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As the weather cools down, the seasonal change is the perfect time to re-energise a child’s bedroom to bring in some comfort and warmth.
According to Dulux trend forecasters, deep blues, neutrals and warm grounded colours that speak of security and comfort are set to dominate winter decorating trends.
As the cooler months calls for these richer hues and cozy textures, Andrea Lucena-Orr, Dulux Colour and Communications Manager says, “There’s a collective yearning for reassurance and a return to simpler times”.
“We want our homes to provide comfort, a sense of safety and to remind us of better days ahead. And this will be reflected in more than just colour in 2021 – expect to see a rise in plush, comfy seating, handcrafted furniture with an artisanal feel and a greater focus on ‘purposeful decorating’ rather than just decorating to make an aesthetic statement,” she says.
According to Dulux, the Retreat palette – one of three trend colour palettes identified in the 2021 Dulux Colour Forecast – captures the mood of this coming winter.
“These earthy tones and muted colours are all drawn from nature – think oceanic blues, nourishing greens, soft greys and touches of mustard. They bring the outside in and plug into the growing movement for wellness in design,” Andrea says.
Dulux worked with stylist Bree Leech to re-energise a child’s bedroom using the Retreat palette.
Bree says the quickest and easiest way to switch up the mood is with colour.
“Light-filled and spacious, this bedroom ticked all the right boxes, however, the room needed some personality and tactile elements to create warmth,” she says.
“You want your child to love spending time in their room – it should be somewhere they can escape, relax, read and play.”
Bree kept the big-ticket items in the room – the bed, bedhead and solid-timber bedside table – and focused on updating the room with bold colour. She chose shades that worked with the neutral tones in the foundation pieces and added in plenty of textures to dial up the comfort and cosiness.
She says that a sharp colour contrast can be very effective in a space, “but in a room that’s all about relaxation, you want it to be a little less pronounced”.
“To make the space feel more inviting, I layered the bed with cosy cushions and snuggly, fringed woollen blankets.”
If you’re not sure where to start, Andrea says to start with one wall.
“If you’ve been all about white for as long as you can remember, get a taste of using stronger colours by starting with a single wall – say the wall behind the bed,” she says.
“It will not only make a feature of your bed, however, will create an opportunity for any artwork to pop. This can also stretch your new confidence into using colour elsewhere in your home.”
Bree’s best kid’s bedroom styling tips
- Invest in quality: Kids are tough on furniture, so it’s worth paying more for well-made pieces that will last. You can save money on smaller items, such as bedlinen, art prints and rugs.
- Add an upholstered bedhead: It makes for a comfortable spot to sit up and read.
- Size it right: As a guide, when choosing a rug for a child’s bedroom it should fit two-thirds under the bed and extend at least 30 centimetres beyond the sides of the bed – any smaller and it will look lost in the space.
- Think multi-purpose: Children’s rooms are often small, so seek out flexible pieces that can be used in different ways, such as an ottoman that doubles as storage and seating.
- Make storage easy: Add in baskets for toys and cupboards or shelves to hide mess.
