When designing a bathroom or bedroom for a child, look to cabinet hardware as an inexpensive way to update the room. These knobs and pulls are sold in a variety of patterns  -- from traditional to contemporary to eclectic -- to fit almost any mood.

Cost

The cost for most hardware with a child's theme ranges from $4 to $10 per piece, depending on the style and manufacturer. The cost to replace the hardware in a hall bathroom or on a bedroom dresser could be less than $50. Hardware can be easily changed by even the novice Do-It-Yourselfer.

What Style?

Here's what to consider:

·          your child's interests

·          their personality

·          the existing color scheme -- are you changing it all or blending it in?

·          the number of children who will be using the room and their ages

A Few Possibilities

A Sports Theme -- If your child is interested in sports, consider a soccer or baseball theme. A black and white soccer theme could be paired with black and white bathroom tile, for example. Amerock's sports theme hardware includes soccer balls, baseballs, footballs, basketballs, and golf balls. Consider using one sports motif throughout the room or mixing and matching, said Martha Kness, director of marketing for Amerock, a hardware manufacturer in Rockford, IL.

Pets and More Pets -- Pet lovers might appreciate seeing the same roaring lion in their bathroom and bedroom. There are lions, purple hippos, as well as more traditional designs of giraffes, tigers, elephants and zebras. The kids and sports designs by Amerock are priced from $4 to $9 each.

A Touch of Nature -- A child who likes flowers might like bright daisies on the bathroom vanity drawers, plus a shower curtain that matches. In the bedroom, consider using the same color theme, with flowered hardware on the closet and dresser doors.

Picture Perfect -- Atlas Homewares has bold colored hardware shaped like picture frames. Just insert a picture of mom and dad -- or the latest teen heart throb -- and put it on a dresser drawer.

This "Best Pal" frame collection has styles ranging from a blue sunflower to a neon green shirt. "I think this is great because it adds a sense of family," said Adrienne Morea, president of the decorative hardware company, based in Glendale, CA.

Most of those knobs are priced at $8 each.

A Baby Theme -- To outfit a room for a new baby, look for traditional baby shoe, carriage and teddy bear designs. There also are knobs shaped like baby shirts and socks.

Bauerware, based in San Francisco, makes enameled teddy bear and baby carriage knobs for $18 each. Those can be used to personalize a baby's dresser or changing table. For those without a budget, try antique bronze baby shoes for $71.50 each.

All About Sharing

If the room will be shared by two or more toddlers or older children, the design should appeal to all of them. Look for bold colored knobs that will be attractive to several age groups. A royal blue and white nautical theme, when combined with the appropriate wall tile and accessories, would appeal to a toddler as well as a 10-year-old.

Blending

The colors also can be used to blend the bathroom vanity with ceramic tile around the bathtub or in the shower stall. Bold red hardware would blend with red and yellow rows of tile in the bathing area.