1Don't splurge too madly on your children's rooms; they'll grown out of the decor as fast as they do out of their shoes. Look out for second-hand furniture and then invest in some paint

2Make sure the furnishings are tough and able to take a battering

3Think washable surfaces - for carpets, walls, doors, desktops and anywhere else crayons could be wielded or drinks spilled

4Do ask for your children's opinions and then - even if you hate what's been proposed - try to give them what they want. They have to live with the results

5Storage, storage, storage. Parents complain about clothes and toys flung all over the floor and then provide just one small cupboard

6Brace yourself for having to go through another redecoration next year