Cabinetry can be used to create bedroomsthat stand the test of time. (NAPSA)—Most parents would agree, children grow up faster than anyone expects. What’s more, as fast as kids change, so do their needs, tastes and interests. This is one reason some parents are apprehensive about investing in quality dcor for their children’s bedrooms. What parents may not knowis that a child’s bedroom can be beautiful as well as versatile and enduringovertime. According to design expert Paul Radoy, there are certain things to keep in mind when designing a bedroom that grows with the child: 1. It’s OK to make thatinitial investment. The up-front expense is a long-term investment and the cost will be worth it down the road when there are only minimal changes that need to be made. Paint color, bedspreads, wall art and other accessories are easy to change as the child develops different tastes. 2. Avoid themes when it comes to furniture. Clean lines and neutral finishes have the ability to work with most any dcor, from whimsical to modern. A simple change of hardware can dramatically change the look of a furniture-like piece. 3. Always consider storage. A small child may not havethestorage needs that a teenager would have, but it’s important to create storage spaceinitially to accommodate the child’s needs for many years. Items created from Merillat cabinetry, such as a windowseat, trunk, armoire, desk and book shelves, are all storage spaces a child of any age can find a usefor. Merillat has long demonstrated how cabinetry can be used in rooms other than the kitchen and the bath. Taking this expertise one step further, the designers at Merillat used Merillat Masterpiece cabinetry to create a beautiful bedroom that stands thetest of time. 4. Design for different zones in the bedroom. Like many rooms in the home, the bedroom serves a numberof different purposes. An area designed to be a place where the child can color can be adapted to become a computer/homework desk for the child later on. A space where a child plays with toys could become a dressing area for a teenager. “We wanted a bedroom that illustrates not only how cabinetry can be used to create high-end, furniture-like pieces, but how it can be used to design a beautiful bedroom that can adaptfor a child who’s 5 yearsold or 13 yearsold,” said Radoy. “We also considered that in many households, a younger sibling may move into a bedroom when the older sibling moves out. Oftentimes, this sib- ling maybea different gender. All these rules apply in this instance as well. Smart design choices not only accommodate different ages—butdifferent genders, too.” To get ideas on other creative uses for cabinetry, visit www.merillat.com.
