When you decide to give a child's room a makeover, it is vital to first look at it through his eyes. A child does not see his room as a functional space to live and sleep in, but as a fantasyland where all make-believe is reality. A pillow can become a horse to ride on, and a desk can be magically transformed into the dashboard of a formula one racing car.

Fortunately all these changes need not tug too hard at your purse strings, and a dash of creativity is all you need to convert your child's room into a haven of entertainment and learning.

Color

Introduce colors to the walls in your child's room in little bursts. A colorful collage of his or her favourite characters can be the central theme that spills over onto desks, stools and cots. Explore wallpaper with small prints that spell fun and activity, or a colorful border that runs along the length of the room.

A good home store would be able to provide a large number of colorful stick-ons and motifs that can be used around windows and over bedsteads. This can introduce some excitement to drab looking walls, and can easily be taken off without ruining them.

Furnishing

Keep in mind your child's needs as you pick up pieces of furniture for his room. Girls and boys may have a slightly different preference in color and finish, but ensure that you keep your furniture child-friendly. A beanbag can become an outlandish football for your energetic little boy and little stools can be molded as magical mushrooms for your fairy tale loving girl.