No matter what we as parents may think, once a child is born their room is their own. The space must meet their developmental needs and transition with them easily as they grow. Involving your children in creating their environment is important in giving them ownership of the space. Their space is not only where they sleep but also where they study, socialize, read, play, and listen to music. Children, today, are more aware than ever before of style. They want a room that "rocks."

Recognize, too, though that you and/or your designer will need to make the big decisions. Let your child be involved in color selection, how different spaces are used, and "theme" if any. They may be aware of style but may not know how to execute that style. Before you start a space have them draw what they would like, pull out magazine pages, etc. so there are lots of ideas to help guide the space. You and/or your designer, if you are working with one, can help select pieces that will be transitional, meet the needs of the space, and appeal to your child of any age. Consider to the important developmental stages children are at in choosing furnishings and accessories for the space. The following will provide you with specific ideas for children in different age groups:

Newborns and Toddlers
The growth years of the newborn to the toddler are crucial times. It is the only time that you have complete control of the design of your child’s space. Although we as parents often like soft environments with lots of cute characters, the subtlety is lost on your child. The newborn cannot distinguish between colors and can only see contrasts. They can only see in black and white for the first six months and notice contrasts. Simple patterns are appealing. Include both developmentally appropriate accessories while making it an environment you will enjoy as well. You will spend a great deal of time in this room. Mirrors are important for your child in learning about him or herself. Hang the mirror at a height accessible to your child or consider a fun metallic "wall paper" in a portion of the room.

The environment created in their living space must meet these crucial years while always keeping safety in mind. Having a place for children to work with magnetic letters, numbers and characters is a great addition to a space. Have safe places for children to climb, maybe with a built in pillow or mattress beneath the area. Storage space for different toys and books is crucial, as all these things will help a child’s development. You also need ample storage for diapers, a changing table and of course, a crib. Color can greatly effect a child’s development and sleeping habits as well. Studies show that infants cry more in yellow spaces. Creating the optimal environment in terms of color, texture and contrast can give children a cutting edge in their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

The Imaginative years (three to eight)
These are great times of growth not just in size but physical development but also in social, emotional, and cognitive development. Children are interested in themselves, the world around them, and other children. They will start school and be learning at a phenomenal rate. Children have new-found power. They have developed strong motor skills and are learning to socialize with others. They are beginning to learn how to control impulses.

This is a great period of imagination and role play. Have fun with these years in terms of creating a fantastic environment for your child. Bright colors are appreciated along with storybook characters. Remember involve your child in the planning. He or she will probably have lots of ideas about where to play, sleep, read, etc. Invite him to draw or describe his ideal room. Obviously, you may not be able to create everything she can imagine, but it will help provide a goal for the room.

Children’s spaces at this stage should encourage imagination with lots of interactive pieces. Chalkboards, magnetic boards, blocks, etc. are all play items to include. Storage is important for all the items of play and role-play. Also children begin to sort items, so they will want a place to put items as they categorize them. Think about colored drawers, baskets, boxes, etc. You may want to paint them with magnetic paint so that they can double as a place to work with letters and numbers. Remember to keep storage at heights that children can reach them. This also helps in teaching children to clean up. If you lack room, be creative in creating different storage areas. Remember that by six, children can handle climbing structures and a loft bed might be just the ticket for creating extra storage space. It’s also a fun way to go to bed. It is important to create spaces for different activities such as play, reading, drawing and writing, and sleep.

Keep lots of open space for children to play. Provide resilient flooring. This is also a great time to introduce child-sized furniture. Think beyond just the table and chairs for drawing and tea time. Cozy child-sized armchairs for reading, cushy ottomans, and small love seats are a great addition to the room. An oversized bean-bag or stuffed cushion right on the floor can be an inviting place to curl up with a book or take a nap as well as being easy to move out of the way for more space to play when necessary. Choose soft touchable fabrics to provide comfort in these transitional years.

"Tween" Years (8 - 12)
Depending on your child’s development, this stage could bring many different ideas in terms of their room. Late bloomers will still cling to active play and their child’s imaginative world. Other "tweens" are beginning to transition into that "wise beyond their years" stage and looking eagerly towards adolescence. Children begin to focus on realism and less on imagination. They will begin to want their spaces to look less childish and more adult-like. Still when they are upset, they will turn to the simplicity of child games. It is important to keep space for some toys, provide ample space for books, and space for new more "grownup" interests such as music. Friends become increasingly more important during these years. It is great to provide a small sitting area for visiting with friends or have an easily convertible sleeping area such as a futon for sleepovers.

The design of the child’s space is becoming more important. They may have collections they wish to display. They also have to spend more time at homework, so they need a comfortable place to study in addition to play space, sleeping space, and "hang out" space. Storage continues to be important especially for clothes, as their wardrobe increases. Changing from the earlier years to the "tween" years may be as simple as a new coat of paint and rearrangement of furniture. Think of adding a couple new key pieces that help your child feel like he or she is now in a more "mature" space.

Teens (13-18 years)
The teen years are formative in finding one’s identity. Your child will be testing his or her identity as well as challenging you. When times are too frustrating, your child may cling to child activities. A friend’s fifteen year old occasionally pours out the legos and builds a large space ship when he just wants to relieve the pressures of high school. While a child might seem adult at this stage, guidance is still important both in their social development and environment.

Your teen will want to be an integral part of the design of his or her space at this point. Creating a room is a reflection on the identity they are trying to find. They need privacy and want a space to keep things private. Colors become more subtle as they try to create a more grown up space. Study space is more important than in any previous years. This includes storage for books, a large flat surface to spread books out on, and comfortable chairs. Entertaining friends is one of the main activities during the teen years. A truly "cool" hang out space is the focal point for this space. Storage includes areas for books, high tech equipment, collections, and of course, clothes. Encourage your child to play with his or her loves in the space. An elegant French room might be the choice or an earthy blues fest or maybe go tropical. A color by itself might be the factor shapes the space. Let your child go red, purple, even "black." If your child is passionate about this project and it is in the budget, this is a great time to work with a designer who will stand as a neutral party between you and your teen in creating a space you both will enjoy.

A child’s space is an important part of his or her development. Working with your child can be fun and magical. While it is your chance to be a kid again, remember it is still your child’s room. Now, let your imagination go wild!