How to Design a Disney Princess Themed Bedroom

[Ron Goldman]

Thinking of redecorating your little princess’ room? Why not give her some royal company? The Disney Princesses have mad a majestic comeback in recent years, and the crowned heads can offer an imperial touch to any girl’s room.

For those of you who don’t know (have you been living with the ogres?) the Disney princesses consist of Cinderella, Snow White ad Belle, Jasmine and Sleeping Beauty. With a wide line of furniture, bedding and accessories, decorating with these noble ladies will be magical, and give any girl a bedroom that is enchanting.

For a truly regal appearance, begin with the walls. There’s nothing plain about princesses, especially those from Disney, and no need to set them against a plain backdrop. Try alternating a paint roller length of matte paint with a roller length of satin in the same color. The walls remain monochromatic, but the effect of vertical, satin/matte stripes is stunning, and will transition easily as your child grows and her bedroom changes. Any color from the princesses’ palette will be striking in this alternating finish. By using the colors (or a lighter shade) of the princesses’ dresses, you ensure a perfect match. Because hot pink is the dominant color in most of the furniture and bedding, use a lighter shade of pink, if this is the chosen wall color. For girls who want a livelier look, choose three represented colors, painting individual walls a solid tint. Tie the bold look together by leaving one wall white and adding crowns and hearts to it, using the Disney princess palette. Commercial wallpaper and borders are, of course, readily available in almost any style imaginable. You can even make your own (more cost effectively) by purchasing paper table clothes at a party store, trimming the border from them and using decoupage medium to adhere them to the wall. (Leftovers can adorn light switch covers and plain picture frames, or anything else you can decoupage.)

For kings or queens who don’t own their palace (that’d be you dads and moms who rent), or who aren’t sure their princess will stick with one theme for a long period of time, there are alternatives.

Wall stickers are a relatively new item on the decorating scene. These cool little decorations can be moved without damage, so removing them or taking them with you in a move is possible. Using a panel of princess fabric as “wallpaper” is another option. Simply use heavy starch to attach the fabric to the wall; it will come down easily and the starch will wash away with soap and water. Painting murals on muslin or painters’ canvas also gives you an easily-removable option that provides an imperial bang. Your hand-painted mural can be hung as a tapestry, or adhered to the wall with fabric starch. A floor mat can be created in much the same way, using outdoor latex paint and painters’ canvas, finished with a polyurethane glaze. These removable items make a princess room a financially-feasible possibility for those who rent their homes, or for girls who are likely to change their theme in just a couple of years.

Furniture is next. Beds, vanities, headboards and storage benches are all available for your girl’s bedroom. Because most of the furniture is less expensive, it is primarily pressboard or plastic, with the toy box selections being fabric. For higher end furniture, there are bonuses; for example, the wooden toddler bed transitions from toddler to twin size. Available at stores nationwide or online, creating just the right look for your daughter’s castle is simple. Prices are reasonable, ranging from the low $30’s into the mid-$100’s for the less expensive line, and into the $500’s for items such as the Disney Princess Twin Carriage Bed. As always, there are options for do-it-yourselfers. Dressers are harder to find. A coat of paint and faux gold-leaf, stencils and a new set of drawer pulls (cut “crystal” acrylic, or perhaps wooden pulls decoupaged with princess stickers) will solve the dresser dilemma. Making your own crown headboard and princess shelves is as easy as a jigsaw, a piece of plywood, paints and a little imagination (Disney inspired, of course).

Accessories are available in most popular retail stores. From comforters, lamps and curtains to picture frames, bookends, trash c... Comforters may feature the princesses as a group or individually, and in the “traditional” pink, green or purple backgrounds. Most individual accessories are priced under $50, while accessory sets range into the low $100’s.

Bedrooms are a statement of identity and a place of privacy or sharing, depending on the moment and mood of your princess. There’s no reason, with the wide variety of Disney Princess bedroom items available, that it cannot also be enchanting.

[Jason Forthofer]

great ideas, thanks for posting.