African Children Bedrooms

Interior decorators have picked up on the one room that has probably been neglected for years in family homes: the children’s bedrooms. Usually when a child gets born the parents make a huge fuss over decorating the nursery. As the child grows up, the room stays the same until adolescence. By this stage the teenager is sick of the Winnie-the-Poos and Disney characters, so he or she decides to decorate the room with posters of rock bands.

In recent years interior decorators have capitalised on the trend to cater to children’s needs and have focused on their bedroom décor. Manufacturers have also profited by creating innovative and exciting products that children love. Pink bunk beds, Spider Man duvet covers and a variety of toy chests are just some of the products that can be found at home décor shops. If you are going to decorate your child’s room according to a theme, you must ensure that it centres on something that the child enjoys.

A rising décor trend for children’s bedrooms is based on an African theme. The theme is inspired by the increased popularity of African dolls. African dolls have been around for many years as a toy for children on the continent. However, due to widespread promotion of the tourism industry across Africa, the dolls have now spread around the world.

There are different types of African dolls from diverse cultures. The Ndebele Lingo Koba doll comes from Zimbabwe. This doll represents a married woman wearing her blanket, known as an nguba. The beaded strands that run down from her face symbolize her tears, called milingakobe. She weeps from joy and sorrow as her son submits himself for initiation to adulthood.

For a child's bedroom you could acquire about five or ten dolls and place them together on a shelf or have them dotted around the room. They can be both a decoration and a toy for the child. Most places that sell the African Doll give a leaflet or pamphlets that explain the doll’s meaning and heritage. This provides the parents with an excellent opportunity to incorporate the doll into story time.

Invest in gorgeous rich coloured patterns to paint on the bedroom walls. Many years ago, and still today, Africans used to live in clay huts that they covered in traditional patterns. Each pattern would represent an aspect of a family's heritage or culture. There are plenty of zigzag designs, or waves, which will add an extra dimension to the overall theme. You don’t need to be an accomplished artist to paint the designs. All you need is some colourful paint and a brush. If your hand is not steady enough to draw straight lines, use masking tape to help you.

If you have a daughter you might want to find out about African Hair Accessories. There is a wonderful clasp called the African Butterfly, which consists of two slides, some elastic and gorgeous hand painted beads. The African Butterfly can hold all types of hair, long or short, straight or curly. The accessory can also be an attractive piece in a room. By placing a variety of African butterflies in a glass bowl on your daughter’s dressing table, you can add the finishing touches to your African themed room.

An African bedroom would not be complete without an African mask. If you have a son, he would enjoy this artefact not only for his wall but also to scare his friends with. Traditional African masks are made out of wood. Each type of mask has its own story explaining the origin of its creation and the history behind its meaning. Some masks are created for rituals such as the celebration of spring or birth. Many masks have incorporated beads and shells into their designs.

Africa is a continent rich in history and potential. The continent is slowly recovering from colonial rule and advancing socially and economically. There are many African themes you could explore for ideas on a bedroom theme. Websites allow you to buy original African pieces, which are delivered straight to your door. Each piece has a story to tell, allowing your child to learn a lot about the mystical African continent.

Celeste writes for Places a Far who specialize in beautiful handcrafted African crafts.