Inspire young artists through interior design

When faced with what might seem like the mammoth task of decorating your child’s bedroom, it pays to start with the child. They have their whole lives to live within white walls, so why not let them run wild now and (gasp!) choose their own colour scheme? And, while you’re at it, why not let them dive headfirst into the project with you?

Interior designer Jackie Jones says getting kids involved in the design of their own space allows them to be inspired and confident with their own creativity – and if that means adding a bit of colour, embrace it.

“Don’t be afraid to let kids’ rooms have some personality,” advises Jackie. “A bit of paint is really easy to change later on down the track. You can always revert to a neutral colour scheme when they’re a bit older.”

All of Jackie’s kids have grown up watching Mum and Dad tackle numerous DIY projects over the years and are now all dab hands with a brush. She believes that, with a few golden rules, a child of any age can become the perfect DIY apprentice.

“First of all, you’ve got to be in the right mood,” she explains. “You’ve got to be in the room and give them a limited space to deal with. It’s a bit like getting your kids to bake in the kitchen – if you don’t let them do it when they’re younger, how on earth are they going to do it when they’re older? It might be messy to start with, but you reap the benefits in years to come.”

Wonder walls

Depending on the size of the room, keep in mind that this project could take all day, so think about how far you can push your child’s attention span. They may only stick with it for an hour, but that’s ok. Don’t expect that you’ll end up with a mini expert DIYer straight away. Of course, getting the kids involved might not be easy for some – they might need a nudge. But knowing how to paint a room is a skill your child will have for life.

Here are a few tips for painting with kids:

• Do your painting prep beforehand, such as sanding and taping off your skirting boards and ceiling. Unless you think the kids would like to help with the prep, it’s best to have everything prepared so they’ll have to do is roll up their sleeves.
• Keep cloths on hand to wipe down any spills and sanding dust.
• Make sure all your furniture is covered – this is something easy that the kids can help with, if you have the time.
• Let them know which area is theirs to paint, hand them a roller and get stuck in!
• For even more fun, once the paint has dried, give them a patch to paint over with Resene Crackle Effect. Stand back and watch it shrink and crack, to reveal the colour below.

In the frame

If your kids aren’t quite at an age where they can grab a roller and roll with it (excuse the pun), inject a bit of personality by choosing a palette, picking up some testpots in your chosen colours and asking them to paint a mural (or three), then purchase some inexpensive frames and have them paint those too.

Debbie Omond, from Compose Interiors Limited, says choosing the colours yourself, and having the kids create their own art, allows the children to inject their personality and art into the room in a way that complements the rest of your home.

“Framing your child’s art can really take it to the next level,” says Debbie. “Position three frames in a consistent size in a row on the wall then switch their art out regularly. Little kids, especially, will be so proud of what they’ve achieved.”

Stunning stencils

If your kids are older, stencilling can be a fun project for a themed bedroom. Adding their favourite designs or shapes is super easy. Go to resene.com/stencils to find instructions and pictures that can be downloaded. Testpots are a great way to do small projects on the cheap and this is another opportunity to let the kids choose their own colours.

Great heights

A height chart is another fun task, which is easy enough to get small children involved with. It’s best to go with a freestanding chart, as teenagers probably won’t appreciate staring at their height development but it may be something you’d like to hang out to after they’ve outgrown it.

Have your child choose the colours of their chart then ask them to help with the tape application and painting. For step-by-step instructions, go to resene.co.nz/homeown/habitat/22-measuring-stick.htm.

February 07, 2019

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