Interior design for children can be one of the most fun as well as the most frustrating parts of your job. While it can be great to be given a room to fill with color, fairies and toy cars, it can also be de-motivating for kids to keep on changing their minds and then at the end exclaiming that they don’t like it. Adults are rained to mute their emotions or at least approach it tactfully; kids however can scream it out on your face - I hate it!

Step One: Talk to the Child

Depending on the age of the child, talk to him or her and ask them what they would like their room to look like. Giving them a completely blank slate is hard for them to come up with ideas. Sifting through magazines is a way to spark their interest and help you in your interior design for children project. Perhaps there is a daisy theme room a little girl loves; all she wants different is the color scheme. Bring swatches of fabric and paint chips for her to be able to see the colors against the picture she has picked. Or perhaps a child loves a room his friend has. Arrange to go see that and see how you can personalize it for your client.

Explain to the child that the interior design plans can not change daily and that he can give input but has to make sure he likes what you are discussing as it won’t be possible to drastically change much after everything is done.

If the child is young, speak to the parents as basically it is them who you are creating the room for. If there is a particular theme they like, go with it. When the child grows up, they can always change it.

Step Two: Go Shopping

When you are interior designing for children, take the mini-client and his or her parents when you start shopping for furniture and accessories. If schedules clash, short list things you suggest and bring pictures or show them online at their home before you make the final purchase.

Step Three: Get the Child Involved

By getting the child involved in the interior design process, you give him ownership in the project and a sense of pride and accomplishment. Even if all he ca do is sponge paint a toy chest or glue motifs on cushions, let him help. Chances are he’ll love it more.