ONE for the BOYS

WHEN DECORATING a boy’s bedroom, you can let your imagination run wild. Jungles, dinosaurs, space, cars, animals — the themes around which you can let paint do the talking are endless.

Start by talking to your child about their favourite things, their hobbies, what makes them happy and what they consider to be fun. Once they’ve made some suggestions, perhaps you could too and go from there.

Murals are a surefire way to achieve a balance of colour and playfulness. A woodland theme evokes fantasy and mythical creatures. Its driving colours of grey, green and brown are rich, warming and lively. Once you’re ready, paint a base — be it a warm white neutral or a sky blue. When dry, grab a pencil and sketch an outline of your trees.

A jungle scene is a chance to bring in a multitude of colours through different animals, such as tigers, elephants and birds. Of course, you don’t have to stick to the real colours — bring in any colour palette you desire.

Any type of green setting such as these jungle or woodland themes, will bring the outside in, reminding of the fun to be had climbing trees and playing in nature.

A mountain mural that extends around all four walls will connect with their adventurous side. Bring an element of surprise to the walls with a jagged horizontal line separating two colours.

If you want a more pared back look, paint a mid-toned grey and paint scattered blue clouds throughout for a sky setting.

For a fresh, coastal look that encourages tales of sailing ocean and rowing to other seas, paint a bedroom white except for a thick horizontal stripe that extends across each wall. Whatever colour you choose, extend this colour to other aspects in the room, such as a cupboard, bookshelf and bed linen.

Let your child’s imagination run wild and draw to their heart’s content on the walls. Don’t panic: You won’t having trouble cleaning it – if you use Resene FX Blackboard Paint and FX Chalkboard Paint. It is a playful way children can interact with their paint colour and serves as a handy resource for older children to write the reminders of homework or after-school activities. Or if you prefer to avoid chalk dust, use Write-on Wall Paint to create a whiteboard finish instead.

When you visit the beach, let him choose some shells he loves. Help him select some colours and paint them. When they’re dry, hang them from string and turn them into a mobile, hanging below driftwood from his bedroom ceiling.

If you’re building bunks, consider the fun element of incorporating a built-in wooden slide for a playful feature. Add another playful feature by painting over stencils in animal shapes against his white furniture. Kids love creatures, especially when they’re illustrated in a vibrant, bright colour.

A camouflage theme is fun and adventurous. Using khaki and brown paint, you can paint the pattern yourself onto a feature wall, then coat the remaining walls in one of the hues. Then add a camouflage patterned duvet cover and complementary sheets to continue the theme.

Don’t be afraid to go bold and joyful, using lively hues such as yellow, terracotta or red. You may have grey or white walls, apply bright accent colours to the bed frame, bed, bunks, drawers.

Colour is a brilliant and practical way to deal with storage. Paint baskets and hang them on the wall in different colours for storage options. Or if you have cubby holes under a window seat cushion or in a set of shelves, paint each box in a

complementary colour. He can label each box for toys, art supplies or shoes. Bring in hexagonal shelving coloured in a bright hue for storage too.

A black and white bedroom is one that won’t date quickly, and to this you can apply accents in a colour, changing it whenever you get bored with it.

If your son has trouble choosing just one colour for his walls, introduce him to the idea of blocks of colour being painted on his walls as a feature wall or simply curved shapes of colour.

In a room with warm grey whitewash walls, apply de´ cor in primary colours – a colourful rug, stools, chairs, floor cushions and bedspreads in red, blue, mustard and cream.

Older boys will look for a bedroom that is slightly less playful. A teenage boy’s bedroom is one in which he will prioritise seclusion and time with his friends.

Studying and storage space will both need to be considered in his bedroom’s decor, but so will be his way of expressing his personality. To avoid him growing out of his room too quickly, let him choose his favourite colours, but use them in stripes of colour on the walls that aren’t too childlike.

If you don’t want your son’s bedroom to change much as he matures, achieve a dusky blue and moody grey colour scheme, holding it together with midcentury-inspired furniture. To bring it to a young boy’s age level, apply playful elements such as a mobile or wall decals. For young teens, place a large painted pinboard on the wall. This can act as a place for him to keep track of his study deadlines, pieces of writing he likes, pictures, music posters and photos.