From the time a baby first learns to crawl through years of playing with blocks, board games, Barbies and Beanie Babies, young children spend countless hours on the floor. And where do teens spend most of their time at sleepovers? On the floor, of course.

So many experts advise parents to get down on their hands and knees to get a kids' eye view before they start decorating a child's room.

“In a kid's room, it's important that the flooring be comfortable and inviting,” says Jim Mitchell of Cleveland Carpet One in Griffin. “The right carpet can be a great choice, but parents have lots of other options, too. Laminates and wood floors can be both beautiful and comfortable, if area rugs soften the surface. And the rugs are easy and inexpensive to change as the child grows.”

Most designers agree that children should have a say in decorating their rooms, but design expert Liz Seymour advises parents to limit kids' choices.

“It can overwhelm children to give them infinite choices,” says Seymour, a contributing editor to Country Home who also writes for publications like the New York Times, Elle Decor, Southern Living and Southern Accents. “If parents decide on carpeting, they should offer the child a choice of only two or three samples. And remember — never ask a child a question where the answer can be no. It's much better to say, `Do you like the green rug or the blue rug best?'”

As for carpeting, lots of different styles and colors work well in kids' rooms. “Parents should ask themselves how much general mess and maintenance they can tolerate, and choose accordingly,” said Seymour. “If keeping things clean is a big issue and you're short on time, then you probably don't want off-white carpeting in the children's rooms.”

“Berber-style carpet stands up particularly well to heavy kid traffic,” notes Mitchell, “and carpets with sculptured patterns and designs do an amazing job of hiding dirt. Layering area rugs on top of wall-to-wall carpeting is also a good way to protect high traffic areas.”

Most of today's major carpet brands offer built-in stain protection, which can be a lifesaver in kids' rooms, Mitchell adds.

Parents should choose carpet colors to match their family's lifestyle, Seymour advises. One couple, whose Black Labrador slept in their son's room, chose carpeting with the dog in mind, she recalls. “They even took a few wisps of the dog's fur to the carpet store to choose a color that would hide it best.” Another mom chose a bold primary color for her carpet — to match her toddler's bright-colored toys, which were always on the floor.

With kids, spills and stains are a fact of life, so the best approach is to relax — and be ready. For spills on carpets, quick action is key.

Mitchell advises keeping a roll of paper towels handy to blot up liquid spills immediately. For quick pickups, use a hand-held vacuum, or keep an old-fashioned push-type carpet sweeper in the child's closet. “They're great for getting rid of cookie crumbs, and little kids love to push them,” Mitchell says.

Besides the floor, windows are an important focal point in any child's room.

“For babies, the practical questions are how dark you need the room at nap time and how to make sure the curtain and window blind cords are safe and out of reach,” notes Seymour. “But beyond that you can have some fun with shades, swags, curtains and valances.”

Hanging a crystal in the window to refract light and create a “rainbow” endlessly fascinates babies. And for toddlers, the simple act of drawing the shade can be an effective part of their naptime routine.

“Children particularly love having one high shelf where they can keep special things to look at, like trophies and treasures,” says Seymour. “And for children who are sharing rooms or who must move between two homes, it's important that they have a space that's their very own — even if it's just a trunk or box — where things will be untouched and unchanged.”

Even when there is space for kids to have separate rooms, it may not be the first choice. One family of all boys opted to designate one bedroom for sleeping, and another just for playing. This room became a beloved “toy room.”

The most common mistake parents make in decorating a child's room is overdoing it. “Many of today's parents have money and have waited a long time to have kids, so it's tempting to do too much,” Seymour says. “They want the room — and their children — to be perfect. But they must remember that this is their child's personal space, not a decorator showroom. If you anticipate your child's every need, there's no room for him to learn and grow — or change.”