Imagination Can Go a Long Way in Children’s Rooms

Imagination can be the funnest as well as most affordable thing to use in decorating a child’s room.

Enid Arckless of MEA Designs in Solana Beach suggests using fabric to create a circus theme, starting with a tented ceiling.

“Give the baby something to look up at,” she said. “Choose fabrics in any of the primary colors--red, yellow, blue or green.”

Because lots of fabric will be required, Arckless suggests using close-out upholstery material; it tends to be wider than other fabrics.

Try any place that sells fabric, it doesn’t have to be high quality, she said. Using a 10-foot-by-10-foot room as an example, Arckless estimated you would need 20 yards of fabric to make 10 panels. Panel width is determined by the width of the fabric, and panel length by measuring the outer edge of the ceiling to the center of the ceiling--allowing some extra fabric to achieve the draped effect.

Glue a fabric remnant to a piece of wood that is 6 inches in diameter and attach this “button” to the center of the ceiling. One end of each panel is stapled to the outer edge of the ceiling--the other end is stapled to the button in the center. This process is repeated until all panels form a tented effect. Fabric, fringe or ribbon can be glued over the staples for a finished look.

Next, use remnants to create a mobile.

“You can make fish cutouts or even stuff blocks or balls,” she said. These objects can dangle from fishing line that is attached to the button.

Finally, transform a simple white wall by using clip art of animal pictures from magazines. Paste them to the wall and cover with a coat of polyurethane.

“The important thing is to stimulate the baby with some bright interesting colors and objects,” Arckless said.