How to navigate this diversity, what wallpaper to choose for a children's room so that the resulting renovation result pleases the aesthetic sense, and at the same time the room fully meets all the requirements for children's rooms?
When choosing wallpaper for a child's room, first of all, you need to consider how well it meets safety requirements. Of course, you should also keep in mind that their appearance matches the overall style of the room.
Types of wallpaper
Wallpaper for children's rooms is available on almost all existing substrates, but not all of them are suitable for use in a room intended for a child. Let's look at the most suitable wallpaper for a child's room.
Paper. Paper-based wallpaper is an excellent option, environmentally friendly and safe. Of course, they must have a quality certificate, since dyes are used in production, and they must also be safe for the health of the child. The main disadvantage of this material is its fragility, however, in a nursery this is rather a plus, since the tendency of children to draw on the walls, and at an older age to stick posters and photographs on them, leads to the need to frequently replace the wallpaper.
Liquid wallpaper. The composition includes cotton fibers, particles of tree bark, mica, and gelatin. The main advantage is good insulating properties combined with safety; such wallpaper does not emit harmful substances into the air. In addition, they are practical: damaged areas can be easily restored using freshly prepared solution. The appearance is preserved for a long time, the only negative is the higher price compared to paper ones.
Wallpaper with PVC coating. AntiMarker photo wallpapers are produced especially for active children and teenagers. Their synthetic coating will withstand scratches, dirt does not stick to it, children's drawings and greasy stains can be washed off from these wallpapers with any dishwashing detergent. Cartoon frames, landscapes, fairy-tale and fantasy scenes are used as drawings - when choosing wallpaper for a children's room, you can choose an option to suit every taste. Pasting wallpaper is quite simple. The only problem is environmental friendliness. In this case, it is mandatory to have a certificate confirming that the coating does not contain compounds that release harmful substances into the air.
Cork. This is an excellent material with a number of valuable properties. It does not interfere with air exchange, reduces heat transfer and increases the sound insulation of walls, is pleasant to the touch and absolutely safe. Due to its structure, it softens blows - the likelihood of getting hurt by hitting a wall is practically reduced to zero. Other natural materials – bamboo, jute, reed, rattan – also have similar properties. All of them are used in the production of wallpaper. The main disadvantage of natural materials is their high cost.
Color scheme for children's room
A child’s susceptibility to any influences from the external environment is much higher than that of an adult, so it is especially important what colors the children’s room will be decorated with. If the composition of the wallpaper affects the physical condition of the child, then the color has a direct effect on the nervous system and psyche.
Some colors and color combinations can delight and increase the activity of the nervous system, while others, on the contrary, depress its functioning, which must be taken into account when choosing wallpaper design for a child’s room. A person’s perception of color changes with age, and these changes occur especially quickly from the moment of birth until the completion of the basic formation of the body. The period of growing up can be roughly divided into several stages:
- From 0 to 3. At this time, the baby should be surrounded by soft colors, pastel shades, their combinations should be calm, not irritating. “Bleached” light colors will create a joyful and at the same time peaceful atmosphere, promoting the proper development of the nervous system.
- From 3 to 6. You can add bright, cheerful colors and images of cartoon characters. The only rule: the figures on the walls should not be larger in size than the child himself, otherwise they will depress his psyche. Too contrasting color combinations are undesirable, as are chaotic images of geometric shapes, especially with sharp corners - they personify danger and cause anxiety.
- From 6 to 9. The circle of friends expands, new interests appear - and they can be reflected in the design of the room. For example, you can paste wallpaper with a map of the starry sky on the ceiling, and turn one of the walls into a map of the world. You can use more active color combinations.
- From 9 to 12. The child begins to realize himself as an individual, learns to defend his interests, at this age he undergoes the final division by gender. When decorating a room, you should consult with your child.
- After 12. Teenagers are already fully formed individuals with their own preferences. At this age, a child can decorate his room the way he wants - full-wall posters, futuristic photo wallpapers or images of idols.
Options for girls
see also
Photo wallpaper for girls
Traditionally, for girls’ rooms, light shades of the warm part of the spectrum are chosen - red, pink, warm yellow, delicate green, peach, lavender and mint tones.
Drawings on wallpaper for the walls of a children's room intended for girls can depict animals, cartoon characters, beautiful landscapes, castles, carriages, crowns and other royal paraphernalia.
Which color to choose
The shades used in the decoration of the nursery influence the child’s psyche through visual perception. The right choice of wallpaper color can be the key to his good mood, attentiveness, and energy.
