When you tell a boy he gets to have his room redecorated, he'll probably have a few ideas of his own: Get a car from the junkyard and let him sleep in the trunk, paint everything black except for the skull on the ceiling, or simply buy $4,000 worth of the latest movie merchandise. This is your chance to introduce him to an option he might not have thought of: Making his room look like it belongs in your house while still reflecting his personality.

You can completely redecorate a child's room without lifting a paintbrush or buying new furniture. All you need is some fabric and a little home decor sewing. Window coverings, bed linens, throw pillows, even simple slipcovers are easy to sew. When added all together, they make a dramatic difference. One of the keys is picking the right fabric for your project.

"Now wait a minute," you say. "That's fine for your well-behaved little darlings, but my kids will ruin any fabric item I put in their rooms in less than ten minutes.

Girls love to make their rooms an extension of their personalities.