Step 1: The walls: Rather than using wallpaper, or a border with an overly commercialized kid's theme, opt for painting the room instead. Today's paints are available in durable finishes that are perfect for kid's rooms and come in every conceivable color. When buying paint, spend the extra couple of bucks and go to a specialty paint store such as Duron or Sherwin Williams vs. one of the big box hardware stores. These specialty paint stores generally offer a wider selection of colors and are happy to "go off of the card" to mix a custom color for you. Also, most of the employees are professional painters themselves and can give you meaningful advice about techniques, equipment, etc.

Choose your colors carefully. The colors on those small cards are accurate, but can be deceiving under the glow of florescent lighting in the store. The key to selecting the perfect color is to view the colors in the room where they will actually be used. Bring the cards home and view them in the room to be painted both during the daytime and at night. When you get to the point where the different shades of the same color all begin to look the same, a good rule of thumb is to select the color that you like and go one shade darker.

Because flat paints will actually come off of the wall when cleaning up the inevitable messes, and semi-gloss paints are too shiny, opt for either an Eggshell or Low-Sheen paint. Both of these finishes offer the durability of semi-gloss without the shine. Also, make sure to buy the highest grade of paint available. The best quality paints will actually save you money because you will most likely only have to apply 1-2 coats vs. 2 -3 coats with a lower grade paint. Always make sure to save some extra paint to use for touch ups because even if you buy a quart of the same color of paint in the future, it's likely that the shade will be off slightly and you will be able to see the patch. There are many wonderful local artists who can add some real panache to your room. The rates that they charge are usually dependent on how complicated the job is and how many hours it will take to complete. If you are on a budget, hire an artist to come in and add some interesting details like some randomly placed stars & moons, ladybugs, dragonflies, or other simple characters. Don't be afraid to experiment! Paint 2 walls one color and 2 walls another. Paint the trim a darker shade of the base coat instead of stark white. Try some faux painting techniques. The great thing about paint is that it's relatively inexpensive and it's easy to change if you wish.