INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNITURE GUIDE

BABY FURNITURE IDEAS

Armoires for Kids

December 30th, 2009

When designing and decorating your child’s room and making a list of furnishings you want to include, an armoire might not seem like a priority. But there are several reasons why an armoire is a good choice. Since most armoires are multi-purpose, if you buy one for your child’s nursery, it can adapt as your child grows, providing many years of storage, from toddler to teen, for toys, clothes, shoes and accessories, no matter the developmental stage. 

A nursery armoire is ideal for storing clothes, blankies, bibs, shoes and other accessories; even toys. As they get older, the armoire’s multiple compartments become more and more practical. Especially if it can accommodate a television or computer, this type of armoire becomes particularly useful when they reach the tween and teen years. And no matter how adequate the closet, a child always needs plenty more storage space. The best part of a children’s armoire is the doors; it’s easy to hide things away and keep the room neat. The following guide will tell you how to choose a children’s armoire that will last through all of your child’s developmental years.

Versatile storage 

Manufacturers offer children’s armoires, designed with kids in mind, in a wide variety of styles, types, configurations and colors. A well-built, multi-purpose TV/wardrobe armoire will have a number of functional and organizational features. Select an armoire that will best suit your child’s needs.

  • A children’s TV or computer armoire should have wrap-around or pocket doors so that they stay out of the way when watching television or working at the computer.
  • Especially if you plan on using and re-using the armoire, adjustable shelves will allow you to easily adapt it for a variety of uses.
  • Drawers, in the base of the wardrobe armoire or in its interior cabinet, make it easy for children to store and locate things.
  • When purchasing a TV or computer armoire, consider what kinds of features, such as an adjustable keyboard tray, storage slots for discs or cork board, will be most useful to your child.
  • When selecting a TV armoire for your child’s or teen’s room, choose one with shelves about the TV area. Depending on the size of the television, not only does this prevent from the opening from appearing too large, but it also adds more storage capacity.
  • Purchase a children’s TV armoire with a slide out panel. This will give you the option of converting it to a wardrobe armoire at a later date.
  • A removable clothing rod increases the functionality of the armoire. When the clothing rod is in place, your child can use the armoire for clothes; once removed, it makes a great TV armoire. 

It Has To Look Good 

A well-chosen armoire enhances the room by adding charm and sophistication. Particularly when buying an armoire for a younger child, if you want the bedroom set to last through a couple of developmental stages, choose a style that will have lasting appeal over the trendy armoire that might not be as appealing in two years. Decorating a child’s room today is an adventure. Gone are the days of yore when parents had limited choices, mostly available in basic white. Today, with all of the choices manufacturers give you, you can design your child’s room to exactly fit his or her both current and future needs.

Traditional 

Lea Jessica McClintock

Traditional style has an understated elegance that is adaptable. Furnishings typically have lots of decoration, flowing lines and curved profiles. Traditional style children’s furniture is generally made of wood, with finishes that range from dark wood finishes to painted finishes in bold or pastel colors. They are often distressed for a worn or antique look. Traditional styles such as Sheraton, Queen Anne, Neo Classical French Provincial are modeled after historical fashions, periods and trends. A Victorian reproduction armoire has a fanciful and romantic feel that is perfect for princess-themed rooms; a traditional style bedroom for a child that will last until the college years; or a classic décor for a teen with discerning tastes. 

A bedroom is as much a play area as a place to sleep. In addition to creating a more formal and sophisticated feel, a traditional décor has proportion and symmetry that is soothing, welcoming and inviting. A computer armoire or TV armoire is exceptionally useful in accommodating modern technology while maintaining the room’s timeless atmosphere. 

Contemporary 

Berg Furniture

A child’s bedroom in a contemporary style has a clean, streamlined look that is both inviting and practical. Contemporary style armoires have smooth, clean lines and can use geometric forms in unique ways. While the emphasis is on function rather than decoration, contemporary style still includes decorative elements. Contemporary furnishings are typically made from lighter woods. Profiles tend to be relaxed, lending the room a calm and uncluttered appearance. 

Contemporary furniture for kids, tweens and teens is specially designed to appeal to them while being well-constructed, durable and suited to your budget. Contemporary style is comprised of several sub-styles diverse enough to appeal to many different tastes. A contemporary style armoire is simple in form while decorative detailing is stylized or spare. 

Country 

Alligator Enterprises

Country style is rooted in the traditional, but has been adapted from its original location to reflect newer geographic locations and regions away from major city centers. Country style furniture characteristically is made of wood with lighter wood finishes such as pine or maple, possesses simpler decorative detail and is smaller in scale. Other popular finishes range from milk-painted finishes in white and pastels to finishes that have exposed grains or are distressed. 

