If the thought of letting your kids loose to decorate your home makes you feel horrified, we understand! Images of candy pink walls, crayon drawings, and tons of mess are sure to flash past your eyes at the very thought! But some kid’s decorating projects are easy and a great way to let their creative side come out to play.
Use these ideas for kid’s decorating projects to stimulate their creativity, and get results that let you give them the affirmation they’re looking for in all sincerity.
1. Let them Go Wild With Stickers
Before you let kids run wild with a pack of colorful, fun stickers, know your boundaries. Give them a “blank canvass” to work on – maybe the back of the bedroom door, or if you’re less fussy, that boring white fridge door. If you’re having visions of peeling, flaking, fading stickers, fear not! Choose high-quality vinyl stickers that can handle a wipe-down. They’ll look good for years. You might be pleasantly surprised with the results, but even if it doesn’t match your aesthetic, you’ll love it because they did it.
2. Have Them Paint the Fence
My cousin let my autistic niece paint the rather ugly iron palisade fence in front of his house. I had my reservations, but the result was astounding. With just three colors to play with, she created a really artistic design that now acts as a landmark when he’s directing folks to his home. And yes, those colors were bright! Choose this project if you don’t mind ending up with a very unique boundary fence, make sure they’re wearing old clothes, and let them have the freedom to play with color their own way. Expect it to take time, and don’t mind too much if they give up before finishing the job. They can always pick it up again another day.
3. Give them a Wall to Draw On
Sounds horrific? Remember that child art is much admired, even in highbrow circles. If you’re one of those parents who loves displaying your children’s art, why not make it semi-permanent? A concrete wall in the backyard could turn into a riot of colorful painted designs, or if you’re brave, you can even choose an interior wall and let them go bananas. And before you get cold feet, remember how much you’d pay a professional artist to create a mural. Will you like it as much as something your kids had fun doing? Probably not! Now add some colorful, modern furniture and decor pieces to the equation, and hey, it can even become a “designer” look. Just remember that the process might be messy, especially if you give them paints to play with.
Another great option is a chalkboard wall in the kid’s playroom! This is a really popular option on Pinterest nowadays and easy to create. All you need is… a wall and a can of chalkboard paint! This kid’s decorating project will bring them lots of joy and fun every day.
4. Have them Create a “Stained Glass” Window
Glass paint and window markers can produce beautiful results. For a modern look that becomes a feature in your home, create a big cross with black electrical tape. Make the “stained glass” spaces around the cross big, and ask your kids to fill them with the colors of their choice. Accept the fact that it won’t be perfect. They’ll go over the lines and sometimes, the paint may run. The electrical tape does a great job at helping them stay in the lines though and helps guard against mess if you use paint. You are sure to enjoy the results.
How many premium modern art pieces make you think “a child could have done that!” Well, you might as well just let them have at it. When you do a diy stained glass window, you’re looking for color and the play of light through the colors so make sure you pick a window that gets a lot of sunlight. This kid’s decorating project will deliver impressive results and costs less than $15 in supplies if you don’t already have the items on hand. It’s the perfect lenten activity to do with your kids and a great opportunity to open the conversation about what Easter is really about.
Artistic Freedom and Fun
Whatever you entrust your kids with, and maybe this gave you some ideas, kids’ decor says you are a family. And, as with art in any form, it’s about freedom, self-expression, and fun. Let the sunshine in. Kid’s decorating projects can be wonderful. It just depends what outlets you decide to give them freedom in. Chill out and enjoy!
