Decorating a Vintage Bedroom for a Child
Children tend to grow up so quickly that decorating a child’s bedroom is not an easy task for most parents. Vintage themed décor for a child’s bedroom is both charming, traditional and reflects timelessness. It will help a child connect with, and appreciate a bygone era. Vintage décor allows a wide variety of mix and match and can be easily recreated by using rustic items from everyday flea markets.
To style a child’s bedroom in a vintage theme, start with the basic requirements and add curios, pictures and wall art as you go along. The décor can be edited and styled differently for boys and girls.
Furniture
Unlike what many people believe, the furniture in a vintage themed bedroom need not be bought from expensive antique stores or auctions. The idea is to play with the rustic, weathered charm of the furniture. Look for a sturdy wooden bed, study table, French-style console table and chairs that can be reworked upon. Most of this furniture can be found in flea markets or garage sales at throw away prices. A fresh coat of paint and a little work with sand paper will add life and character to the pieces. Go a step further and add balusters to the corners of the bed frame and convert it into a four poster bed.
Furnishing
By far, vintage décor is a blend of soft colors, intricate patterns, laces and ruffles mixed with a distressed look. Little girls will love sheer lace curtains in whites and dusty pinks. Dress the bed with mismatched ruffle pillows and a flouncy bed skirt. Use fabrics with English floral and toile prints. For boys, create your own curtains with burlap fabric or coffee sacks. Repurpose old sweaters into pillows and memory quilts. No vintage décor is complete without a canopy over the bed. Most children love a canopy bed as it adds a whimsical feel and a sense of security. Create a crown or corona canopy from circular molding and hang canopy drapes with the help of Velcro or command strips.
Décor
Use floating shelves to display a collection of curios ranging from tin soldiers, rusted old cars, dolls and old wooden blocks to bring in a vintage feel to the bedroom. For little girls, a handmade doll house will add character to the room and fascination for the child. Wooden boxes or crates with wheels make excellent storage that can be pushed under the bed. Old grandfather suitcases can also double up for storage and as side tables. Add an old school charm to the bedroom by creating a memory wall with framed black and white pictures.
Wall art
Complete the décor with wall art to add brightness and to pull the vintage look together. Wall stickers for a bedroom such as large polka dots, a wooden rocking horse, or the child’s name in a calligraphic font work well for both boys and girls. Personalized wall art works well with traditional themed bedrooms, and offers an alternative to messy paints.
Historically, anything dated between 1920’s and 1960 is classified as vintage. But vintage décor in today’s world need not necessarily belong to that era. The idea of vintage décor is to be able to re-use and appreciate the charm of something that was loved by a previous owner. Scratches and tears on pieces that are repurposed add to the character. When using a vintage theme, create a room that tells a story. The room should stand as an inspiration for the child to think creatively and learn to treasure their time-honored belongings.
Image Credit: Baby Bedroom
