DIY and Crafts

How to create a circus-inspired child’s room

Article by Your Home and Garden

Step up and give your child’s room a fun circus feel with bold stripes, checks and animal accessories

Back wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Oxygen. Striped wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Gin Fizz with stripes in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pursuit. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Half Gin Fizz.

If you’re looking to add character to your child’s white bedroom walls try adding an easy checked pattern feature made from cork tiles, or take inspiration from the big top with some fun stripes to create an impact.

Checked cork tile wall

This wall idea adds great texture with the cork, as well as visual interest from the check – it’s also practical as a big pinboard for your kid’s artwork. First, measure the wall you want to tile, then buy enough packs of cork tiles to cover the wall. We used Home Lux Cork Tiles, 300mm x 300mm, $37 (pack of nine). Separate the tiles into two even groups, leaving one set raw and lay the other set out on the floor. Roll two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Gin Fizz over the top. Once dry, attach the tiles to the wall starting at the bottom left corner and work your way over. You may need to cut some tiles with a craft knife and metal ruler if the tiles don’t fit the size of your wall. Depending on how permanent you want the cork tile wall to be, you can either attach the tiles using a strong PVA wood glue or removable adhesive tape.

Cork pinboard painted in a check pattern in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Gin Fizz. Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Oxygen. Shelf painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pursuit. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Half Gin Fizz.

Stripes

We used a base coat of Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Gin Fizz, but if your walls are already white you can use that as the base. Then you will need two rolls of painter’s tape, depending on the size of the wall to be painted. We opted for a 48mm width tape and kept the stripes an even distance apart. You could also opt to spread the tape further apart for a thicker red stripe. Once you have taped up your stripes, roll over two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pursuit. Give the paint time to touch dry before carefully removing the tape so you don’t get any bleed.

Striped wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Gin Fizz with stripes in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pursuit. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Half Gin Fizz.

Tip

Add extra contrast by varying the sheen level of your stripes and checks. Try Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss to contrast against lower sheen walls.

More Resene colours to try (from left to right): Resene Amped, Resene Ted, Resene White Noise.

For more kid’s room decorating ideas, pick up a free copy of habitat plus – kids’ spaces from your local Resene ColorShop or reseller – or, view it online at www.resene.com/habitatplus. It’s packed full of ideas for how you can bring out the best in your child’s play and sleep spaces.

Styling by Amber Armitage/Marigold. Photography by Wendy Fenwick/Flash Studios