How to Decorate a Child's Room With an Angel Theme

Decorating a child's room can be difficult. Parents often seek to use a theme that can stretch from the nursery up until school begins. Anything too babyish will have to be changed as soon as the child moves beyond the toddler stage. Anything too mature won't establish the proper mood for the child's earliest formative years. One theme that can work well from the first day through the age of about seven or eight is that of angels. Whether it is in a spiritual connotation or simply to add a touch of whimsy, angels often offer undeniable comfort.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Cloud-themed wallpaper border
• Gauzy curtains
• Rub-on appliqués of angels watching over children Wall tapestry or fabric with angel motif
• Angel figurines
• Snow globes featuring angels
• Angel dolls
• Angel night light

Instructions

Establish the Basic Design of the Room

1. Decide how far to go with the angel theme. One parent might choose to stick with basic solids or geometric designs, adding only a few angel touches here and there. Another parent might choose to use the theme throughout the entire area. Whatever the decision might be, it will impact the remaining steps.

2. Determine how long the theme should last. It is completely appropriate for just about any age, from a few days old to age seven or eight. This decision may have an impact on the type of items chosen for the child's room.

3. Take room measurements if needed in order to make furniture purchases, as well as for flooring and wall-covering purchases. This will also help determine how much space will be available for furniture and accessories.

4. Draft out the space on paper. Be sure to note all doors, closets, windows, built-in shelving and anything else that may have an impact on your decision-making process. Sketch out the type of furniture to be included in the room and where it will be placed within the space.

5. Make basic design decisions about the type of floor covering, wall covering, trim, and window covering. Floor-covering options could include wood, laminate, carpet, paint, tile or some combination thereof. Wall-covering choices could include paint, wallpaper or fabric. Window-covering options could include blinds, shades or curtains. Don't forget to consider color choices as well as textures. Trim colors should complement the walls.

6. Apply your basic paint, paper or covering to the wall. Choose a base color that supports the overall theme but that can also span the length of time chosen for the themed room. Consider using an appropriate wall mural. Stencil or hand-draw clouds over a blue paint, or add a cloud-themed wallpaper border around the top of a plain-colored or minimally designed wall.

7. Paint the room's trim to complement the walls.

8. Lay the flooring. To lengthen the amount of time the room can be used, stick with solid basic colors and designs. Add accent rugs for color and texture.

9. Hang window blinds or shades if planned.

Accessorize With an Angel Motif

1. Stencil or hand-paint clouds, stars, rainbows or birds and other creatures of the sky on a wall that has been painted with a plain background color. Add a few stencil or hand-painted angels strategically placed throughout the wall space. Another option would be to use rub-on appliqués of angels watching over children as they play, sleep or pray. Such appliqués are often available in a peel-and-stick or rub-on form. A third option would be to hang a wall tapestry or piece of fabric on the wall that features some kind of angel motif.

2. Hang curtains. Choose gauze or lightweight fabrics. Accent with delicate chiffon scarves or valances. Mix prints with solid colors to add additional interest to the overall look.

3. Choose accent fabrics (for bedcovers, throws and pillow) that fit in with the overall room design. Be sure to mix in solid colors to break up printed patterns and to add more visual interest to the room. If using angels in the fabric choices, be sure to keep them minimal within the motif so as not to overpower the room.

4. Add or change lighting covers if necessary. Keep overhead lighting very basic in nature. Add table lamps to the room as needed, keeping them in tune with the theme of the room. Take a favorite angel figurine and turn it into a lamp base, or purchase one that is pre-made.

5. Accent plain walls with framed prints, paintings, plates or tapestries.

6. Add angel accents throughout the room. Use heavy angel figurines as bookends. Choose snow globes featuring angels along with a favorite lullaby. Place angel dolls in room chairs, on a toy bench or on shelves. Place a few special angel figures on bookshelves or side tables.

7. Plug in an angel night light to let the child know that someone is always watching over him.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep accents light and airy in keeping with the overall heavenly theme.

• Choose a few great accent pieces rather than a number of cheaper ones.

• Don't choose fabric accents that aren't simple and inexpensive to keep clean.