A Winter Nap

As we prepare to enjoy our holiday vacation, many of us with children are getting ready for that period of constant entertainment and activity when the whole family comes home. My kids are eager for that time off from school when they get to sleep in, watch movies, play with friends, and enjoy a less-structured life for a while.

During this cheerful and festive time when the house can be a little chaotic, I’m thinking of ways to create quiet spaces for my children. All ages love and appreciate an area in which to dream, play and create. So during this treasured time off, why not set up one-of-a-kind décor for your children to enjoy?

Canopies, curtains and other elements can transform an ordinary room into a fantastic dream land for day or night. Pink canopies are a luxurious embellishment in a lovely pink bedroom.

This gorgeous room below, from ElleDecor, shows how simple fabric adornments create a snuggly space for your little princess.

Villa Bella makes beautiful wooden hand-carved bed crowns that are great for embellishing with butterflies, tassles or pom-poms. The fantastic room below is from Libby Norman’s book, Creating Children’s Rooms.

You can also invite some delicate feathers and graceful scallops to adorn a space . Like a cake topper on a beautiful pastry puff, adding this soft touch can help transform an ordinary bed into a real dessert cart. I love this dreamy room below, from Susanna Salk’s book, Room for Children.

For double the fun, cut-outs on built in beds can feel like a caravan of color, like this room below, from an issue of Palm Beach Homes & Lifestyles Magazine.

If you want to add drama and effect, start with the just the head of the bed. Create a curtain of elegance and fun with floral pattern and shapes, and carry this whimsical theme to the window for a royal decor. The three rooms below are from Room for Children.

Pattern and curtains create a daybed of fancy. Tuck in the curtains at each end of the bed to create a truly tent-like atmosphere while dreaming.

A four-poster bed paired with curtains is a simple way to create a playful, sleeping space. Check out this post from Coco + Kelly on creating canopy beds.

To achieve the full cocoon effect, close up all sides and enjoy a peaceful slumber. Kleine Kinderzimmer exhibits this perfect-for-cuddling space in his book, Small Rooms for Kids. Apartment Therapy also has some fabulously unique ideas for canopy beds.

Secret forts and spy books and flashlights… a boy’s dream! In her book, Babies’ Rooms, Judith Wilson uses a simple white canopy over the bed to create a cozy corner reading space for two.

For the more ambitious at heart, try building a wooden boat to sail away in, from Rooms for Children.

From Small Rooms for Kids…

If you find yourself getting jealous of the kids’ gorgeous new bed, fear not! There are endless exotic canopy options to suit your tastes. For all of us who need a little  rest and relaxation for the holiday season, create a day bed of the simplest kind. Carefully fixed around the bedposts, this light, white, voile canopy below, from Room for Children, is the perfect spot for a winter nap.

From all us at Annette Tatum, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.