How to Decorate a Bedroom with a "Where the Wild Things Are" Theme

“Where the Wild Things Are” is the tale of a rascally young boy named Max who is sent to his bedroom without supper. While in his room, Max embarks on an elaborate imaginative voyage that takes him to another land. Many children can easily relate to Max and his emotions. If you and your child love Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are,” consider decorating his or her bedroom in a “Where the Wild Things Are” theme.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Overhead projector
• Pencil
• Paints (various colors)
• Lamp with plain cream colored shade
• Color printer
• Curtain rod
• Off white muslin fabric
• Off white cotton comforter and pillow shams

1. Paint the bedroom a soft shade of blue. Get a copy of “Where the Wild Things Are” to find the shade you want, and take the book with you to have the paint store color match your choice of colors. Most of the pages of the book have a blue background, so your "Where the Wild Things Are" theme room should have blue walls. The night scenes are done in a dark blue, but those might be too dark for a child’s bedroom.

2. Print out the photo of your choice. This image will become a mural on your child’s bedroom wall. If you’d like, print out more than one image to cover more than one wall. Take this image to your local office supply store and have them make an acetate print out of the “Where the Wild Things Are” image.

3. Rent or borrow an overhead projector. Position this in the room so that the image is projected onto the wall at the height and size that you desire. Trace the image with a pencil. Use a stroke that is heavy enough that you’ll be able to see it when you are painting.

4. Use paints to color in the images on the wall mural. Stay as close to the colors in the book as possible.

5. Cut curtains with the off-white muslin. Use a leaf (or a leaf-shaped rubber stamp) to put leaf shapes on the curtains. Hang the curtains with a curtain rod.

6. Lay the off-white comforter on a flat surface. Use a larger leaf (or leaf-shaped rubber stamp) to put leaf shapes on the comforter.

7. Print out color images of Max in his wolf costume and the Wild Things with your printer. Cut out the characters and trees. Decoupage these onto the off-white lamp shade using Modge Podge.

8. Decoupage small color images to the light switch plate, using Modge Podge.

9. If your child has posts on his or her bed, paint them to look like tree trunks (using shades of brown), and top each post with faux greener, to simulate trees.

Resources

• Get a custom made "Where the Wild Things Are" costume on eBay
• Where the Wild Things Are toddler Max footie pajamas
• Where the Wild Things are Soundtrack with Poster
• Maurice Sendac's "Where the Wild Things Are" hardback
• How to Make a "Where the Wild Things Are" Max Costume with No Pattern
• How to Plan, Organize, and Throw a "Where the Wild Things Are" Theme Party