Lots of parents write in via my design blog decor8 for help in decorating the modern nursery, playroom, or toddler bedroom. One hot topic that keeps coming up is their need to display art that goes beyond the mainstream selection that's out there -- works that are special, affordable, and will spark their child's imagination. They are also concerned that the room, art included, will work with the design scheme of the entire home. That's where I step in and suggest framing prints of original works from independent artists. It's easy, affordable, and thousands of beautiful prints are only a click away. Here are some notes from email consultations recently held with readers on this topic, I hope these tips can be of benefit to you, too!

Top row: Whimsy Press, Bottom row: Margot Curran via Babygeared.

Dwell Studio Wall Art available a Design Public.

A collection of prints shown here framed from ISAK.

Art Tips For Kids' Rooms

1. Avoid installing expensive originals or prized family pieces unless they're framed or higher than little fingers can reach. I do not suggest valuable art in a kid's space ever for obvious reasons -- that expensive painting may end up altered by magic markers, crayons, or darts. I suggest reproduction pieces either on canvas or as prints, digital prints, letterpress prints, photography, etc. I'm more concerned with originals on canvas since imaginations can run wild leading to your little one painting red horns or a mustache on a very prized portrait.

2. Most parents want the kid's room/nursery to blend with the rest of the house. That's a smart choice. When I was growing up all the kids in my neighborhood had Transformers or My Little Pony themed rooms before they even knew who these popular characters were. Nurseries were usually pink (girl) or blue (boy) and themed around some Disney film, polka dots, stripes, or Noah's Ark. Parents today are taking design up a few notches and seeing beyond popular characters or 'theme-y' designs and creating a space that is in harmony with the rest of the home. Parents: Seize the only years you have to control design in your kids' space while you can because once they get older, they'll alter that room in crazy ways you'd never imagined. Decorate using colors, patterns, materials, and art that you enjoy. More on why below in tip #4.

3. Look for art that reflects the joy and whimsy of being a kid without it becoming overly theme-y because diversity is nice. Exposing children to a variety of images at an early age can build in them a desire to learn about culture and the arts, too. Lots of artists who concentrate of work for kids usually show identifiable things in their art like giraffes, birds, bicycles, balloons, trees, things that children can point to and identify by name. Ultimately it's up to the parents, I've seen some babies with more abstract watercolor prints in their nursery and it was beautiful as the colors were very calm and warm. As your children grow, you'll start to see what images they are responding to the most which gives you a better sense of what they enjoy. It's also nice if art doubles as a tool for teaching. Try framing alphabet cards or purchasing a print like the Binth Alphabet poster shown below.

4. You should love the colors and the art you've selected for the room. If mother is happy, everyone is happy, right? Of course, dad needs to like it too. Babies and children pick up on their parents emotions, that is a scientific fact. If you love the nursery and everything about it impacts you in a positive way then your baby will sense that and all will be feeling good about your design choices. Select images that you like bearing in mind the importance they likely will have on your little one, and don't overlook the role that color plays. More on color here: Color Schemes for Your Babies Room and the Nursery Art.

5. For the sake of safety, make sure whatever you hang on the wall is secure. Children like to pound on things, walls included. You wouldn't want little miss or junior to pound a toy against the wall and something comes crashing down. I always suggest framing prints behind plexiglass but you can make your own decision regarding this. I do not suggest installing work over a bed or crib. Try vinyl wall decals or wallpaper near beds and cribs, ideally things that cannot fall onto them while they're napping.

6. Change the artwork often to reflect (and develop) the child's interest. Once they are toddlers you will start to notice what prints they seem to enjoy and the others that aren't really 'clicking'. Rotate them out from time to time to keep things fresh. You can always add them back in later. And as they begin to create their own artwork, you can easily do this without a large investment and little damage to the walls by purchasing a variety of frames and a few picture ledges and simply rotate the displays. Mingle in some of their finger paintings or potato prints with some of the art you see in this post, for instance. Also don't forget to include something in the room that was handmade by you or someone in the family that can be enjoyed in this collection.

Binth Alphabet Poster.

Alphabet of Endangered Species in the British Isles by Present and Correct.

Now that I've given you some art tips for kids' rooms, would you like to see some of the places I click for prints? You'll have to wait until Friday... I'll post a round-up of some of my favorite prints for kids that even non-parents will fall in love with, so stay tuned!

(images linked above to source)