To begin decorating, we need to start by choosing a theme or color scheme. One item or color will become the main focus of the room. I know that many choose the bed as the main point of interest, however we could focus on a display shelf, painted wall mural, or decorated play area as well. Focusing on one area will allow us to concentrate on our color scheme and create a space that isn’t too overwhelming.

Lighting is an indispensable feature that we need to incorporate into our child’s room. First we should consider what kind of lighting will suit the room and then work from there. Two or three light fixtures usually work best with one for the ceiling, a bedside lamp and a nightlight. Perhaps later on, when she receives more homework, we will need to include a light source near the desk or study spot as well.

Now, it’s time to use some imagination and consider safety when choosing decorative elements for our child’s room. It’s a good idea to keep only a small amount of knickknacks in the room. Luckily in our ranch home plan, we don’t have to worry about the dangers of a second floor for young children, but if we lived in a colonial style home, where the bedrooms are on the second floor, we would need to install window guards in order to make sure our child is safe even alone in the room. Also, bolting wall unit pieces or bookcases to a wall will keep the heavy pieces of furniture from falling if our child decides to climbs them. Finally, keeping electrical cords out of the way will stop the kids from grabbing them.

We should also invest in a good-size desk and a comfortable chair, which are essential for school projects and studying. Our child is only just starting school so she will appreciate a table and chair at just the right height, but as she gets older, we’ll need to buy a better study desk with a generously sized tabletop and two-drawer cabinets. A proper desk makes it easier for kids to keep track of paperwork and reference materials, or, at her age, it will allow us to help our daughter stay organized with her papers and projects. Plus, it will create great habits throughout the school years knowing that there is a special study area.

Plenty of storage space is a must in a kid’s room. Stackable plastic bins always work well and we can even select them to match the room’s décor. Another great addition we are considering is a toy chest that can make a fine storage option or even a bench. Ample amounts of drawer and storage space will encourage our child to remain neat and tidy. Another way we can save space and provide more storage is to use tables with multiple drawers or shelves.

Right now, we are on the lookout for key items that will pull our positive room concept together for our child. Adorable accessories of every kind are widely available for children’s rooms, we just need to find the right one. To make the room even more practical yet still enjoyable, we want to try and use functional items such as clothing hooks, mirrors, pillows and other useful items that fit the theme. Colorful kid’s area rugs add lively interest and playtime patterns to kid’s bedrooms and the shelf space is perfect for displaying our child’s artwork, projects, and collections.

Decorating a child’s bedroom can be overwhelming, so before we jump right in, we need to learn how to select useful items that can add a spark of personality to the space while also providing great function. It is very important for us to be organized and create the perfect space that allows our daughter to play, study, and most importantly be herself in her new “big kid” room. The ultimate goal is to create a room where she can relax, play with friends, and do activities such as homework while eliminating the frustrating bedroom clean-up battles. While she offers her own input, we needed to make sure to express our daughter’s personality in the design instead of ours and most importantly, we want to have some fun and create some great family memories!

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One thing for sure is that the economy has driven many homeowners to simplify and make the most of every nook and cranny that is available. You don’t see the soaring ceilings, the grand foyers or the two-story galleries overlooking great rooms. Although they are beautiful, many of the new home plans today are all about energy efficiency and these design features just don’t cut it. Homeowners want function not flash.

Kitchens and baths are still the main rooms that sell the home. They used to be expansive rooms with the kitchen being so beautiful and large you couldn’t imagine using it to cook in and the baths were so immense they could be used as a second bedroom. No longer is this the case. The kitchens are still as beautiful but are much more compact and functional. They are multi-use rooms and have many built-ins including seating, storage, and of course plenty of gadgets and electronic controls that will move us in to the future. The baths are still luxurious but the days of huge oversized tubs that take so much water to fill are being replaced with smaller more energy efficient models. The amenities are close to the same but the overall square foot has been cut in half.

Location. Location. Location. This is the trend that has changed immensely over the years. Today’s homeowners want convenience. They want to be able to live in a neighborhood that is close to all family activities including work, school, church, shops, restaurants, and parks. Many families are spending more time at home and want to be in a community that offers all the amenities for active families. They are willing to pay more for a smaller home with great curb appeal.

Buying low and selling high – otherwise known as a house flip is slowing down quite a bit. There are TV shows that show how many people do this but homebuyers are not as keen on the concept as in the past. Most people today take the time to handpick the home with the perfect floor plan and address and plan to remain there for many years. The need to create roots in a community and have the safety to know that the moving boxes can be unpacked for good is definitely outpacing the get rich quick theme.

As you can see many trends in homes are shifting to the true meaning of home. A home should be where you feel safe and secure. It is where a family can relax and enjoy each other so no matter what style you prefer, either two-story Victorian home designs or quaint country cottage plans, it is important to remember that when choosing the perfect home it fits your needs today as well as in the future.

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We live in one of those beautiful Craftsman style home plans that has an open floor plan and lots of windows, but we have not painted or decorated since we moved in and that was over five years ago. I have a good friend that is a decorator and in exchange for a free meal she gave me some great advice as to what is up and coming for 2011.

One thing for sure is that green is in – not referring to the color but the way we live our everyday lives. No matter how or what we decorate with it is important to think about the impact on our environment. Many homeowners are switching to low impact living and purchasing nontoxic paint, low-emittance windows and doors to block UV rays, recycled products, chemical free LED lights, green toilets that use less water and the list is endless. So as you read on keep the thought in the back of your mind – how can you decorate the green way and use items you already have?

