The challenge in designing children’s rooms is that the children grow, both physically and emotionally. The design decisions you made for your child as a baby and young child inevitably evolve as they develop their own interests and style, and they likely want to have a say in how their bedroom looks and functions. The room, of course, now has to accommodate a larger person, larger clothes and shoes, and storage for toys, books and hobbies. And for most of us, a new design can’t break the bank.

This is the second of my three-part series for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden section on designing rooms for growing children. This piece addresses creating a happy, still serene space for children as they move from young child to almost tween. Thanks to the insights of experienced designers, it offers plenty of tips for parents to work some magic—with the help of their children.