Picking a decor for young children isn't like decorating the rest of your house. Your taste might run anywhere from minimalist contemporary to ornate Victorian, but that doesn't meant your kids want the same style in their rooms. Different decisions are made when choosing furnishings and window blinds for children.

Bright and Fun Colors

When people decorate rooms for babies and toddlers, they tend to go for the pastels, particularly pink or blue. These aren't the best choice for kids. Kids like bright primary colors and psychological studies show that they thrive among these vivid shades.

Go bold and bright: fire engine red rather than dusky rose, sunny yellow over muted mustard, and the bright blue of a summer sky over the pastel of the nursery. This is true not just for the walls but for furnishings and window blinds as well.

Although these shades might seem bright for you, your kids will love them. Bright and bold doesn't need to mean clashing and jarring. You still need to choose colors that work well together and will create an energizing but comfortable space.

Kids Will Be Kids

Decor is often a balance of form over function and this is even truer when decorating children's rooms. Kids don't know their own strength! They have lots of energy and don't always expend it outside. Choose sturdy furniture that won't fall apart under the abuse. Go for window blinds that use durable materials.

Another key word is "washable". Children are messy. Don't put a dry-clean-only blanket on the bed or your laundry expenses will be enormous. Many paints designed for children's bedrooms are washable, which will be a blessing when the little monster, er, angel decides to express a creative streak by drawing a crayon mural.

Watch Out for Safety

When dealing with anything designed for children, safety has to come first. Children are insatiably curious about the world yet still naive about how dangerous it is to, say, stick their finger in a light socket. Their boundless energy also counts against them as they run around the room, sharp corners just inches from their tiny heads.

Almost all window blinds for sale today have options for cordless controls which significantly reduces the chance of strangulation. Covers for the electric sockets and guard rails on the first "big kid bed" are necessities.

Furniture for kids is rounded and soft if you buy new, but many of us can't afford a whole bedroom set. If you are using hand-me-down furniture, cover the sharp corners with protectors. Tall pieces such as shelves or dressers should be bolted to the wall so they don't fall over when kids inevitably climb on them.

When you are making choices about your child's room, you have to think like a kid. From color choices to safety, if you put yourself in the mind of a child you will have a room your child will love and that you can be happy with.