Themed vs Style: What’s Best For Your Child’s Bedroom?

Choosing how to decorate your child’s bedroom isn’t easy, especially if you have a child who struggles at bedtime. You want to make their bedroom a comfortable haven with enough storage, space and light that also suits their personality. There are several types of space saving beds that can achieve this. But it’s often difficult to decide on style. You might have a toddler screaming for a dinosaur room while you want to think more long-term. But what are the benefits of a themed bedroom compared to longer lasting styles?

Themed bedroom

We’ve all seen the catalogue images of rooms filled with character print wallpaper, bedding, curtains, artwork and complete with a matching rug. Your child’s eyes might light up at the thought of having their beloved character from their favourite TV show sprawled across every inch of their room, but to you, it might seem like a nightmare.

Children often feel a strong bond towards certain a cartoon character, known as a parasocial relationship. Children with these bonds see the characters almost as a friend and think of them as lifelike and trustworthy. So, it is understandable why they would want to see them as soon as they wake up and before they go to sleep.

The one major downfall with having a themed bedroom for your child is that they grow out of their interests within a few years. Their disinterest for characters and even themes like princesses or pirates can seem to change overnight. This can often be due to wanting to like what their friends like or the latest ‘in thing’. So, how can you give your child their character bedroom without having to do a complete re-decorate in a year?

Read more: How To Decorate Your Child’s Bedroom

Keep it simple

If you want to keep your child content with a themed room, do it by getting items that can easily be replaced.

• Neutral colours & furniture – avoid colours that only suit one theme so that you don’t have to repaint or wallpaper. Opt for a timeless white headboards that will be adaptable.
• Wall stickers – instead of a painted wall mural, these stickers will peel off leaving no marks on the wall when your little one grows out of it.
• Soft furnishings – bedding and curtains can be easily changed at a later date.

Related: Beige beds

Styled bedroom

Sites like Pinterest and home magazines are full of dreamy pictures of pristine children’s bedrooms. In reality, your child might not see the appeal of a black and white Scandi style bedroom with pastel touches.

The key to choosing a bedroom without a theme is to try and compromise and choose the main aspects of the room together. Like with themed bedrooms, choosing a neutral colour scheme will allow your child to grow up without getting bored of a certain colour. A toddler who adores pink may quickly become a tomboy who hates it!

Walls in colours like cream or pale grey will give an aesthetic that can easily be matched without feeling too stark like white. For furniture, light oak or white will brighten up children’s bedrooms which tend to be smaller and won’t look too grown-up. Choose some interesting handles such as animal shapes or crystal style. These can be changed once your child grows out of the look.

Let your child personalise the space by choosing accessories they love such as fairy lights or a fun tepee for reading. You could even create a frame collage to host their favourite pieces of artwork. Psychologist and design consultant, Sally Augustin says, ‘We feel more relaxed and comfortable in our own territory’. Encouraging your child to get involved in the design stage will give them a sense of belonging and allow them to own the space.

Related: Should Children’s Bedrooms Be A No-TV Zone?

Which is better?

There is no right or wrong answer. If you and your child love the idea of a themed bedroom, go ahead and fill the room with characterful pieces from top to bottom. If you’d prefer to take the reins and opt for a more versatile design with longevity, a stylised room would be the better option. Whatever you choose, remember to get your child involved in the process, listen to their likes and dislikes and, most importantly, enjoy the experience!

Do you prefer themed or styled rooms for children? Have your say in the comments!