Boys

Parent Cafe
1

<p>How old do you think is too old to buy a boy bedding/accessories and STUFF for his room that’s related to his favorite sports team? I do not want to treat a gentleman of 10 like a baby, and I don’t want to spend money buying this stuff for him to turn his snout up at it very shortly? We’re re-doing his room for middle school this summer and would like whatever we choose to last a while. (I have older girls, so this little charmer confuses the heck out of me!)</p>

2

<p>Buy the bedding, cause you will likely change that in a couple of years anyway (at least I do cause I usually keep washing/reusing the same main sheets on my kids beds). But don’t invest too much in accessories that have bigger value. (like curtains, etc.) I would buy the sheets with a team theme and a couple of smaller accessories, but go for a more basic comforter that just matches (i.e. my son had University of Michigan sheets - white-gold-blue) with a plain navy comforter).</p>

3

<p>My son still has the same stuff on his walls since middle school. Sports posters, biking posters etc. He just continues to add more. When we replaced his bed with a full size I bought a down comforter and went with duvet covers. They are easy to change out as your child ages. You can make your own out of sheets or I have found Ikea has a nice selection for decent prices.
My son also doesn’t seem to mind his old stuff. Do you remember that show on MTV called Room Raiders? My D’s would laugh if anyone ever came to son’s room they would be puzzled. Aside from the mess he still has matchbox cars and legos in his closet. Picture books in his bookcase. But also toys and books that are age appropriate. He just never seems to find the time to clear anything out.</p>

4

<p>I agree with above. Don’t overdo the theme. That borders on cutesy, and boys hate cutesy. Ten is not too old for a sports theme.</p>

5

<p>When my son was ten we redid his bedroom completely. He had still had the Little tykes red carbed up until that point! I decided we were NO way going to do a pre teen room, only to have to redo it in 3 years. We went with dark wood Stanley (provencial) bedroom set with an queen size bed, and Ralph Lauren type paisley wallpaper on top of olive green painted wainscotting, wood blinds, wood ceiling fan, and adult bedding. All my friends oohed and ahhed over his room but said it seemed way too mature for a 10 year old but MY SON LOVED IT. Five years later and we are all so glad that we planned ahead and my friends all laud my foresight. Everyone loves his room.</p>

6

<p>We’re planning to do a nice dark wood set with captain’s bed, dresser, desk and an easy chair. He wants Red Sox STUFF like bedding and curtains and lamps. I just wondered if he’d feel it was too babyish soon.</p>

7

<p>My 16yo has had the same junk in his room for YEARS and YEARS. Posters of sports heroes long since retired. I think you’re good, but only you know your ds.</p>

8

<p>At 9 my D was head over heels in love with Tweety Bird, by 9, it was “mmmooomm, I’m 10 now!” when Tweety was mentioned. "just"aGrandMom gave her a Tweety watch for her 10th birthday, and D was mortified. i told her, “one day, when you’re not as mature as you are today, you’ll wear it with pride”. Hasn’t happened yet, and D is almost 21.</p>

<p>I suggest not doing the favorite team/super hero/character and instead perhaps make that a splash of visual interest in the room.</p>

9

<p>If he is really into the sox gear, I would do the comforter/sheets in sox stuff but not the lamp or curtains/valance. Choose a solid color to blend/match instead. It is much easier to get new bedspread/sheet than curtains in 3 years.</p>

10

<p>How about a color scheme for bedding, drapes & lampshades that fits in with Red Sox team colors, with pennants & posters for team decoration on the walls? Then later on, if he tires of the team motif, the wall hangings can be replaced. You should be able to find something nice that will last for awhile – something like this maybe? <a href=“http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ju4YGea4L._AA260_.jpg[/url]”>http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ju4YGea4L._AA260_.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>Buy him Yankees stuff, it’s not too late!!!</p>

<p>Seriously though, as a 17 year old guy, I can say that my room is a mish-mash of decorations spanning my entire life, and none of it particularly bothers me. I’m guessing he’ll just live with whatever his room look likes without giving it another thought. I’ve been looking at the same Yankees posters on my ceiling since I was seven, I have a dinosaur piggy bank from when I was four, and my favorite covers of The New Yorker cover one wall. Hell, I know guys who still have the full sports-themed bed spread, lamps, wall color, furniture, etc., it doesn’t seem to bother any of them.</p>

12

<p>Why don’t you ask him what he would like? Maybe he would like to have a hand in decorating his own space; after all, it is his. If all this is for a surprise, then he could be surprised by being given the responsibility of designing it himself. He may come up with something you didn’t even think of!</p>

13

<p>You guys are really good! Thank you.</p>

<p>franglish, he picked out the furniture and paint color, but just absolutely refuses to look at the bedding/accessories. He’s like his dad in that regard. He was born missing the shopping gene.</p>

14

<p>My teenaged son still has teddy bear curtains. I’m not sure he’s noticed yet.</p>

15

<p>^^what is is with boys and shopping? Mine absolutely refuses to try anything on! It is like an ultimate horror to go shopping with him!</p>

16

<p>Yep, will also say that my son doesn’t like a lot of changes in his room either. He’s had the same basic sports theme for 10 years! (He’s almost 17!). He did say that if it was possible we could take down the sports equipment wallpaper border and get him new curtain toppers. Other than that, I’m sure he too will keep the Brett Favre shrine intact until he is married!</p>

17

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<p>Yes, lol…!</p>

18

<p>My sixteen-year-old still has orange walls in honor of his beloved Miami Dolphins. He had bedding, lamps, throw rugs, pennants, plaques well into highschool years. Most are still proudly displayed, even though the comforter has been replaced with plain blue (not even turquoise). None of us even notice the Pokemon posters still on the walls.</p>

19

<p>^^ I’m glad my Vikings fan son was content w/ their colors on his cap and not in his room.</p>

20

<p>I agree with all the posters that say do the walls, curtains and quilt in a neutral theme, then add sports touches of sheets, pillows, posters and whatever. Maybe paint the main wall in the room an accent color, which can be easily repainted. You both will be happy about the decor in about 5 years (and when your son is 15, you will have much bigger issues to deal with!)</p>

<p>One warning I will add is to forgo the captain’s bed and use his current bed for just a few more years. By then your son will have started to sprout- he could easily grow a foot in just 3 years- and they really love a double or queen size bed if they are 5’10 or over. Even if he doesn’t reach that height, a double or queen is more convenient for guests, etc., and a bed you buy when he is 14 will likely be a guest bed after he leaves home.</p>