Country style armoires are universally appealing with their unpretentious designs yet elegant and charming looks. This is a perfect choice for a child’s or teen’s room because decorative details like stenciling, a scalloped apron, blunt arrow or bun feet and wainscoting lend the décor an inviting and comfortable air. A country style TV or computer armoire will add a stylish touch while increasing the room’s functionality.

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Armoires for Kids

December 24th, 2009

When designing and decorating your child’s room and making a list of furnishings you want to include, an armoire might not seem like a priority. But there are several reasons why an armoire is a good choice. Since most armoires are multi-purpose, if you buy one for your child’s nursery, it can adapt as your child grows, providing many years of storage, from toddler to teen, for toys, clothes, shoes and accessories, no matter the developmental stage.

A nursery armoire is ideal for storing clothes, blankies, bibs, shoes and other accessories; even toys. As they get older, the armoire’s multiple compartments become more and more practical. Especially if it can accommodate a television or computer, this type of armoire becomes particularly useful when they reach the tween and teen years. And no matter how adequate the closet, a child always needs plenty more storage space. The best part of a children’s armoire is the doors; it’s easy to hide things away and keep the room neat. The following guide will tell you how to choose a children’s armoire that will last through all of your child’s developmental years.

Versatile storage

Manufacturers offer children’s armoires, designed with kids in mind, in a wide variety of styles, types, configurations and colors. A well-built, multi-purpose TV/wardrobe armoire will have a number of functional and organizational features. Select an armoire that will best suit your child’s needs.

  • A children’s TV or computer armoire should have wrap-around or pocket doors so that they stay out of the way when watching television or working at the computer.
  • Especially if you plan on using and re-using the armoire, adjustable shelves will allow you to easily adapt it for a variety of uses.
  • Drawers, in the base of the wardrobe armoire or in its interior cabinet, make it easy for children to store and locate things.
  • When purchasing a TV or computer armoire, consider what kinds of features, such as an adjustable keyboard tray, storage slots for discs or cork board, will be most useful to your child.
  • When selecting a TV armoire for your child’s or teen’s room, choose one with shelves about the TV area. Depending on the size of the television, not only does this prevent from the opening from appearing too large, but it also adds more storage capacity.
  • Purchase a children’s TV armoire with a slide out panel. This will give you the option of converting it to a wardrobe armoire at a later date.
  • A removable clothing rod increases the functionality of the armoire. When the clothing rod is in place, your child can use the armoire for clothes; once removed, it makes a great TV armoire.

It Has To Look Good

A well-chosen armoire enhances the room by adding charm and sophistication. Particularly when buying an armoire for a younger child, if you want the bedroom set to last through a couple of developmental stages, choose a style that will have lasting appeal over the trendy armoire that might not be as appealing in two years. Decorating a child’s room today is an adventure. Gone are the days of yore when parents had limited choices, mostly available in basic white. Today, with all of the choices manufacturers give you, you can design your child’s room to exactly fit his or her both current and future needs.

Traditional

Lea Jessica McClintock

Traditional style has an understated elegance that is adaptable. Furnishings typically have lots of decoration, flowing lines and curved profiles. Traditional style children’s furniture is generally made of wood, with finishes that range from dark wood finishes to painted finishes in bold or pastel colors. They are often distressed for a worn or antique look. Traditional styles such as Sheraton, Queen Anne, Neo Classical French Provincial are modeled after historical fashions, periods and trends. A Victorian reproduction armoire has a fanciful and romantic feel that is perfect for princess-themed rooms; a traditional style bedroom for a child that will last until the college years; or a classic décor for a teen with discerning tastes.

A bedroom is as much a play area as a place to sleep. In addition to creating a more formal and sophisticated feel, a traditional décor has proportion and symmetry that is soothing, welcoming and inviting. A computer armoire or TV armoire is exceptionally useful in accommodating modern technology while maintaining the room’s timeless atmosphere.

Contemporary

Berg Furniture Armoire

A child’s bedroom in a contemporary style has a clean, streamlined look that is both inviting and practical. Contemporary style armoires have smooth, clean lines and can use geometric forms in unique ways. While the emphasis is on function rather than decoration, contemporary style still includes decorative elements. Contemporary furnishings are typically made from lighter woods. Profiles tend to be relaxed, lending the room a calm and uncluttered appearance.

Contemporary furniture for kids, tweens and teens is specially designed to appeal to them while being well-constructed, durable and suited to your budget. Contemporary style is comprised of several sub-styles diverse enough to appeal to many different tastes. A contemporary style armoire is simple in form while decorative detailing is stylized or spare.

