Colorful accents brighten up children’s rooms

I receive many e-mails from kids, particularly girls around 10 years old. They've watched my shows and know that I believe in their innate ability to choose great colors and designs. Our rooms are or should be an extension of who we are and what we hold dear. Freedom of expression at any age is a wonderful gift. That said, there is always a place for some guidance, and that's where parents come in, and that's when I try to help too.

Last week I heard from a very polite young lady who wanted to paint her room hot pink. She wanted her room to have a grown-up look even though she wasn't grown up because she liked the look. Well, Kayla, a whole room painted hot pink would be bold, cheerful and surprising, and few adults would have the courage to go this wild.

You will discover that a bedroom drenched in hot color would be tiring, kind of like too much of a good thing. So, here's my advice to you. Think about ways to infuse your room with your favorite color, but use it as an accent. You told me your walls are blue now. You could mark off thin stripes, about 3 inches wide around the room. Vary the distance between the stripes, and you can even change the width of the stripes. Or paint the background any muted shade of orange, green or pink. Experiment with color combinations on a piece of card until you find your favorite.

Another option is to paint one wall hot pink -- the wall behind your bed is a perfect place. Then choose a softer color for the rest of the room, just like the background of the stripes.

But the walls are only part of the picture. What about bedroom furniture? A desk top, bookshelves or chest of drawers can be painted every few years as you grow and your tastes change. Inexpensive laminates can be painted as long as you prepare the surface carefully first. Remember that paint will not stick to a slippery surface, so you must use sand paper or a sanding block to rough up the shine.

Sand until the surface is dull, then wipe clean and dry. The next step is a coat of high-adhesion paint primer. Ask the paint store for the primer that is designed to cover slippery surfaces. Apply the primer and let it dry overnight. Now you can paint with water-based paint, latex or acrylic, and it will stick. Apply two coats and let them dry.

For a more durable finish, ask for semigloss or even high-gloss paint. Your hot pink will really dazzle with a highly reflective sheen.

If you look at the accompanying photo, you will notice that most of the bedroom is white. The slanted ceiling beams, window trim and blinds, and the furnishings are white; however, the pink shelf top and blue accessories really stand out. I'd add a hot pink blanket at the foot of the bed and a lamp or shade to match. There are plenty of accessories brimming with color at stores that will give you all the pink you crave. Your room will look pretty cool, and I'd forget about the grown-up bit for now.

Debbie Travis is a columnist for King Features Syndicate. E-mail questions to her at house2home@debbietravis.com.