Beige and pale yellow colors are universal. For slow children, red and orange shades will suit the interior. Active kids will be calmed by soft blue and light blue colors. Yellow, green spectrum improves learning abilities and attention.
Expert opinion
Olga Kovalenko
Since 2010 I have been engaged in interior design and architectural design.
When decorating the walls of a children's room with an abundance of sunlight, a predominance of cold shades is desirable, and vice versa, warm colors are more suitable for rooms with windows facing north.
Don’t go overboard with adding richly colored areas: usually a child’s room is not only a playroom, but also a bedroom. His immature nervous system should not be overly excited by the brightness of the wallpaper. You can select several zones in the room (for games, study, sleep) and decorate them using appropriate shades.
Visual perception changes as the child gets older. When choosing finishing colors, you can use the following tips:
- For a child under 2 years old, it is advisable to glue dimly colored plain wallpaper (beige, pale yellow, bluish) in the room. It is better to place a contrasting pattern on the walls away from the crib so that the baby sees it only when awake.
- Brightly colored scenes are suitable for decorating a preschooler's room. But it is advisable to remember that a large number of drawings has a bad effect on the child’s psyche. It is enough to use 2-3 shades and a couple of large images in the decoration. Useful teaching elements - letters, numbers.
- For younger schoolchildren, bright wallpaper without patterns or with simple geometric shapes is recommended. Then it will be easier for him to concentrate while doing his homework.
When choosing the color of wallpaper, you should also take into account the opinion of a schoolchild or teenager within reasonable limits, since an uncomfortable room usually worsens mood and attentiveness.
Features of choosing wallpaper for children of different sexes
In cases where there are two or even more children of different sexes in a family, and it is not possible to allocate a separate room for each, the question is asked - how to arrange a common nursery? If the children are close in age, the problem is easier to solve. While they are small, each will only need a separate place to sleep, but the area for games and various activities can be shared. At this time, using wallpaper, you can zone the room into separate zones according to a functional principle: a sleeping area and a play area.
Older children will want to have a separate space, even if not limited by walls. Wallpaper for a boy's and a girl's children's room in different colors will help to highlight such a personal zone. You can also emphasize the difference with texture and pattern. For example, decorate the “half” of the girl with polka dot wallpaper, and the “half” of the boy with stripes.
Safety: rules
Wallpaper for a children's room must comply with safety rules and not contain dangerous carcinogenic substances.
The most ideal option is wallpaper made from bamboo, which is an environmentally friendly material.
For wallpapering walls, safe carboxymethylcellulose adhesive is used; it is organic and suitable for any finishing materials.
Photo gallery
Photo 1. Calm beige wallpaper with white stripes is suitable for a newborn girl or boy.
Photo 2. Wallpaper with imitation brick in the bedroom of a teenage boy allows you to create a modern loft style.
Photo 3. Neutral beige wallpaper in a children's room allows you to decorate the wall with a variety of stickers or drawings of the child's choosing.
Photo 4. Space-themed photo wallpaper is perfect for a boy’s bedroom.
Photo 5. Checkered wallpaper will help create a universal look for a room, suitable for both girls and boys.
Photo 6. Beige wallpaper with a picture of a lighthouse and a sail helps create a nautical style in the bedroom for two boys.
Photo 7. The children's bedroom is divided into two parts using a wardrobe and wallpaper with a different pattern in each half.
Photo 8. Narrow or wide stripes on a white background - such wallpaper is suitable for a children's room for children of any age.
Photo 9. The “princess” room is covered with delicate pink wallpaper; in the sleeping area, the wall is decorated with an image of a stylized castle.
Photo 10. Calm blue wallpaper with a small pattern on one wall, and a plain one with a large pattern in the form of tree branches on the other - a wonderful combination, suitable for both boys and girls.
Wallpaper design for a newborn's room
For a baby's room, wallpaper with a small floral print, bright letters or a geometric pattern is suitable. To make the room truly fabulous, you can apply liquid wallpaper to one of the walls with images of cartoon characters, a bright castle or a fantastic car. Here you need to rely on your own intuition and guess which picture will evoke positive emotions in the child.
Blue and pink colors are still used to decorate newborns' bedrooms. This is acceptable, but it is important to choose the right shade. You shouldn’t make all the walls bright pink in a girl’s room: let three be powder-colored, and the fourth be decorated with wallpaper in a small rosette.
