Colours for Decorating Kids Bedrooms

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Sarah Hodgkins

You might think that decorating kids bedrooms was pretty straight forward, especially when it comes to colour. Pink for girls, blue for boys, right? But the psycology of colour and how it affects our moods, (whether you realise it or not!) is a science; and one that shouldn’t be ignored.

Ever wondered why restaurants are often painted in strong colours, especially red? Because red raises our blood pressure, just a little and actually makes us hungry. Whereas if you are trying to lose a little weight in 2012, invest in some blue plates. An American University has invested in research which shows that we will eat less, from a blue plate!

Big companies are using this science all the time, to influence how we feel about them and their products and more and more research is being done on how colours affect how we think and feel. Most of the time, we will not even notice these changes, they are subtle, but they are there and it would be a foolish parent who did not at least be aware of this before decorating their kids bedrooms. So before you reach for the paint charts, read on…

Red, as we have already mentioned, raises the blood pressure, makes your heart beat faster and makes your feel energised. Your brain is programmed to look at red, it is used widely in nature to represent danger! Red cars get more tickets than any other colour…so when it comes to decorating kids bedrooms, use with care. It is absolutely wrong for a nursery, and should be used with care for a child of any age. Fine for an accent colour, but keep away from eye-line when your child is in bed.

Girls pink fairy room

Girlie Heaven! Pin and fluffy fairies, every little girls dream.

Mix red with white however, and pink has completely different properties. Some of the world’s most dangerous criminals are housed in pink cells it calms and sooths, like no other colour. It rids the body of aggression and drains energy. So if it works for hardened criminals, it might just work for your teenage daughter?!

Yellow is an interesting one…it’s associations with the sun and laughter are justified, yellow actually increases the levels of serotonin (the feel good chemical) produced. It stimulates creativity and it’s ability to lift your spirits can not be denied. However, babies are known to cry more in a yellow nursery than any other colour, particularly if a deeper shade is used. So again, when it comes to decorating kids rooms, use with care and as an accent colour only.

Orange combines the feel good characteristics of yellow, with the attention seeking of red to make the most sociable colour you can get. It is a warm, happy colour that encourages ambition and creativity. If you have a shy child, introducing orange into their room can have a positive influence.

Blue is the colour of the sky and the sea. Your body will produce calming chemicals on seeing blue and it also focuses the mind. A great colour for kids studying for exams, workers are proven to be more productive in a blue room and weight lifters can lift heavier weights in a blue gym! Be careful on the shades of blue you use when decorating kids bedrooms, too much blue can be cold and unwelcoming. Aim for blues with a green undertone.

Springtime mural

This mural combines pinks and greens to give the ultimate in peace and harmony.

Green is the nurturing colour, again, very calming, it brings harmony and peace. It releases energy in a steady way and is a great alternative to pink, where pink is not an option! As someone who has just introduced green into her own daughter’s room, I can speak from experience that it’s influence is strong. Green is good for a nervous child who likes reassurance and stability. Green is also said to bring money and fertility…you have been warned.

Adolescent girls are most likely to pick purple as their favourite colour. Which is good, as it helps the brain to solve problems and work things out. Traditionally used to denote wealth and royalty, it promotes brain activity and encourages wisdom. Resist the temptation to use in excess though, it works best in smaller amounts…

Black and white are not strictly colours at all. Black is what you get in the absence of all colour and white is the combination of all the colours. Both used to enote evil and mourning in different cultures, they have the benefit of going with all the other colours.

So in summary, chosing colours to decorate kids rooms is often down to what they like. But knowing the effect if could have on their mood and behaviour is useful and could help you make life just that little bit easier.

