Children’s Wallpaper

Kid's rooms change according to the developmental cycles of the child; they should be adapted to their abilities and interests. Whilst a baby's room requires very little space, a few years later the motto is: The older the children, the more space they need.

Baby room

Many young parents prepare the nursery before the baby arrives. They want everything to be in place by the time the child is born. In reality, the baby tends to sleep in a cot in the parent's room during the first weeks and months, a process which is also recommended by experts as it fosters social ties and encourages bonding. As a result, the baby usually doesn't really need his or her own room until it is supposed to start sleeping alone, e.g. from the 3rd month.

In terms of furniture, a baby bed, a changing unit and a small wardrobe or chest of drawers is all that is needed. Light wood nuances or white are ideal colours for baby room furniture and provide a neutral canvas for wallpaper. Clear, contrasting colours are great for babies' eyes. Simple geometric shapes in black and white are a great choice for babies, and due to their limited eyesight and acuity, large scale-patterns are good options. Soft nuances of red have a calming effect on tiny tots.

Toddlers

The infant stage lasts from age one to age three. Children become more agile and curious. They crawl on all fours and then learn to walk. Rooms for little explorers often feature a more flexible cot and lots of storage for toys. Child-appropriate seating is another popular option.

However, the room should not be over-furnished as what the child needs most is room to move. Motif wallpaper can support and foster a child's joy of discovery. Funny zoo, forest, and sea animals, cars, and delicate geometric patterns are all good options. At this age, children can see all basic colours as well as pastels, a fact that should be reflected when choosing wallpaper.

Kindergarten age

From the age of three, many children start going to kindergarten and enter an important new phase of life. They socialise with other children and adults, learn new rules, acquire basic social skills and experience boundaries. The first friendships are developed. The child's room becomes a place of retreat where experiences are processed, often in a playful manner, for instance with role-playing games.

The cot is swapped for a small bed, the changing unit disappears, making room for a small table or desk and a chair or a seating area with comfortable beanbags or armchairs. Personal interests and preferences start coming to the fore. Girls often develop a preference for dolls, horses, mythical creatures, whilst boys tend to discover a liking for cowboys, fire-fighters or airplanes. This is reflected in their choice of wallpaper motifs. Wallpaper models are more colourful and detailed and become a backdrop for imaginative games.

School age

From the age of five or six, children start school. Another significant phase begins and the room/wallpaper design options reflect this. School kids experience more challenging demands, they have to re-arrange their priorities, produce academic results, and expand their social competence. The child's room becomes a multi-functional space. Besides a child-appropriate bed, the desk is the centrepiece. A larger wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and a seating or reading area complete the picture.

It makes sense to systematically separate the areas for sleeping/studying/relaxing & playing, for instance by using various different wallpaper models. Wall/wallpaper colours and pattern motifs are increasingly adapted to the child's preferences and take psychological aspects into account. Whilst the area for studying benefits from stimulating colours and inspiring patterns, the space for relaxing and sleeping should feature more calming hues and imaginative wallpaper patterns.