bugs and flowers on the bookshelf.
   
   Add a small desk and four small chairs for children to play on. Add an area rug under it to catch dirt, pieces of playdough or watercolors. The rug can also keep the little feet warm during colder days.

7. Add accessories. The best accessories to use are toys that your children love to play with. Hung on a corner next to a window a stuff toy sitting on a decorative swing hung from the ceiling using Manila rope. Hang it high enough so that kids cannot reach it.
   
   Add plastic flower pots with plastic or silk flowers. Put box organizers on the bookshelves to keep small toys and help in the clean up and organization. Display books that your children would love to read during story time. Add letters on the walls to spell the word GROW for a little creativity and artistic touch. You can also spell out your children's names to add personalization.

8. Add a CD player to play some of your children's favorite songs. This will encourage them to sing-along as they play giving it a happier atmosphere.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid putting a television in the room. You would want to have your children play, read books, interact with each other and other children when they play. It also helps if you encourage them to use their imagination when they play.
• Avoid putting video or hand-held games for the same reason as not putting a television in the playroom.
• Install a child monitor so you can closely watch your children even if you have to leave them for a while.
• Put child safety items to cover the wall sockets.
• Do not leave small children unattended.
• Do not put toys that can be choke hazards.
• Avoid buying toys that have lead contents to avoid poisoning.

[thenannysden]

on 9/5/2008 Good article! I enjoyed it!

[wisemama]

on 8/18/2008 I have recently come accross the greatest product I have used in years. I was considering adding a wall stencil (hand-painted) to my grand-daughters room and a friend recommended this company.

www.thesimplestencil.com or www.simplestencil.com (I am not sure which).

I just got my order yesterday (less than one week after I purchased online) and I installed it today. It is a miracle..It actually looks painted on and is so easy to do. My grand-daughter loves it. The best part is, when she gets tired of it, it is completely removable. I always thought this was a cheap method when I first learned about it but it is definitely the way to go.

I used a promo code my friend gave me to save 10% off, it may work for you too. Promo code SS2

I plan on using them again as soon as I can figure out what I want (the hardest part!).

[Walkaboutangel]

on 12/14/2007 You are sooooooo creative... Your children are so lucky to have you..

I gave you 5 stars. The kids gave you a million.

Angel

[SMolina77]

on 12/13/2007 Very cute! It's great that you wrote this, I happen to have a whimsical bedroom myself! Its very nautical and resembles a beach house. Awesome article!