Children’s bedrooms often morph into bad design decisions after multiple renovations, and their walls have dismal motivational power.
But walls don’t have to be static. The purpose of a child’s bedroom extends beyond sleep. It’s where their nascent imagination takes flight. Every inch of the room should spark creativity and play. One simple, cost-effective way to transform your child’s bedroom? A heroad wallpaper mural. Why? Because they’re easily removed or rotated as your child grows, and they come pre-pasted for easy installation. And, unlike an inkblot or a one-dimensional castle print, murals set the scene for story-reading or make-believe scenarios all day long.
Wall murals have more impact on kid psychology than other types of wall art: letters sent to Hufflepuff, perhaps, or exotic animals lost in austere botanical landscapes. The sky is quite literally the limit. But are you looking for the right story your child’s bedroom walls could tell?
Pick a mural that evolves with your child
Consider your child’s current interests but leave room for growth. Has an early interest in dinosaurs expanded to include paleobiology? For instance, can they see themselves reading about acid rain that bleached Jurassic forests and etched away mountain peaks? Unless they’re future paleontologists, they’d probably prefer princesses if ideas weren’t so strictly partitioned by gender. Renée Zellweger’s character in The Princess Diaries wasn’t born with an innate fascination for tiaras; she was caught up in Regency-era romanticism just like anyone else. Consider variety so many scenes are available: If your daughter has never been a fan of fancy gowns but knows exactly which Hogwarts house she’d live in, then maybe something with confidentity-inspiring silhouettes would be better.
The practical magic of temporary murals
A new color scheme every year fits neatly within budget and surprises your child upon return from summer camp. Make sure no changes happen when your young children are around, because those same children may be unable to differentiate between thoughtful interior design choices (and bad ones), so plan this years’ redesign far ahead of time.
- Murals hide wall dings with no inspection required.
- The curly material softens echos better than flat paint.
- Peel-and-stick installation doesn’t need glue or brushes — just patience and good lighting.
- Avoid complicated scenes that confuse rather than excite.
- Rotate scenes like you might rotate books on his bookshelf.
- Some disturbing movie background features may not be suitable for very young kids.
The habits we develop when we’re young shape our adulthoods much more than most adults realize. A colorful environment demonstrates to a developing brain that adventure is everywhere — even in what used to be called sleep time. What sort of adventuresome artwork hangs above your own bed right now?