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Toons triumph in kids' rooms

Young parents today let their child's room make a definite statement. Right from themes and colour schemes, the choices are abundant

DESIGNER ROOMS FOR KIDS The trend has begun to percolate from the swish set to other sections of society

There's no substitute to taking your child out for a walk in the park or simply enjoy the vibrant hues associated with each season. But have you ever thought of your child growing up in a make-believe environment that replicates the colours of nature? Many parents have mulled over the possibility and found the answers in the way they design their child's room. If adults can ask for a mera wala pink to paint the house, for children there is a host of themes such as a walk in the park, spring mornings and cartoon characters such as Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Winnie the Pooh and, of course, Barbie.

"We did a consumer research and the findings indicated that children were looking at some excitement when it comes to their bedroom walls. And they liked cartoon characters the most. So we tied up with Disney and introduced Disney Emulsions," says Ashok Sani, Vice President, Special Projects, Nerolac. What you are offered is a kit with paint, stencils and application tools. The cost varies and may even be Rs. 2,500 for a single wall. "People don't mind spending on their children's room," adds Saini.

The trend has begun to percolate from the swish set to other sections of society. Having seen thematic homes through interior design programmes and popular soaps, many middle-class families aspire for something similar. "People observe interiors and fashion trends shown in serials and want their children's room, living room and master bedroom to be fashionable. Eighty per cent of homes we've catered to recently have had theme walls," says Sashi Kumar, Area Manager, Asian Paints Home Solutions. The themes: cosy, playful, cheerful, cool and festive. Stencils that let you have stars, clouds and other characters etched on the walls are in the offing as well. The cost can go up to Rs. 20 per sq ft.

Eager to capitalise on the boom in home interiors, paint majors forecast colours for the year with the help of designers. "The retro theme was in vogue for a while. It's back now and will be preferred for the next three years. We'll see dark colours with patterns on the walls like in the '60's and '70's," adds Sashi Kumar.

Where children are concerned, the task begins from painting their room to finding the right furniture and upholstery. Mix and match to get the best. From curtains to bedspreads, there's always been something special for kids. Now, Cartoon Network has joined hands with Bombay Dyeing to introduce upholstery with cartoon characters.

Just how far you are willing to go depends on your wallet. Young parents moving into new homes give preference to their kid's room. "We moved into our new apartment a few months ago. I'm yet to work out something for the master bedroom, study and dining area. But my boy's room is in place. I want him to enjoy it before he grows out of it," says Yamini Shekhar, a homemaker.

There's more. Japanese major Nippon Paints, launching in India, will also be introducing themes for kids in a few months. "Apart from themes, the emphasis is also on eco-friendly paints. Safety is a concern and you don't want your child to have an allergic reaction after moving into a new house," says Ramakanth Akula, Vice President, Nippon Paints India.

SANGEETHA DEVI K.

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