Questions to think about…
How do you design a room for foster care? The pile of paperwork has finally been approved and you are now ready to start accepting foster children. You might be feeling instantly overwhelmed. What do you need now? How do you set up a room for a child you have never met?
You are willing to open your heart and home to a child in need. How do you create the perfect room? You may have one room for girls and another for boys. Possibly you only have one room available for foster children.
There are a few things to consider when you are designing a room. What age children will you be accepting into your home? Are you accepting a specific gender or both? How many rooms do you have available for children? Do you have a room for girls and a room for boys or just one room for anyone coming into your home?
In my case, I had one room available for children that enter my home. If that is the case for you, I would recommend painting the walls a neutral color. This will allow you to make a few simple changes and turn your room into a comfortable place for anyone that comes into your home.
Think simple. Sometimes children will come for a short time and they just need a warm conformable place to stay. Other times it might be a longer stay. If this is the case they will probably want to make the room more of their own.
On with the design…
There are a few easy options when it comes to bedding. You can start with something very neutral that can easily be adapted for a boy or a girl. The room in my house has a neutral bedspread that is on the feminine side. I have another one in the closet that I can quickly switch out if a boy will be staying in the room. Another option would be to take your new placement shopping to pick out their own bedding. This may or may not work depending on your placement.
When I have a child in my home I want them to feel special and feel like they belong. This is their space in the home and I want them to feel like it is warm and inviting. There are pictures on the wall. I feel like it makes the room less sterile. A cost-effective trick was to use a calendar. I have 4 frames on the wall that I got with coupons from Hobby Lobby or JoAnnes. When I know that I will be having little ones in the house I have some very cute Winnie the Pooh pictures in the frames on the walls. They are easy to switch out with other pictures. Calendars often have beautiful pictures and can be purchased for about ten dollars. It is very simple to make it more personal for the child.
Do you need a crib? If you are taking young children I would recommend finding a crib that can convert to a toddler bed. This will maximize your use. You can set your room up with the crib in place if you know the age group you will be taking needs a crib. If you are taking a wider range of children consider having a pack-and-play type of portable crib. You can keep it under the bed or in the closet. It is available for those emergency placements and then will give you time to set up the crib.
A few things to ponder…
Ensure that you have some storage for the child’s belongings. Sometimes they will come with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. Other times they may come to you with a carload of things. If this is the case they can be very protective of their things. It is often the only thing they have control over. Ensure that they have a place to keep these things. An empty dresser for them, some toy bins, or some shelves. This is a great way to help them feel like they belong and are not just strangers passing through.
I think it is also helpful to have a photo frame available for the child to put in a photo of their family or a previous foster family. Even though their previous situation may be difficult, that family might be all the child knows and they will still love them.
To summarize, less is more. Start with a warm blank canvas. The child coming into your home has very little control over what is going on in their life. The more control that you can give them the better they will feel. Keep in mind that they have a lot going on. You might put a lot of hard work and effort into designing the perfect room for them. In their minds though, it might not be “their” room and for that simple fact, they may not like it.
Keep it simple and give them the option to create their own room.
