Blinkdecor : Eye On Design :

Do you have the courage to let your child truly create his or her own room? After reading Kelee Katillac's newest book, Kid's Sacred Places: Rooms for Believing and Belonging, you'll be hard-pressed to consider decorating any other way.

Designer, author and creative therapist, Kelee Katillac, has written an enlightening book on the value of personal spaces for children, highlighting the tween years. This engaging read, with colorful photographs by Roy Inman,, stresses the value of encouraging kids to decorate their own rooms that can both “nurture creativity and help them get through life's tough spots.”

We recently had the great pleasure of speaking with Kelee, who shared her insight on the value of creative “self-decorating” for children, as well as some practical tips for parents to encourage this resourcefulness in their kids.

“...Bunnies are out, Biedermeier is in.” Kelee references this quote from a NYTimes article pointing out the growing trend to infuse upscale design elements in children's rooms. Attracted by the “mini” mid-century designs now available, such as the (admittedly, adorable) Verner Paton Junior chair, many designers and homeowners can’t resist the urge to infuse their design style into the kids quarters. The result is sophisticated surrounds better suited for magazine spreads than sleepovers.

We asked Kelee for some advice for those of us afraid to relinquish design authority, especially to a demographic that still requires their crusts be cut off! Her response, (with parental relevance far beyond decorating negotiations,) is to “give up the illusion of control.” In other words, start early and encourage your kids to be themselves and express themselves as individuals. By letting them have some free reign in decorating their rooms, you“re fostering a safe haven, and reinforcing the importance of self -acceptance. As Oprah Winfrey admirably stated, “This is a remarkable story of a woman who says a home is more than a place where a child feels loved and supported– a place that supports and reflects who they are and who they want to be”.

For those children who aren't inclined towards craft-making, and for those parents who feel creatively challenged, Kelee offers some insightful words of support. She reminds us of the many other words that define creativity, such as resourcefulness, ingenuity, and imagination. We employ these qualities in all walks of life, outside of the stereotypical artistic world. Therefore, it’s much easier to tap into our creative selves than we may think! Kelee shares Pablo Picasso’s famous sentiment, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

We spoke with Kelee about the many wonderful new children’s resources that focus on the needs and desires of real kids, and garner a respect for their future by employing green friendly design. A blinkdecor favorite that the hip European design blog, the style-files, recently highlighted, is the collection from Life Time, which includes some awesome tented beds. To make your own four-poster creation, check out the affordable, vintage-inspired fabrics from pixiedust’s enchanting textile collection. Kelee recommended at least a bridging of store bought furniture and “curb-side shopping,” which allows kids to pick out "used" furniture and then personalize their finds. What better way is there to reinforce genuine recycling and reduce spending!

This summer could be a great time to encourage your child to get off the computer and create a personal space of his or her own. Start small, with the author’s idea of a “creativity cabinet,” or encourage your child to re-design his entire room by picking up a paintbrush and dipping in to that neon green paint can together. Either way, remember author Kelee Katillac’s words, “Creative thinkers seem to always land on their feet...”