Do it yourself kids theme bedrooms: beach furniture, crafts and decorating

With sun and surf, swimming and sailing, a trip to the beach can be a whole lot of fun. Capture the excitement of a seaside outing for your child's bedroom with a warm and sunny beach theme by using the following decorating ideas.

To start the planning, get some input from your child about what he or she would like to see in the room. Children's imaginations generate all sorts of unusual ideas, and you'll probably discover a more specific theme you can work with for the bedroom's main focal point. For instance, the child may want to sleep in a boat instead of a bed or seashells may be a favorite part of the beach that you can use to decorate the entire room.

It's a good idea to think through everything else that will go into the room before you actually begin. Planning and research at the start will probably save you time and money in the long run. You can find great inspiration by looking through books about the ocean or visiting travel Web sites. Also try looking at decorating Web sites for sample rooms, color themes and other ideas.

Here are some more things to consider and projects to do:

Color scheme: There are two ways to go with your beach theme's color scheme: bright and bold or pale and serene. You can use vivid reds, blues, yellows and greens (the traditional colors of buoys and boats) to create a lively space. On the other hand, the soft colors of shells, sand and sky will make for a relaxing room. To decide on a color scheme, ask your child which colors attract him or her.

Decor: To make the decor a snap to put together, choose a beach related object to emphasize. Choices include seashells, buoys, life preservers, boats and sandcastles, among others. Once you choose your emphasis, find artwork and the actual objects (look in nautical supply or antique stores for the real deal). You can also hang netting in the corners of the room to hold toys and lend a nautical air. Remember not to use small objects (such as shells) in a very young child's room since they present a choking hazard.

Walls: There are so many different wall treatments that you can use to emphasize your beach theme. You can paint a mural of the beach, with real sand mixed into the paint and shells glued to the walls. Stencils and wallpaper also offer a variety of beach themes for the walls - from sandcastles to seagulls.

Furniture: For a fun bed, you can cut plywood into a boat shape and paint it to match your color scheme. You can also create a plywood sand castle, and cover the wood with sand infused paint. With either of these plans, build a frame to firmly attach the plywood to, and then set it around a standard bed frame. Another great idea (especially for a girl's room) is to completely cover all the furniture with seashells by attaching them with hot glue. While this is a time consuming project, the effect can be amazing. If you have a canopy bed, use fishing net for the top instead of traditional fabric. You can also use stencils and paint to create a matched set out of different furniture pieces. Paint everything the same base color, then use the stencils as accents or make a pattern with them.

Bedding, pillows and curtains: You can make your own matching beach themed bedding, pillows and curtains with fabric paint, stencils, embroidery or appliques. Sometimes you can find coverlets that have a top, net-like layer. You can also crochet your own nets if you can't find a color to match your scheme. In fact, you can crochet pillow covers and curtains if you are really ambitious. To create some privacy with nets used as curtains, put a solid colored curtain or shade behind them. Try painting a beach scene on a roller shade for a fun window covering.

Lighting: Look for beach themed lamps and shades or create your own. Try hot gluing shells to your lamp and shade for a neat look. You can also paint the shades using fabric paint and the same stencils you use on your walls. Consider making your own stencils by tracing shell outlines and other beach images onto stencil plastic (available at craft stores). For another cool looking lamp, hot glue netting to the shade (make sure it does not drape over the bulb) and then brush glue all over the lamp base and cover it in sand. How about building a lighthouse using cardboard, papier mache, paint and a small lamp? You can place the lamp in a corner to add height to the room.

With some imagination and time, you can create a fun-filled beach themed room for your child. Make sure you create a good plan to work from, and remember to have fun.