Fantasy bedrooms

Bedroom with world map | Image via mrperswall

Children love dreaming and idealizing their favorite fantasies, representing and creating many games and plays inspired by their favorite stories, movies or cartoon characters, real life heroes, athletes, musicians or any other references of their imagination.

All children have a special fantasy. When decorating children’s bedroom around their favorite fantasy, you will probably make a dream come true while providing the ideal place to allow their imagination free rein, a perfect setting for their games and activities, a space where they will love to be spend of their time.

Teepee for kids | Image via potterybarnkids

Pirates | Image via dailymail

But before you begin, be sure to set a budget to spend on this project, in order to prevent that your children’s fantasy bedroom doesn’t become your financial nightmare.

Involving your child in choosing the bedroom’s fantasy theme is a great idea. Spend some time together and ask your children about their hobbies, favorite activities or sports, fictional characters or cartoons, story books or superheroes. Pirates, princesses, castles, knights, fairies, mermaids, ships, submarines, rockets or spaceships, any fantasy can be a perfect theme for decorating a fantasy bedroom.

Fairy castle | Image via potterybarnkids

Ocean ship | Image via twincitiesremodeler

Another option is to explore the question “when I grow up, I want to be…” as the decorating theme. Apart from creating a bedroom that fulfills their imagination, you will be motivating the children and encouraging their dreams.

Ask your child what are their favorite colors. The color palette should rely on the chosen theme. You can look for inspiration in photos, images or storybooks. In general, children prefer bright colors or pastels to neutral, dark or lifeless tones. Imagine how it would be fun to play in a pirate bedroom filled with blue ocean tones and mysterious greens of a secret island with lots of colorful treasures: reds, orange and yellow, in a lively and stimulating color palette. You can paint the walls, ceilings, apply decals or vinyl stickers, the important thing is to use your imagination and creativity for creating a true fantasy bedroom.

Fire station | Image via potterybarnkids

Sailboat | Image via potterybarnkids

The bedroom’s furniture and decorative features should also follow the theme. Because it is usually the dominant element of the room, the bed can easily be transformed into the main part of the fantasy theme: a pirate ship, a racing car, a castle, a dollhouse or a spaceship... Some beds may even include bookshelves, wardrobes, areas under the bed for studying or playing, ladders or even a slide, making bedtime a lot more fun.

Calvin & Hobes | Image via laughingsquid

Dollhouse | Image via potterybarnkids

However, unless you are a crafts expert, a themed bed can be quite expensive. A good alternative is to paint the bed and the remaining furniture in colors chosen, and you can also apply some stickers or stencil motifs to reinforce the theme.

Also choose lamps, curtains, bedding ensembles, cushions or rugs according to the selected fantasy.

Jungle | Image via vertbaudet

Robots | Image via vertbaudet

The challenge will be keeping decoration costs within your budget, so try to do most or at least part of the tasks by yourself. Removing and cleaning the furniture, painting walls and ceilings, replacing lamps and curtains are some tasks you could do which will allow you saving some money. Look for inspiration in magazines, books and blogs or sites, shop for items in flea markets, discount stores and online classifieds to get a few bargains on slightly used items.

Another good option is to upcycle existing furniture, lamps, curtains or bedding, turning them into new items, specially made for your children’s fantasy bedroom.