Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To veto DD's choice of decor

176 replies

ChewChewsBiscuitTin · 13/06/2022 11:16

DD is 4 and we're currently decorating her bedroom. She helped chose the colour and the wallpaper and is pretty on board and excited about it being done.

I had the bright idea that she could chose a couple of pictures to go in the wall so she had something that was entirely her choice. Anyway, the ones she has chosen are (in my opinion) awful, they also (objectively) don't go with anything else in the room.

Do I override her choice in the interests of taste or do I get over myself and let a 4 year old have what she wants in her own bedroom as nobody is going to see it anyway ?

Obviously I have attached pictures so you can make a reasoned assessment.

YABU - it's her room, stop being a bell end and let her have them

YANBU - they are awful, intervention is required

(This thread is intended as a little light humour, I will probably get the posters despite my better judgement)

To veto DD's choice of decor
To veto DD's choice of decor
OP posts:
captncrunch · 13/06/2022 11:18

😂 As the parent of a 4yo this made me laugh. I think you have to go with it now, unless one of them could be 'unavailable' and you need to choose an alternative together! I think the unicorn is fine btw!

CannaeRemember · 13/06/2022 11:20

YABU. She'll be so pleased that you've let her have a bit of control over her room and be happy every time she looks at the pictures that she chose. But make sure that the unicorn is pointing towards the crown. It looks odd otherwise. 😁

LavenderfortheBees · 13/06/2022 11:20

Ah she's 4 - let her have what she wants. The first picture is better than the second so you could compromise and find something else that goes well with the unicorn?

QuidditchThroughtheAges · 13/06/2022 11:20

This is brilliant

HappyHappyHermit · 13/06/2022 11:20

Not my taste, but I'm not 4. It's her personality and you did say she could choose so I think you'll have to go with it - they could be far worse! Next time maybe narrow down to a selection you're happy with and let her choose from them. In some ways though I guess it is nicer that it is just about her. Dd wants a giant painted rainbow on her wall, I'm not convinced we can even do it so we will see.

bloodywhitecat · 13/06/2022 11:21

Her taste is supposed to be questionable at that age. At least you can shut the door and ignore it, when she starts getting free reign in what she wears you will have to be seen in public with her!

Comefromaway · 13/06/2022 11:22

I love the message in the second picture!

CalistoNoSolo · 13/06/2022 11:22

Pretty shitty to allow her to choose and then tell her she chose wrong.

NoSquirrels · 13/06/2022 11:23

Kids get to choose the decorations for their rooms. Choose the furniture and the permanent expensive stuff, let them have what they like otherwise. Don’t be a mad instamum…

Palavah · 13/06/2022 11:25

They wouldn't be my taste but they're re very easy to change and I assume they're inexpensive, so I'd go with it.

ProfessorFusspot · 13/06/2022 11:25

Let her have them, unless they're horribly expensive and you can't justify the money for them. Be prepared for her to want something else in a few years, though. And at least she's not a princess! 😇

sleepymum50 · 13/06/2022 11:27

Yep, 4 year old have terrible tastes, but I’d go with it. You did tell she could choose her own pictures. So now you know not to do that again.

But you should be prepared for at least the next 10 years to being given some pretty horrible/tasteless gifts, think ugly garden gnome egg cups. And you will find yourself using them so you don’t hurt her feelings.

But, one day it will end, and if you’re like me, you’ll be asking your grown up daughter for advice on all things tasteful.

Metalandtea · 13/06/2022 11:29

I’m pretty set in my tastes re decor and anything that comes in the house must fit with the country/vintage style… however my kids choose what they want in their rooms. I did ask my daughter to go with a soft pink rather than a barbie-esque bright pink, but other than that she has what she likes (including tacky unicorn canvas!). My parents were very strict about what I could have and I’ve never forgotten how unfair that felt so I let my children express themselves in their rooms.

womaninatightspot · 13/06/2022 11:29

HappyHappyHermit · 13/06/2022 11:20

Not my taste, but I'm not 4. It's her personality and you did say she could choose so I think you'll have to go with it - they could be far worse! Next time maybe narrow down to a selection you're happy with and let her choose from them. In some ways though I guess it is nicer that it is just about her. Dd wants a giant painted rainbow on her wall, I'm not convinced we can even do it so we will see.

You can get massive rainbow wall stickers. We had a nature theme with bunny rabbits bouncing along the skirting boards. A tree with an owl on top. Lasted about 2 years, peeled off with no damage at the end.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 13/06/2022 11:30

I don't think you can tell her she can choose what she likes then decide you don't like it. They're only pictures , they can come down later, not like she wants the room painted black!

EmilyBolton · 13/06/2022 11:31

As long as they’re not expensive, buy some biggish frame and put them in. She can then change them easily as her taste change. Seems an ideal way to let her have her own personality in the room without you then having to paint over something or replace something expensive in a few years. As a teeenager she’ll probably plaster her room with crap posters so you’re just getting into a habit earlier on and I think it’s good she gets a little of what she likes in her own room.
next time, when you’re ready to change the posters, curate a selection she can choose from to avoid it again.

Spanglemum · 13/06/2022 11:32

I thought you were going to say she was 14 and wanted to paint her walls black. A couple of pictures can be changed without too much bother if she changes.

AaaarghSchool · 13/06/2022 11:33

Sore! YABU. In your place I'd take her somewhere where there are other choices and see if she'd prefer something else. At the end of the day, they are just pictures and can be replaced easily. If she's set on them, let her have them. You'll do more harm in her thinking she can't trust you than in having a picture you don't like on her wall.

FallopianTubeTrain · 13/06/2022 11:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Smartiepants79 · 13/06/2022 11:35

Don’t ask the question. If you don’t want to know the answer.
You said she could choose. That’s what she’s picked. They’re not offensive and they’re not permanent. She’ll have grown out of them in less than 2 years.
Buy them and let her enjoy the things she’s picked.
My Dds rooms are full of bits of rubbish of questionable taste. Bits that they chose, paid for with their own money, that mean something to them. Some bits will be kept some will not. But it’s their space, they can choose.

sleepymum50 · 13/06/2022 11:36

Oh I’ve just remembered. When my Dd was about 3 and a bit, I decorated her room. Painted it blue and green. Bought beautiful matching accessories. Even made her a canopy on her bed with a beautiful silk sari of blue/green/pink/lilac and gold. I was so proud of myself.

But I didn’t actually ask her what she wanted, I was still used to making all her decisions. She didn’t hate it, but she didn’t love it either. Lesson learnt.

CakesOfVersailles · 13/06/2022 11:36

Can they go on the inside of her wardrobe doors?

In all seriousness, they're not too terrible. Since you said she could choose I would let her have them.

PeskyRooks · 13/06/2022 11:37

Spanglemum · 13/06/2022 11:32

I thought you were going to say she was 14 and wanted to paint her walls black. A couple of pictures can be changed without too much bother if she changes.

Yes same!

I was going to mention Adrian Mole having to colour in Noddys bells

EarringsandLipstick · 13/06/2022 11:39

Your 4 yo chose these? From where? They just seem really odd, grown-up choices for a 4 yo - I don't know where she would even see them.

But if she did choose them, yes, let her have them. They are grand. Not terrible, not anything really ...

Johnnysgirl · 13/06/2022 11:41

She's four, let her have them.
One of mine had a headache inducing bright orange bedroom for a few years.
His choice, and he was as happy as Larry in there 🤷🏻‍♀️

Swipe left for the next trending thread