Special to the Town Crier Parents can customize their children’s rooms with a variety of murals such as this jungle-themed one.

When it comes to decorating, children’s rooms are unlike any other part of the house. With this space, you and your child can let your imagination run wild and really be creative. Throw those traditional decor schemes out the window; this is your chance to try something new.

One of the best ways to start planning the decor for a room is by choosing a theme. Because it’s important for a child’s room to reflect their interests, involve them in the planning process. Maybe there is an animal or a certain color they love. Do they have a favorite movie or sport? Is there an artist whose work they enjoy? Try using your child’s favorite books as inspiration.

Once you have a theme, the fun begins. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Rain forest: Many children are fascinated by the jungle animals they see in movies such as “The Lion King” or on the cable channel Animal Planet. Why not create a rain forest environment filled with friendly creatures? It’s easy to pull this theme together by using a wall mural to create the effect. Imagine your child’s delight when she wakes up and finds herself in a lush jungle filled with pandas, monkeys and exotic birds in the trees. Murals Your Way from Environmental Graphics offers a variety of jungle-themed murals you can customize to fit any room. Select the one your child likes best and then complete the decor by adding soft fabric snakes, animal print pillows, a butterfly net on the wall and some cuddly stuffed lions and tigers.

Fairy tales: Well-loved children’s stories such as “Peter Pan,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella” and “The Wizard of Oz” provide a fanciful focus for room decor. Use vivid paint colors and stencils of ivy or flowers to portray a make-believe world. Add some glittery accents with silver paint and sparkles.

Decorate the walls with framed illustrations or a mural that depicts a scene from a book.

Outer space: Spark your child’s imagination by bringing the stars inside. To create an outer space theme, cover the walls with reflective planets and stars. From the ceiling, hang flying spaceships and decorate with arrangements of constellations. Use an outer space border to outline windows and doors. Images of the planets, the surface of the moon and even a shuttle cockpit are available in the market.

Ocean: Does your child love to play on the beach? You can recreate that happy environment year round with an ocean-themed bedroom.

Use deep blues for the walls and paint the ceiling like a sky complete with fluffy clouds scudding across the surface. Add a sand-colored rug or mats on the floor. Accent everything from picture frames to mirrors with ocean shells. If your child isn’t old enough for a real fish tank, photographs or murals of colorful tropical fish are a way to add some marine life to the design.

For more information about decorating with murals, log on to muralsyourway.com.