Start Neutral

• Create a neutral foundation in the bedroom that can be expanded and built upon to incorporate the interests of the child. When the color of the walls, ceiling, and floors are neutral these aspects of the room do not need to be changed when redecorating a bedroom as the child grows and changes. Choose a neutral paint color for the walls and expand the decor on the walls by adding a wallpaper border at the ceiling or a a chair rail height. Choose a neutral carpet or flooring and add an accent rug.
  
  

Boys' Rooms

• If a boy is a sports fan, incorporate one or more sporting themes into the room. You could center the decor on one particular sport like football or basketball, or you could make it more of a general sporting theme with all of the popular sports represented in the decor. If a boy has a favorite team, consider decorating the bedroom using items for that team.
  
  Other decorating themes for boys might include cars, trucks, trains, construction vehicles, and jungle animals.
  
  Add curtains or valances made from printed fabric coordinated with the decorating theme. Purchase bedding that matches the theme and find an accent rug as well. Add a wallpaper border that fits with the theme. Find some storage solutions for the bedroom that also fit the theme. For example, if the decorating theme is sports, a toy box shaped like a football or a baseball would work well. Add shelving to the walls and fill the shelves with items that coordinate with the decorating theme.
  
  

Girls' Rooms

• Incorporate specific interests of the girl into her bedroom. If she likes to dance, center the decorating theme on her favorite kind of dance. For example, if the girl is a ballet dancer, add different ballet decor items to the room.
  
  Other decorating themes for girls might include teddy bears, tea parties, doll houses, flowers, and butterflies.
  
  Find curtains or valances that are lacy and frilly and complement the decorating theme. Purchase a bedding set that coordinates with the theme. Add a wallpaper border or use wallpaper decals--cut-out pictures that coordinate with the theme of the bedroom.
  
  Place shelves along the walls and fill them with books and items that fit the theme. For example, if the theme is tea parties, place tea pots on the shelves. If the theme is teddy bears, place assorted teddy bears of varying sizes on the shelves.
  
  

Change When Desired

• When the foundation of a child's bedroom is neutral, any of the accent pieces can be replaced as the child changes interests. Bedding can be replaced and accent rugs can be changed easily. Curtains and valances can be switched and even wallpaper borders can be removed if necessary.