In their own image

CHILDREN'S likes and dislikes are a fickle business. You don't want to be forking out a fortune on bedroom accessories featuring their favourite pop star or TV show when chances are they will be out of fashion in a few months.

A great alternative is to find a cheap way to make your own accessories for children's rooms.

One must-have product is Image Maker (available from Barnitts, Colliergate, York, for £2.35). This handy product, which comes in a tube, allows you to 'photocopy' any image or design of your choice on to fabric.

All you need is a photocopy - either black and white or colour - of the design or picture you like.

Then brush Image Maker on to the photocopy and place on the fabric of your choice - this could be curtains, blinds, duvets, beanbags, cushion or pillow covers.

Then rub away the backing to reveal the transferred image.

Apply a further coat of image maker to seal the image.

A warning: be aware of copyright when using certain images.

Furniture can be dressed up for kids rooms with the use of paints and stencils. You can sand down wooden furniture, removing old flaking paint, and give it a new lease of life with a fresh coat and a few stencil designs. Plasti-Kote has a good range suitable for this job. Ask your local DIY shop for more advice.

You could also check out Dulux's Kidzone range which helps create themed rooms with ideas for colour, design and stencilling. Among the collection is fluorescent pink and glow-in-the-dark paints.

Again, ask your DIY store for advice and the Kidzone brochure which has some great makeover ideas.

If DIY isn't your bag, check out the homes section of your catalogue or favourite High Street store. Most now have a good range of affordable furniture and bedroom furnishings for children. Next Directory has a good selection including Army-influenced camouflage bedding and a funky pink groovy chick bedspread for £26.99.

Homestyle has also launched a new bedroom range for children. The Patchwork Teddies collection combines teddy bears with blue shades while the Animals range features brightly-coloured giraffes, crocodiles, lions and elephants. Both ranges include wallcoverings, borders, curtains and accessories with prices starting at £19.99 for a single duvet set.

For fun, inexpensive furniture, it's hard to beat Ikea. It is also a great place to find good, practical storage ideas for kids' rooms, so they can tidy away all their toys... or at least that's the idea.

MAXINE GORDON