Vintage is back in style. Take those pieces of furniture with round, tapered legs on angles, geometric accents and any original item from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, add some new upholstery, paint or stain and you have a perfect vintage piece transformed like new. This also holds true for light fixtures and period pieces formed in bronze, copper and clay. With reusing these pieces you will create a truly eclectic décor that is fun and uplifting.

Don’t be afraid to go for the WOW factor when it comes to adding color. Paint, wallpaper, and bold artwork are all great ways to add energy to your space. Turquoise, lime green, bright orange and aqua blue will easily brighten up the dullest room or create a tropical paradise in your outdoor living space. To offset some of the bold and bright are the tried and true colors like sage green, barn red and mocha brown.  And yes – I did mention wallpaper. I have spent numerous hours removing old, worn paper from many walls but it is actually reappearing in many new patterns and textures that are full of energy and life and many of them are produced from recycled and natural materials.

Don’t look down, look up, for a new canvas that is basically open and free of clutter. I am talking about the ceiling or what is being referred to as the “fifth wall.” The advice I received was to paint the ceilings in bold colors, accent them with trim or border colors and then find a beautiful light fixture to set the entire room off. So many fixtures create a beautiful design created by light hitting the ceiling are far too often it gets lost on bare white ceilings. The color adds so much to the space, try it in one room and see if it suits your style. This is sometimes difficult to do with large open spaces so try the dining room or den.

As many homes today are decreasing in size it is important to make the most of each square foot. Take the time to declutter and organize each room so you don’t feel claustrophic when entering. Your home should be warm and inviting and every piece should have a function. Many pieces of great furniture can be dual purpose. End tables can double as a great place to store blankets and throws. Either roll them up or put them in wicker baskets. Storage ottomans can hold magazines or photo albums and with the lid turned over can be used as a TV tray.  Just be creative and you will find the perfect item for your space.

A great place to get started with finding the perfect pieces are at flea markets, garage sales or in your own home. So now when you hear the saying, “Out with the old and in with the new” you can think – not so fast – I just might be able to reuse that. Don’t let the winter blues set in this year, get revved up and reenergized and start redecorating your home full steam ahead.

My oldest son’s wife is expecting a baby soon and they just found out it is a girl. Since I have had experience in that area I thought my advice would come in handy. They just bought a country house plan and I want to help them decorate the nursery in a way that will grow as fast as their little one.

My advice follows; the first thing to keep in mind is that with each age their likes and dislikes can change dramatically. So keep that in mind when setting up the nursery for the first time. At birth they can’t tell you if they like it or don’t, but trust me, in time they will.

When you think of a baby the colors that come to mind are soft pastel colors such as pink, yellow, green and blue. These colors are cuddly and comforting but don’t have the power to last. You will be repainting soon so why not start off with bright bold colors such as sunshine yellow accented with deep fuchsia. Then use soft hues of these colors in the accessories such as wooden letters that spell out your daughter’s name, bows on the curtain rods, bedding and throw rugs.

As a shower gift, my wife and I have decided to purchase the furniture for the room. We are going to get a convertible crib that turns into a toddler bed, a day bed and then into a full-size bed. This will eliminate them having to purchase a new bed every 3-4 years. We are also going to purchase a strong bookshelf with removable doors. That way when the baby is little and you need wipes, diapers, blankets, etc. within reach you can keep the doors off so these items can be grabbed quickly. Then, once the toys start over flowing and then ribbons, bows, and then CD’s or whatever media will be by then the doors can be added and then closed to cover up the clutter.

By the time your little one starts school she will no longer want the baby room but a big girl room. You can easily change the bed into a day bed, paint the walls her favorite color, add a patterned rug to the floor and rearrange the furniture so she has a lot of floor space to play. Of course by then you will have to remove the “baby” bows and ribbons on the curtains and replace them with bright colored shades. To create a wonderful canopy bed a colorful cloth shower curtain can be added for little cost and effort but will mean the world to her.

Now the real work comes in – your daughter is a teenager and definitely has an opinion on everything, including on how she wants her room to look. The first thing to let her know is that there is a budget and there will be compromise. Understanding it is her room and her space but is also a part of the family home.

She is now at the age where the day bed becomes a full-size bed, the canopy is removed and it is time to paint the walls. She will choose the color and hopefully it is something you can live with. Not too worry though because it will be covered up with posters. She will need a new bedspread, rug and curtains, along with a desk that will hold a computer and possibly a printer.

Amazing how quickly she has grown and with proper planning her room will be able to grow with her without too much expense.

Just to summarize, below are the main things to remember:

• Stay away from colors that your daughter will get tired of;
• The furniture you purchase should be able to adapt as she grows. For example, the bed and the bookshelf that doors can be added;
• If you plan to add some items to personalize her room for a certain age, make sure it is inexpensive and removable;
• It is easier to choose fabrics that are multi-colored because you can choose accent colors from them to update without having to buy new ones each time you add a coat of paint;
• Never build or purchase something around a piece of technology. A good example of this is a stand or entertainment center to fit a TV. The wide screen has now replaced the tube TV and their dimensions are very different.

From one parent to another we always want the best for our children and with these simple room-planning tips you can give them a wonderful room that makes them feel special. Their room will be custom designed for them from the time they are born until the time they are ready to venture out on their own – and you may still be able to afford college!