For your free colour analysis, please contact sarah@charlottedesigns.co.uk

www.charlottedesigns.co.uk

 

 

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Wall Mural v Wallpaper

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Sarah Hodgkins

It’s a tricky one isn’t it… Your kid wants a wall mural…you don’t know how to do one. You want wallpaper,  (hides the uneven surface and relatively easy to put up), but that is not cutting the mustard with your child. Now there are places that do wall murals as wallpaper, these are not cheap of course, but you get a great mural and it is as easy to put up as wallpaper, is that not the answer?

Well, yes sometimes it is. Wallpaper is fine for older kids who are not going to pick at it or get their grubby fingers all over it, when they are constantly pointing at the same bit. It is great if you want a pattern all over one wall. But if you want something practical, something personal and something that fits your child’s room and personality, then Wall Murals are the way to go. Don’t be afraid…

Cats and Dogs Mural

Cats and Dogs mural

Wall Murals are not as expensive as you might think. This mural, painted for a 4 year old and covering just the part of her wall that you can see, cost just £300. It is humorous, it has lots of girlie pink and glitter and will last her years. There are lots of little ‘in jokes’ that she will always remember. You can’t buy wallpaper like that.

 

Spaniel and Rotweiler mural

Spaniel and Rotweiler mural

If you have a bit more budget and don’t really have a whole wall to devote to a mural, why not dot around the room where you have some space. This 10 year old has 8 dogs dotted around her small room, sitting on her desk, balancing on her bed and peering out from behind the bookcase. This mural cost £450 and like all our murals, is painted in emulsion paint so she and her friends can stroke the dog as many times as they want.

The process is simple. Tell us what ideas you have, and if you don’t have any, we can come up with some together. We will draw out your mural for you to give you an idea of what it will look like and give you the opportunity to make any changes that you want. Then we just arrange a day to come and paint your wall mural and it’s done. No mess, no fuss, no wallpaper.

Feature wall flower mural

Feature wall mural

Just in case you think we only paint dogs, this mural was painted for a lady who wanted a feature wall but didn’t want wallpaper all over it, felt it would be too much. Which it probably would. So we took some of the flower shapes from her curtains and created 2 designs either side of her fireplace. The effect is subtle and striking at the same time. The cost of this was £300.

Most of our wall murals take just a day to paint, but the memories will last a lifetime. You can’t say that about wallpaper, not unless it is really, really bad!

Charlotte Designs offers completely free, no obligation consultations. Visit www.charlottedesigns.co.uk

 

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More doggies…

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Sarah Hodgkins

Apologies, I have been having some work done on my blog to make it a bit prettier! So now it is all done, let’s finish off this dog room.

So once we had done the collie done and the rest of the breeds of dog had been decided on, it was just a case of deciding where they would go. The spaniel is one of Charlotte’s favourites, so I wanted that close to her when she was in bed. As she has a mid-rise bed with tubular metal around the sides, it seemed a good idea to have one of the dogs using it as a balance beam, hence the spaniel picking his way carefully along the top of her bed.

Next, we wanted to have something helping her when she was doing her homework, so the smallest breed, the King Charles Spaniel, sits quietly ‘on’ her desk. The geometric shapes that we had painted to begin with had created us a little ‘cosy’ area, and we decided to use that as pupply corner. Initially, all that was required was the ‘Andrex puppy’, but then next door decided to get a King Charles Spaniel puppy, so that had to be included too!

We always wanted a dog greeting you as you walked in, and as West Highland Terriers are always pleased to see anybody, we painted him jumping up enthusiastically to greet you as you walk in. The last breed Charlotte wanted including was a Rotweiler. Now these can be a little scary, so we made sure ours had a big smile on his face and was looking playful and friendly. Not so much for Charlotte’s benefit, but some of her sleepover friends are not quite so keen! The result was a resounding hit. Everyone who has seen it has a different favourite and we have finished the room off with a doggy duvet cover, cushion, blind and door stop to create a cosy canine world for her to enjoy.

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It’s a Dogs Life!

