The arrival of a child marks the beginning of a new phase in ones life. And we do everything possible to welcome this new member into our families. Stuffed toys, posters, perambulators, bunk beds all find their way into our homes taking us back to our own childhood.
While we provide the best décor using cartoon curtains, colourful bed sheets, we always are confused about the look for our walls. The questions typically asked are - Will this blue be liked by my child? Can there be some characters painted on the wall? Can I get the room to look like race car track since he likes cars so much?
All important questions from a décor standpoint….however have we ever asked the question – How does the colour in my child’s room affect my child? Psychologically are there any effects that I should be aware of? Can the right colours contribute to the growth of his personality? To decide on the right colour and décor for your young ones room, it is necessary to understand the progress pattern that a child follows in perceiving colour.
It’s been noted that at birth babies are able to see only white, black and grey for a couple of weeks, post which they are able to differentiate reds and other bright colour. Thus it is not surprising that red is the favourite colour for most of the children when they are young and it seems to be the colour which catches their eye easily. This slowly changes over time as they start differentiating between other colours.
It has been seen that Yellows make the room appear bigger, brighter and cheerful, thus having a calming effect. For children, it is seen that yellows stimulate muscle activity and thus is a great option for kids’ rooms. It encourages physical activity likes games within the confines of the room.
Blue is a standard favourite for boys. Blue also brings a sense of calm and peace to a child, thus preparing the child for rest and sleep.
Greens are associated with freshness and hope - they go a long way in uplifting moods of children.
Reds and Purples are the most painted colours in kids’ rooms, but owing to their darker tones, they are not advised for children. They can be quite harsh on their eyes arousing a feeing of discomfort.
If the child is extremely active and have has troubles concentrating and focusing, then Browns and Beiges are the best since they comfort and relax the child making her more serene and focused.
The right colour sets the tone for the room, but what sets the mood right is a theme. If you are planning to welcome a baby, then a thematic approach to the room will go a long way. Soft tone caricatures and designs on the wall complement the main colour of the theme.
Creating a nature theme, or outdoors or butterflies goes well with toddlers. For e.g. a green wall does not have the same effect that green leaves painted on the walls would have. Images of animals, fishes, nature and outdoors help in developing the child and keep his interest alive.
You can even match the upholstery and create a whole world around engaging the child. You have the luxury to choose the theme, colour and design as per your preference, but the same will be taken away once your toddler grows up and develops his own likes and dislikes.
Keeping the rooms uncluttered and free of sharp objects to avoid any injury to the child will also help. While you match the furniture with the final painting done on the walls, it will also help to buy them bigger to give more space to the baby to grow up. Accessories like a rocking chair, baby monitor and nightlight will also make life much simpler for you.
While choosing paint or toys make sure they are not toxic and do not harm the child if they come in contact with them.
If you are searching for some ideas for creating themes and rooms, a series of themes and designs can be found with Asian Paints. The designs range from Jungle to Waterworld, Wheels to Lighthouse, Santa to Fairy Tales etc. which cover children in the age groups of Below 12yrs.
Kids can relate to these designs and products like Chalkboard and Glow in the dark add the extra element of excitement to their rooms. To find out more call Asian Paints Home Solutions at 1800-209-5678 or log onto www.asianpaints.com
So the next time you decide to do up your child’s room, let them join in to create a space that would be aptly suited for their comfort, enjoyment and growth.
