Back to school design cheat sheet

So it's almost back to school time, and whether you are working on your teen's room or prepping your young adults for their dorm rooms, it is a great opportunity to indulge in some affordable and fun decorating! And what better way to get some last minute bonding with your kids before summer wraps up.

Check out some of my favourite big box and discount stores like Ikea, Walmart, the Dollar store etc.. Most of these stores offer some of the latest trends, colors and cool ideas for making it an easy and exciting way to tackle a new school year.

Pick a color or theme and run with it! Don't go color crazy, try to stick to a maximum of 3-4 colors that you can play with and carry through.  Personalize the room and let your child's identity shine through

Your essential shopping list should consist of the following:

1)      Bedding: look for a great set of sheets that will brighten up the room and work with your theme!

2)      Window Coverings: Grab a set of inexpensive ready-made drapes or a roller blind.  Active kids need a good night's sleep, so look for something that is aesthetically pleasing and provides plenty of coverage from the sunny rays.

3)      Storage boxes, magazine holders, tack boards, and desk accessories: All these little classifying tools will help make your teen's work/live space organized.

4)      Lighting: Dorm room and bedrooms always tend to be dim, so splurge on  functional light fixture, be it a floor lamp or a pair of table lamps that will help light up the dark all-nighters your teens will be pulling off.

A great way to add pizzazz to any dull room can be done through wallpapers and wall appliqués (also known as wall stickers).  Use a combination of vivid paint colors with your wallpapers or appliqués for maximum impact.  If you wish to go on the cheap, then stick to paint, explore some paint techniques such as stripes that can be painted around the perimeter of the room or on a focal wall.

For some fun lounging accessories, consider bean bags, large pillows and throw pillows.  Kids love to hang out on the floor and plenty of cushions creates an unruffled relaxation zone.

Don't forget the finishing touches and the fun accessories, this can be anything from paper lanterns that add color, to mirrors, pictures, area rugs and even decorative shelves that can double up as a functional element.

Remember, the key is to keep it simple, colourful and harmonious! When you are filling your shopping cart you should be able to see it all come together through multiples of the same colors and patterns that complement each other.