When I first learned that I was pregnant with my son, I thought a lot about how I would outfit his room. At the time, we were living in an apartment so I didn’t have the freedom to paint or wallpaper so I focused my decorating efforts on bedding and accessories. When we finally moved into our home and I was given the freedom to decorate as I pleased, I chose vibrant VOC-free paints and colorful bedding to make his space playful and cozy. Through the process, I learned a few things about the ideal way to transform a child’s space.
1. While it’s very tempting to fill you child’s room with elaborate decor items, opt for a few simple, kid-friendly items that are fun and functional. I’d much rather invest in books and safe, educational toys than dust collectors.
2. Before painting your child’s room, think about the longevity of gender-specific colors such as pastel pinks and blues, typically reserved for babies. You may find that primary colors are more versatile, thereby saving you time and effort.
3. The decision to purchase a crib is a very personal one and varies depending on the parent’s philosophies regarding sleep. You may find investing in a convertible crib is the most economical option. This will get you through the preschool years, at the very least. Also remember that infant bedding will only be used for a short time and you may find a more versatile color scheme is optimal.
4. Once you’ve laid the foundation of the room with primary colors, you’re free to incorporate wall art, which can be updated more readily than paint. For example, Murals Your Way offers a variety of beautiful, intricate murals to transform you child’s space.
5. Be certain to keep safety at the forefront of your child’s room decor. Pay particular attention to items that can fall on top of a child, break, entangle a child or pose a choking hazard.
Over the weekend, my husband and I surprised our children with this gorgeous Dinosaur Train Wall Mural. Murals Your Way recently introduced an entire line of Dinosaur Train-themed wall murals that transform a child’s room into one of 15 scenes from the hit PBS Kids show.
Once we selected the scene we wanted (we chose On Board for Adventure!) and input the dimensions for the wall we were covering, we were given the option to personalize the mural (at present, murals can be personalized for free), so we opted to have their names included on the train. The mural itself is printed on SmartStick Repositionable Wall Covering which features a lightly textured finish and adheres to most surfaces. The nice thing about working with this type of material is the fact that it’s reusable, wrinkle resistant, tear proof and simply requires peeling and sticking to install. I like that the mural can be easily cleaned and reinstalled many times.
Installation took about an hour (via my husband) and while it was relatively easy, his recommendation is that two people install the mural. The panels are large and overlap some, which is an important thing to remember during installation. Also important is the fact that once the panel is placed, it can be difficult (but not impossible) to move it around. Be sure the wall is clean (and smooth, if possible) before installing and use a level to ensure the mural goes on straight. Once the mural has been placed, you’ll need to cut around electrical outlets and light switches.
It took appropriately one month to receive the mural but it was well worth the wait. It’s absolutely stunning. The colors are vibrant, the characters authentic, and my children’s room looks like a scene right out of the Dinosaur Train.
Right now, select murals are 20% off. Shipping and personalization are also free at the moment. While this particular mural was a bit pricey (our wall measures 11’2” x 7’11” making the cost of the mural about $780), it’s actually much more affordable and less time consuming than the alternative which is a hand-painted mural. While we’re definitely not going to be removing it any time soon, it can be moved and reused without damaging the wall.
Dinosaur Train currently airs daily on PBS Kids. If you visit the website, families can join the Dinosaur Train Nature Tracker Club, an online community of families and educators committed to learning about nature and doing good things for the environment. The site has a selection of free monthly activities that can be downloaded and completed with your children. To join, just visit the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club.
No compensation was received for this post. We received a mural which helped facilitate this review.
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wow! How cool is that? By the way, the last time I got a quote for a handpainted trompe l’oeil (designer speak for mural that has a lifelike scene), it was $10,000 for an entry way with two walls the size of yours 😉
This is so cute! The kids must love it!
How cool is that? I would have loved something like that in my room when I was a kid!
WANT!
very cute!!! All the kids in the neighborhood will soon want it too!