Country

Alligator Enterprises Treasures

Country style is rooted in the traditional, but has been adapted from its original location to reflect newer geographic locations and regions away from major city centers. Country style furniture characteristically is made of wood with lighter wood finishes such as pine or maple, possesses simpler decorative detail and is smaller in scale. Other popular finishes range from milk-painted finishes in white and pastels to finishes that have exposed grains or are distressed.

Country style armoires are universally appealing with their unpretentious designs yet elegant and charming looks. This is a perfect choice for a child’s or teen’s room because decorative details like stenciling, a scalloped apron, blunt arrow or bun feet and wainscoting lend the décor an inviting and comfortable air. A country style TV or computer armoire will add a stylish touch while increasing the room’s functionality.

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Room for Adventure: designing a boy’s room that will grow with him

November 12th, 2009

He’s ready to ditch the toddler bed and upgrade to “big boy’s room.” Now is the time to design a room for your son that will grow with him and keep you from having to start from scratch every couple of years or so. Sure, their likes, dislikes, tastes and personal preferences change faster than a speeding bullet, but there are ways to design a bedroom that will grow with him, saving you time and money in the long run.

Themes

Olive Kids Out of This World Comforter

A popular way to decorate a child’s room, either for a boy or girl, is to pick a theme. However, since from three years of age and on, little boys are in the business of growing into bigger boys, there is the danger that they will quickly outgrow the theme you have chosen. While some themes such as pirates, cowboys, outer space, baseball, racing cars and dinosaurs have a timeless appeal, to design a room that will grow with your son, limit the theme to items that can be easily replaced. Should your son outgrow his room’s original theme, if you have chosen space exploration themed bedding and matching curtains, these are easier to change than having to scrape off rocket ship wallpaper and redo the walls.

Walls

Oak Finish Bookcase Bed 4 Piece Bedroom Set

Make it colorful but don’t base the room’s décor on your son’s current favorite color in case he changes his mind next week. If you would like to include his favorite color, use it as an accent color rather than for the whole room. Avoid papering the room in a particular theme. Use a border in a particular theme instead.

To create a space that will grow with your child, the same principle applies when decorating the walls. You can advance the theme throughout the room in non-permanent ways by adding posters and pictures that can be changed or updated as required.

Furniture

Lea Deer Run Kids Captain's Bed in Brown Cherry

Select a bedroom set that is well-constructed, durable and stylish. Choose furniture in classic colors like black, dark brown or espresso.

Select as many pieces on casters as possible. This allows you (and your son) the freedom to alter the room’s configuration as his needs change. It will also make it easier to add certain pieces, like a computer desk or TV armoire when he wants someplace to study or play a computer game.

Include lots of storage options. Freeing up floor space for play and exploration is a must in a young boy’s room.

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Designing a Dollhouse Themed Room

November 2nd, 2009

Magnolia Kidz by Orleans Furniture Sleigh Bed in White Finish

There is something that is very appealing about dollhouses, and girls (of all ages) take delight in playing with them and even collecting, not only the furniture for them, but the dollhouses themselves. If your daughter has a fascination with dollhouses, then perhaps designing her bedroom to look like one will be the ideal decorating them for your child. 

Since one of the most popular types is the Victorian dollhouse, it can be relatively simple to create the desired effect. Start with a lilac, damask, rose, soft pink or deep pink color for the walls. For a truly Victorian dollhouse look, pair it with wallpaper in a floral pattern in complementary shades. The Victorians loved color and texture. Mix it up with stripes and plaids. 

Bratt Decor Jane Twin Bed in Pink

A sleigh bed is the type of bed that is most often with the Victorian era. Ditto for the poster bed. The Bratt Decor Jane Twin Bed in Pink is perfect for our dollhouse theme, with the scalloped detailing and its deliciously pastel color.

 KidKraft My Sweet Wood Makeup Vanity Table with Stool and Mirror

Get inspiration for your daughter’s bedroom from furniture used to furnish dollhouses. Dollhouse miniatures are typically classic or traditional in style, but with a whimsical and lighthearted look and feel about them.

In addition to the necessary bedroom furnishings, select furniture pieces with a “dollhouse” appearance like a little girl’s vanity, a bedside table instead of nightstand and an armoire or a jewelry armoire. In keeping with our Victorian dollhouse theme, choose furniture with plenty of decorative detail such as turned posts or legs, intricate moldings and scroll or embossed accents.

Cozy Kids Wisteria 7-Piece Premium Twin Bedding Set

More frills the better! Pick a bed skirt with a ruffle. Add lamps with ruffled lampshades to the bedside table, vanity and dresser.

 Include sheer drapes with frilled valance and beribboned swags. Or for that special finishing touch to your dollhouse themed bedroom, create a window treatment using decorative shutters and blinds.

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