How to Decorate a Young Girl's Room

How to Decorate a Young Girl's Room.

Decorating a young girl’s room can be a lot of fun! But with so many choices, it can also be a bit overwhelming. To simplify the process, start with the basics, such as a theme and color for the room. Then, choose your furniture and accessories to complete the look. Involve your child in the process to ensure that she will be as thrilled with the finished product as you are.

Method 1 Selecting a Theme and Color Scheme.

1. Choose a theme to decorate around. You can use your child’s favorite character from a book or movie, their favorite activity, a favorite animal, or something else they like to decorate the room. Try asking your child what sorts of things they would like to have in their room to help you start planning.

For example, if your child loves the ocean, then you might go with a nautical or aquarium theme or go with something more whimsical, such as mermaids.

For a girl who loves the outdoors, you could create a camp-themed bedroom.

If your daughter’s favorite movie is Frozen, then perhaps you could decorate her bedroom to look like Anna’s room in the movie, or simply incorporate lots of white and light blue touches with a few snowflake decals on the wall.

2. Opt for a color scheme your little girl loves. If you know what colors your little girl likes, choose 1 or 2 to be the central colors for the room. Ask your little girl what colors she would like her room to be if you’re not sure. Some good color options include.

Pastels, such as light pink, lavender, and yellow.

Muted tones, such as light grey, beige, and white.

Bright colors, such as magenta, coral, aqua, and lime green.

Tip: If you decide to paint the room, make sure to move all of the items to another room until you finish. The room will need to air out for a day or 2 after you finish painting, so the room won't be usable for at least 1 night.

3. Paint 1 wall an accent color or cover it in wallpaper. If you don’t want to paint all 4 walls of the room in the same color, then select 1 wall as an accent. This will help to anchor the room and draw the eye to 1 section of the room.

Make the longest wall in the room your accent wall. This will help to make the room seem larger.

A few pink or lavender touches is enough to make a bedroom seem girly, if that's what you're going for. Try choosing a wallpaper with some light pink flowers on it to use as an accent, or paint 1 wall a light lavender.

4. Add a mural or decal for an extra pop of color. If you don’t want to paint the whole room, or if you want to add some extra flair after painting, then a mural or decal can work wonders. Paint the mural or add the decal over an area of the wall that will remain bare and open, such as the wall opposite the bed.

For example, you could paint a porthole looking into the ocean for a nautical-themed room, a mural of a forest if you want to create a camp-themed bedroom, do a Scandinavian-inspired window looking out on a snowy tundra for a Frozen-themed room.

Avoid adding a mural or decal to a part of the wall where a piece of furniture will block it, such as a dresser or the headboard.

5. Hang art and pictures on the walls if you don’t want to paint. To decorate the walls without painting, hanging wallpaper, or sticking something on them, try hanging paintings, posters, or pictures on the walls. Choose some items that go well with your color scheme or theme.

For example, if you are decorating your child’s room with grey and coral colors, then a coral and white painting of a shell might be a nice touch.

For a whimsical, unicorn-themed bedroom, a poster with a unicorn on it would be a great addition.

Method 2 Choosing Furniture.

1. Choose a toddler bed, day bed, or twin-sized bed. Depending on the age of the young girl’s room, you might still be having her sleep in a crib or toddler bed. However, you may have moved her into a daybed or even a twin-sized bed if she is a little older. Select a bed that suits your child’s age, and then decide on what style of bed you would like her to have. Make sure to ask for her input as well!

Go with an antique bed for a distinctive look.

Try a floor bed for something that is easy to get into and out of.

Choose a bed with a canopy over it or hang a canopy over the bed for a whimsical look.

2. Set up a space to read and play. A small pouf chair, a nook in the corner with some comfy pillows, or even a little teepee in the room are great spaces to read and play. Make sure to set up an area a little away from the bed to play during the day.

Beanbag chairs are easy, inexpensive options for a bedroom.

You can also get a hanging chair for your child and suspend it from the ceiling for something different and fun.

3. Get a dresser or under-the-bed storage for reducing clutter. Whether the bedroom has a closet or not, you will likely need some other type of storage for things like toys, shoes, socks, and clothing. Choose a dresser or some drawers that fit under the bed if you are short on space.

Try to select pieces that match or complement the other furniture you have chosen, such as a white dresser if you have purchased a white bed.

4. Choose a bookshelf or other shelving solution for extra storage. A bookshelf is a great way to provide a place for books and items to display, such as pictures and trinkets. You can also use cubbies or wall-mounted shelves to store toys, trinkets, and other small items.

Opt for a few sturdy wall-mounted shelves if you are short on space. Make sure to install them where your young girl can reach them.

Not sure what to do with unwanted items? Try having a garage sale after redecorating your child’s room. This will help you to make some money off of items that your child no longer wants. If anything is left over, donate it to your local thrift store.

5. Add a bedside table to store small items and trinkets. Having somewhere to place a cup of water, an alarm clock, and other small items will help to complete the bedroom. Select a small bedside table that will complement the finish on the other furniture you have picked out.

For example, if the room has brightly colored furniture, such as yellow, green, and pink, then you might opt for an electric blue bedside table. Or, if all of the furniture is purple, then get a purple bedside table.

6. Include a chair and desk or small table for a work and play station. Having somewhere designated for homework, writing in a journal, or drawing will make the room even more functional. Choose a desk that matches or complements the rest of the furniture and decor in the room and set it up somewhere out of the way, such as against a blank wall or beside a window. Pair a sturdy chair with it to provide a place to sit.

For example, if the other furniture pieces in the room are white, then opt for a white desk and chair. If the room has lots of natural wood furniture, then opt for a desk and chair in a matching finish.

Method 3 Adding Finishing Touches.

1. Select bedding that incorporates your chosen theme and colors. Choose some bedding that will work with your theme or simply opt for bedding in colors that you like. Choose sheets, pillow cases, and a comforter that will fit the bed.

For example, if you are doing a zoo theme, then you could select bedding with zoo animals on it.

You don’t have to have bedding that is perfectly matched to your theme. You can mix and match bedding pieces, such as a polka dot comforter with a plaid pillowcase and solid color sheets.

You could also use family heirlooms as bedding, such as quilts, afghans, or throw pillows to help pull the room together.

2. Hang decorative items from the ceiling and walls. Hanging a mobile, paper lantern, or another small item from the ceiling is a great way to add interest to the room. You can also hang items on the wall, such as a garland or a string of lights.

For example, you could string lights from the ceiling or hang them on a section of the wall for a soft glow in the bedroom at night.

Or, make a garland with glittery gold letters that spell the girl's name or a special word, and hang this from the wall or ceiling.

You could even hang parasols or umbrellas upside down from the ceiling for a whimsical touch.

3. Choose a decorative lamp or nightlight. A decorative lamp or nightlight will help to make the bedroom feel even more inviting and cozy, especially at night. Choose lamp that will fit on the dresser, nightstand, or that you can easily mount on the wall or hang from the ceiling.

You can also purchase special decorative night lights that plug right into the wall.

Tip: For something extra-special, make your little girl a lamp yourself, such as by using an old vase.

4. Place an area rug on the floor near the bed. A decorative rug can help to tie the room together and add an extra touch to the room. If possible, opt for a rug that has an inviting texture. Make sure to choose a rug that complements the colors and theme you are going for in the room.

For example, if you are using lavender and aqua as your colors, try to find a rug that features 1 or both of these colors.

If you are going for a princess theme, then you might choose a rug that has a crown or a fancy shoe on it.