Can you help me with ideas for painting/decorating his school room?

[Nicks Mom]

We will be officially starting in a couple of weeks and I'd like to surprise ds with a redone room (it's still the same as it was when he was born). It will be in his bedroom, although he still cosleeps with us so it's more of a playroom.

I tried finding some info online, and all I could find was that the color yellow was good.... in other words I didn't find much. Do you have any suggestions? Or do you know of any good websites that might give me some ideas to work with? I do have a ton of posters and mobile type things that I will be using. plus there is a dry-erase board already up on one wall. But I really need some direction with the walls/paint... should I do another border or will that be distracting, ds loves cars and monkeys - should I incorporate those or will that detract from the "school room" feel? Is it better to go with bright colors or pastel?

I'd love your thoughts!

[dotnetdiva]

I just went through this, actually posted my thoughts on my blog yesterday, and ended up painting it last night. Ours was a craft kitchen that is in the basement that needed some cheering up! Instead of uninspiring, boring white, I painted the walls a sunny yellow and there is an inlaid part of the wall that I painted sky blue. It looks like it is actually a window, and if I added a tree painting in there, it really would give that illusion. I wish I would've chosen a slightly lighter shade of yellow though.

Another room was a reading room in which I wanted to be energetic and exciting and playful and youthful. I chose lime green and orange, and it actually worked out well, I got a lot of compliments on it.

To start, I always think of the "mood" I want in the room, and whether there's natural or artificial light, whether I want it to look brighter or darker or cozier or warmer, etc...

[bella_stranger]

I think blue-ish greens are meant to be pretty acdemically stimulating, without being overwhelming. I would pick a mid range tone, maybe something like these: http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...=&aqi=&start=0
Echoing the outdoors and all that.
I would also considering painting one wall in chalkboard paint!! I am hoping to do that when we move back to America. I don't think I'd hang a border, but maybe hang a wire with clips on it for hanging a variety of art work that is relevant to the current studies/interests/projects.

[Nicks Mom]

I was thinking about that chalkboard paint - I'll have to work that in somewhere. And that wire/clothesline is a good idea too.

[luv-my-boys]

I painted a ceiling to our garage turned playroom#2 and everyone loves it! Literally have adults commenting on the feel of the room. I painted a soft sky blue and used a sea sponge to paint wispy clouds. During the drab winter that room really seems cheerful We have our "school room" in our dining room so its pretty much a carry over of our decor from the living room but I do have up a dry erase board and 2 cork boards which we hang up relative projects/posters and such.

[dotnetdiva]

Oh yeah, I love the inspiration wire thing, I have 3 up now, actually, right in the middle of putting that 3rd one up!

If you do the chalkboard thing, you might as well make it magnetic. I made a few sections of our wall magnetic, and it is fun! Make sure you mix it up well, and apply quite a few coats, and you'll have a nice wall to hold up magnets and papers.

[Nicks Mom]

I didn't know you could get magnetic paint - cool!

[ohiomommy1122]

http://www.holisticonline.com/Color/color_yellow.htm

http://www.holisticonline.com/Color/color_lemon.htm

we painted our HS room a pale buttery yellow had read in a holistic child rearing book that yellow helps with concentration and itelligence... to bad I dont remember the books name it had all the coloers in it but the above links tell you about yellow

here is link to pics of homeschooling areas http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1112057 ours is the 2nd

[Lillian J]

I've always found that a cheerful sunny yellow makes me feel good in any season - yellow is not only a good color for enhancing concentration, but it's also a warm feel-good color. I'd keep it on the golden and subtle side, though, rather than toward a stark primary color look. And I'd even think about some cheerful murals that you could paint on with the help of a projector or a grid - you can google ideas for painting murals for children's rooms.

It will be eons before he has any need for sustained concentration on any particular kind of studies - the more he can truly relax and just enjoy whatever he's exploring, the more it will be part of what he's learning rather than a separated thing. I can imagine, for instance, a comfy reading area with large pillows to arrange various ways and sink into alongside a mural with tropical plants and monkeys. I also like the idea of a lovely blue sky with filmy clouds. And a little bookstore I used to go to had a wonderful children's area with a mural of a cozy fireplace with a lovely roaring fire. A lot depends on what kind of climate you live in. Lillian

[Nicks Mom]

Thanks for the links and great ideas!!

I love the reading area.... it's a small room, but I have to try to work it in. There was a reading area in my first grade class and I still remember how cool it was to go in there to read!

My only concern is that I may make it sooooooo classroomy that ds will never consider sleeping in there... I do love co-sleeping, but he may be with us forever!

[dotnetdiva]

Betsy, thanks for the links about the yellow! I'm so glad I chose yellow for our craft kitchen. I wish I would have chosen a very slightly more pale yellow color, but I'm ok. The blue sky color makes it look like windows, and if I painted a tree, it really would complete the illusion that we're looking out windows.

I just completed it at 11pm last night and took a photo:

http://satorismiles.com/wp-content/u...itchen-005.jpg

We co-sleep still too! My dd is going to be 5, maybe in 2010 she'll start using her own room.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Nicks Mom

My only concern is that I may make it sooooooo classroomy that ds will never consider sleeping in there... I do love co-sleeping, but he may be with us forever!

All the more reason not to make it classroomy...:

When we were about to start homeschooling, I planned to set up a little room for it - but it turned out that we were absolutely fine without that, utilizing all different parts of the house for various things. You could just set up a small area for whatever studies you picture in there - curtained shelves for math manipulatives and books or whatever* - and a snuggly separate area for reading for pure pleasure, and just let the room be his comfy all purpose space with an inviting bed with curtains.

*and a table or desk that works well for whatever will be going on in there...

Lillian