Having difficulty getting your little camper excited about going back to school? Maybe Spider-Man can help.
Redesigning your child's room is a web-walloping way to maintain their enthusiasm while getting them organized for the imminent school year at the same time.
Keeping in mind the mounting expenses at this time of year for households with young students, you naturally worry about the cost of a bedroom re-do. Can your child's room be transformed into an appealing study space for under $1,000?
With some smart shopping and the help of a local artist, one Edmonton mom discovered it can be done. Johanne Lewis managed to get her 11-year-old son, Jordan, excited about the project as well, all within her budget.
"We were excited to move into our home, but Jordan's room had no personality."
He's a fun-loving boy with a great imagination, so his mom tapped into his creativity and got him involved in the redesign.
"When I asked Jordan what ideas he had for his room, he stated he wanted something fun on the walls," Lewis recalled. After some research, Lewis enlisted the talents of a painter, Leigh Wright, whose business also offers expertise in complete home renovations, inside and out.
"Working with kids is a lot of fun," Wright observed. "Their creativity is really inspiring."
On one of their first meetings at the Lewis home, Wright brought along some of his prized comic books and Jordan was hooked. The Spider-Man theme was selected from the cover of the 30th-anniversary comic book, and the project grew from there.
"It was fun working with Leigh," said an enthusiastic Jordan. "He knows what kids like."
With some guidance from Mom, Leigh and Jordan mapped out the Spider-Man theme, and a space that was once bland started to come to life.
"This is more than a painted wall," Lewis said. "Leigh created a work of art."
While this particular mural would usually claim the majority of a $1,000 budget due to its highly detailed nature, Wright is confident a less elaborate wall mural could easily fit into the budget.
"A simple cartoon drawing or a smaller work would require less design time, and then the costs would be less. ... It's really up to the client."
As a busy mom of an active son, Lewis recognized the obvious benefits of motivating Jordan to keep his living space orderly.
"I knew that by allowing Jordan to get involved in designing his space, he would feel pride and ownership in this house," Lewis said, reflecting on the importance of the mural. Translation: Jordan will keep his room neat and organized.
In keeping with the Spider-Man theme, Lewis located character bedding at Walmart.
With the project complete, what was Jordan's impression of his new room?
"Awesome!" he expounded, "and my favourite part is the wall mural -- it's so cool."
Lewis is also pleased with the results, noting Jordan loves his space, he takes pride in his room and loves having friends sleep over.
For parents considering a mural for a kids room, Lewis suggests one that will grow with the child. Because a mural is permanent, another option is to have the same idea created on a large canvas that can be framed, then rolled up and stored when the child outgrows the design.
"I recommend high quality, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paint such as Benjamin Moore Natura Zero VOC paint. This has minimal odour, allowing your child to sleep comfortably in the room."
-- Postmedia News
How much will it cost?
The following list will help you make this project your own for under $1,000.
Note: All prices are before taxes. In the event of any discrepancies, pricing and product specs provided by participating stores, at the time of purchase, will be considered correct and override any information printed in this article.
Leigh Wright (Imagine Paint and Design; 780-884-7989)
Mural: $500 NOTE: The Spider-Man project shown was $1,000, but other design concepts could accommodate a lower budget.
Walmart
Character-themed twin comforter: $42.72
Character-themed twin sheets: $28.47
Character-themed pillow case: $7.77
Mainstays mesh task chair: $24 Ikea (www.ikea.com)
Kura reversible bed (ability to raise bed and have desk or storage below): $199
Trofast storage unit with bins: $73.99
Vika Amon/Vika Annfors desk: $99
Project total: $974.95
Tips for parents
Johanne Lewis has the following suggestions for parents contemplating a back-to-school bedroom renovation:
-- Include your child's ideas early in the process.
-- Help purge the old items by offering a memory box or book.
-- Stay calm and supportive in the process.
-- Depending on space, include a desk, chair and reading area.
-- If space is limited, consider a bunk bed with a built-in desk and organization unit.
-- Set up storage space for books, toys and games.
-- Set up for a computer or laptop.
-- Use labelled organization bins that are sturdy yet lightweight.
-- Consider rolling units that fit under the bed to save space.
-- Buy magazine holders for comic-book collections.
-- Set up a shelving unit that is height-accessible for the child and accommodates heavier toys at the bottom, books in the middle and lighter items on top.
