A child's bedroom changes faster than any other room in the house. The cot goes, the big bed arrives, and pictures that seemed perfect at two can look rather young by seven. With darker evenings and the Christmas holidays on the way, it's a natural time to give those walls some thought.

These children's bedroom wall art ideas take a different route from bright posters and cartoon characters: vintage prints, storybook illustrations and properly framed pictures that suit a child now and will still look right years from now. Here's what to choose, how to frame it and where to hang it.

1. Hang them a little lower. In most rooms we'd put the centre of a picture around 145–150cm from the floor. In a child's room you can drop that slightly so it can be enjoyed from the bed, while keeping it out of easy reach.
2. Keep clear of the bed. Framed pictures with real glass are best on a wall beside or facing the bed, rather than directly above a headboard or bunk.
3. Use two fixings. Two hooks keep a frame straight and secure, which helps in a room where doors get slammed and balls get thrown.
4. Mind the furniture. Leave 20–25cm between the bottom of a frame and a chest of drawers or desk, so the picture and furniture read as a pair.
5. Plan small groups on the floor. Lay the frames out first and keep the gaps even. Our easy gallery wall guide has three simple layouts to copy.
6. Leave room to add. Start with three or four pictures and leave some wall free, so the display can grow along with its owner.