Customization is the new trend in children's rooms, says Tanya Keith, kids' room consultant and owner of Simply for Giggles, a children's decorating store. “Parents are looking for something really unique,” she says. “Even if they're buying items off the shelf, they're looking for new ways to put them together.”

So how do you design a room that's as special as your child? Start by exploring these ideas with your interior designer or home decorating consultant. Or, see what deals you can find online:

FINDING YOUR STYLE Children's rooms span dramatic changes in just a few years, as the need for a crib quickly gives way to space for trophies and homework assignments. Follow these four tips to establish a style that can grow with your children.

TIP 1 First, Keith suggests, choose colors, patterns and fabrics carefully. Pick up on color cues from favorite dolls or toys. Choose classic color combinations such as pink and green for a girl's room or red, white and blue for a boy. Or follow color trends such as the move to deeper and richer colors.

“Turquoise has been strong for a couple of years,” Keith says, “but every year it gets darker and richer. Now it's almost a sea-green–a beautiful, rich jewel tone.” The same trend is true in wood finishes. “The colors are going from natural woods to cherry, mahogany and espresso finishes,” Keith says.

Once you've determined a color palette, combine graphic patterns, such as polka dots, stripes, checks and plaids, with characters like fairies or pirates. The geometric shapes and colors are timeless and can be updated with a few changes in accessories.

A quick rule of thumb: Repeat each pattern, color and fabric three times in a room to give the space a unified look.

TIP 2 Look for furnishings built with your child's growth in mind. For instance, you can find a crib that converts into a twin or full bed, a changing table that becomes a coloring table, and a high chair that converts into a booster seat and youth chair. You also can buy chairs with replaceable legs so you can adjust the height as your child grows. If you invest in upholstered furniture, consider hiring someone to make slipcovers that can be removed and washed, protecting the upholstery until the child is older.

TIP 3 Choose a bed with a high-quality mattress. For maximum flexibility, consider a bed with underspace storage or a trundle bed, providing instant sleeping space for slumber parties or siblings.

For bedding that can be used by toddlers or preteens, purchase a comforter and shams in a solid color or geometric pattern. Then, buy the less expensive sheets and throw pillows in age-appropriate designs.

Also, remember that curtains and bedskirts last longer than almost anything else in the room, so make timeless selections that will see your child through years of changes. For safety and comfort, make sure curtains and shades don't have dangerous cords dangling within a child's reach. And choose bedding and pillows made of breathable, allergen-free fabrics.

TIP 4 To truly customize the space, consider hiring a designer or painter to create a mural. Ask for sketches so you can fine-tune the design before it's on the wall, then treat the finished masterpiece with water-based polyurethane for protection. Popular themes, Keith says, include fairies and flowers for girls, and for boys, pirates, monkeys and jungles. But murals can be geometric designs too, she says. “They're less character-driven and more graphically driven.”

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHNG To organize your child's room–and help your child keep it that way–think through the different items you need to store, then consider these smart solutions: