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How to create a safari themed kids bedroom

Turn a child’s bedroom into a fun zone with textured paint effects and thoughtfully chosen, playful accessories

Back wall Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Sakura and Resene Sauvignon mixed with Resene Paint FX Effects over the top. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on flooring paint in Resene French Grey.

Take your child on a safari adventure by painting an animal print on the wall of their bedroom, then add a freestanding desk to encourage good study habits early on.

Zebra wall

Paint two coats of Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Sauvignon. Wait to dry, then freehand draw a zebra pattern or make a cardboard stencil if you want some consistency. If you decide to draw a pattern freehand, step back often to make sure the shapes are working together. Once you are happy with the pencil outline, run painter’s tape over the pencil lines. You should see the pencil through the tape – use a light-coloured painter’s tape. Then, carefully trace over the pencil with a craft knife to cut through the tape. Peel off the tape from the inside of all the shapes you want in the darker colour. Roll on the secondary colour inside each taped area. We used Resene Sakura. When the paint is touch dry, remove the tape. You may need to tidy up some of the edges if the paint has bled slightly or rub out any pencil marks you can still see. You should have a sharp line from this method of taping.

Zebra patterned wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Sauvignon and Resene Sakura. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on flooring paint in Resene French Grey.

Plaster effect wall

Paint a coat of Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Sakura. Wait for it to dry, then using loose brush strokes, apply Resene FX Paint Effects mixed with Resene Sauvignon over the top. You can also use a muslin cloth to rub some of the colour back for a smoother plaster effect.

Floor painted in Resene Walk-on flooring paint in Resene French Grey.

Tip

If you’re nervous about trying these patterned walls, choose soft Resene colours that are just a few shades lighter or darker than each other. Limit yourself to two colours for the whole room.

More Resene colours to try (left to right): Resene Divine, Resene Vanilla Ice, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream.

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.

Project by: Amber Armitage. Photography by: Melanie Jenkins.

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