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Sarah Hodgkins

Dont’ you just love it when your kids turn round and says, “I would love a new bedroom…”, in that leading way that children are so good at. To be fair, my daughter hadn’t had her room decorated for a few years and it was looking tired, as well as being pony themed, a fad that died a long time ago. So my  husband and I decided to redecorate her room for her as a birthday gift. As a mural artist, I am always keen that my children’s environments reflect their interests and personality, so after some discussion, if was decided that we would paint it in a ‘Dog Agility’ type theme. She was keen that we incorporated her favourite breeds of pooch. So once Dad has painted a simple geometric background, I first painted a collie, jumping down…to see more, visit www.charlottedesigns.co.uk

Charlotte Designs, dog mural, dog wall painting, collie mural, border collie painting

Charlotte's Collie

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Decorating for Children after Divorce

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Sarah Hodgkins

By Sarah Hodgkins, Charlotte Designs www.charlottedesigns.co.uk

The end of a relationship is a stressful and challenging time for all parties, but particularly for any children involved. Not only are they coping with living with just one parent, but there is often a move to a new home or the re-creation of the existing one after partners have separated. Ideally, a home is a haven of rest and relaxation and an inviting place safe from the world to share time with family and friends. Once possessions have been divided and it’s time to move on, it can be difficult to know how to establish a new and comfortable home.

Not surprisingly, a home after separation and divorce can feel empty, cold or incomplete. While it’s important to acknowledge the losses that come with the end of a relationship, it’s equally important to focus on the potential gains. Re-creating a home is an opportunity to express your individual style, enjoy a fresh start and mark the beginning of a new direction in your life.

As you work to establish a new home for yourself and children, resist the urge to rush. It can be tempting to want to settle in quickly and forget the pain of days gone by. Be cautious when it comes to eliminating items just because they remind you of the past. This may be cathartic for you, but very upsetting for your child. Used in a new way in a new home, they may feel right and if after a while, if that isn’t the case, then you can make the decision to let them go. In addition, avoid buying furniture and accessories without a clear direction, as you may end up with a collection that looks thrown together and very transitional. Create a plan for your home based on the pieces you already own, what you can reasonably afford to add, and how you would like to express yourself through your home.

Many people start with a relatively blank slate; so focus on creating a home that will be functional and that you and your children will truly love. For many, the budget is tight and the new space is smaller than the old. This calls for creativity. If you are not in need of, or in a position to replace, larger pieces of furniture, focus on changing accessories and artwork to create a new look. Think about repurposing furniture (can a dresser that’s too large for a bedroom be repainted and stand in as an entertainment unit in the sitting room?). Painting walls and furniture is a relatively inexpensive way to generate a new color scheme if it’s time for a change. Scour online sites such as eBay which are great source of furniture bargains.

Focus on the children’s rooms first. Kids need a sense of security and control throughout the process of a separation and divorce. Most children can be encouraged to choose the paint color for their new rooms, help with furniture layout and shop with you. Remember that your child is going most likely to be feeling confused and isolated. Creating a space that they can call their own is a wise investment in their emotional wellbeing. Bring together important items from the past for continuity and combine them with new and exciting items that reflect their hobbies and interests. Murals are a wonderful and cost effective way of making a space personal and interesting, they can also give a route to excaspism, when they are having a rough day. Remember, your home doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to be a place that you all want to be. Your child’s room might not be your taste right now, but allowing them to take responsibility for their room may give them some sense of being in control, in a world they may feel they have limited say. Your own touches will give it personality and a uniqueness that speaks volumes.

After the losses that come with the dissolution of a relationship, it’s especially important to make your space personal. A home is so much more than a place to live. Let yours bring you a sense of comfort and accomplishment. Your home can express where you are going, as well as where you have been. Gone is the need to compromise, discuss decorating decisions and choose items suitable for your partner. Setting up a home following divorce is your time to set your sights on a new future.

#Sarah Hodgkins is an Interior Designer and Mural Artist, with a specialisation in children’s spaces. For more information visit www.charlottedesigns.co.uk

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