By Kajal Gaba
Photography:
Courtesy Dreams Furnishing Studio
Choosing the right soft furnishings for your
pre-teens can contribute to smoothening out the crinkles of the growing years.
Spot pointers to a quick makeover:
“Pink is for girls & blue is for
boys”... little girls with baby pink sheets and Winnie the Pooh curtains,
miniature-dressing and desking units, LED lit ceilings, playpens... are grossly
passé.Today’s child is in a great hurry to grow up and how!
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The young child wants to be recognised
for more than just reciting, singing or showing off his computer skills. He has strong preferences; and recognizesthat
he is growing as he is allowed into family decisions like buying a TV or other
gadget or planning a holiday. Thus the child in this pre-teen boy or girl is
reticent to accept baby prints and perhaps at times even won’t share his
secretive cravings for pure baby play.
In
such a scenario, if this age group is given a room of his own, how would he
ideally want it decorated? The transition from a child to a young
impressionable to-be-adult, yearning appreciation for his intellect or for just
what he/she ‘is’... and not like a prized trophy....is not an easy one. And to
design a room for youngsters in this age group of say 9-13 years, where they
don’t know their mind; with constantly changing preferences and personality
swings; one has to think of elements that would be extremely versatile, to say
the least.
Soft furnishings like bedcovers, duvets,
curtains, rugs, throw cushions, etc., can play a very vital role in lending a
creative touch to the room. Knowing that the look of the room can be easily
changed anytime the need arises, further makes the whole process of designing
it very intriguing...
Spot pointers to a quick makeover:
. Keep
the ‘baby’ word out for this age-group. Yet include an occasional Superman
bedspread in woven textile or a Cinderella shimmer in some curtain trimmings.
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· Use
a neutral colour on the walls; generic motifs – geometric or otherwise.
· Highlight
one wall with paint /wall paper with bold block print or stripes.
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· Let
the young lady or gentleman decide the colour scheme for the
furnishings.Furnishings can be bought as a whole coordinated set or just mix
& match.
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· Use
materials like pure cotton and denim that takes the vocabulary ahead as they
grow.
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· Appease
the child in them without making it obvious: so don’t discard soft toys and
babyhood knick-knacks; incorporate them as significant elements of the decor,
without being overly in the face.
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Useful tip:
Find a good tailor and try to create your own customized
furnishings with fabrics like denim, news print fabric, jute, corduroy
etc.....the result is sure to be awesome!!
KajalGabaa trained child illustrator
with over two decades of contributing as a theme and colour consultant
designing “Interactive Interiors” for children. She is today well admired for
her focussed work for institutions and individuals alike. Kajal also represents
Belgium based KCC Entertainment Design that specializes in creating world class
FEC and entertainment centres worldwide.
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