Choosing quality decor for children's rooms that will last

Jennifer Cohen wishes she had had the sense to think about the cents she was lavishing on decorations for her baby daughter's bedroom.

Cohen pulled out all the stops for the dream nursery — down to the custom-made crib bumpers and skirting. But baby Gabrielle quickly outgrew the nursery and those precious and pricey baby items were stowed away all too soon.

For her 9-month-old son Ryan, the New York City mom says she has been more prudent, investing in the basics such as window treatments and light fixtures that will last him through childhood.

"I learned from the first time," she recalls, "It was wasteful. You want to make wise choices."

It's natural to get caught up in the excitement of welcoming a baby home. But unless money is no object, parents should plan ahead and invest in the underpinnings that will carry a child through different stages, experts advise. The fun part — Batman, baseball, princess or ballerina themes can be rotated in and out with new bedding or wall hangings.

"Many new parents imagine their baby only in the infant or toddler stage and don't think about how their choices for the nursery might later work with an older child who now has his own tastes and opinions," says Sherri Blum, a Westminster, Md.-based designer who specializes in children's rooms. "Your 3-year-old son might love dinosaurs today, but next year he will want a soccer theme in his room and be complaining that the dinosaurs are too babyish."

But just because it pays to be practical, doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun, says Celia Tejada, senior vice president, product design and development for San Francisco-based Pottery Barn. If they want to go on a safari add a mosquito net above the bed, she says. "It doesn't have to be expensive."

Before thoughts turn to themes of unicorns or dinosaurs, it's time to build an infrastructure that will hold up until the child is off to college or on her own.

That's as simple as starting with a good paint job in a solid color. Wallpaper or even a border could prove short-lived and costly to remove, but wall hangings and removable vinyl decals liven the room and are easy to change and update.

You'll want neutral, sturdy window treatments like wood blinds, shades or shutters. This is an area you don't want to skimp on because they get a lot of wear and tear says Jamie Gibbs, a New York interior decorator. "Buying three cheap ones will turn out to be more expensive than one that's good quality," he says.