New York ? Decorating a newborn’s room can be fun, exciting and expensive.

And then just as the pastel paint dries, your baby becomes a toddler who favors cartoon characters and bright colors. And before you know it, that child will be a teen-ager who prefers dramatic decor to match his dramatic moods.

It is possible to create a bedroom that’s both appropriate and appealing to children of any age, says interior designer Stephanie Anne, who goes by her professional name. She urges parents to start with a fairly basic canvas, such as a room painted a neutral color with long-lasting furniture, adding accessories that correspond with individual likes and dislikes.

“There’s so much nesting going on with a first child so people get caught up in a ‘perfect’ nursery, but a little more thought will give you a room that will last for years,” says Stephanie Anne. Her business, including a catalog, Web site and retail store, is based in Dallas.

She says the biggest investment is furniture, which is also the most worthwhile investment because if a parent buys high-quality pieces in timeless styles, the furniture should last until a child moves out as an adult and beyond. She suggests buying cribs that convert to toddler beds, changing tables that convert to regular dressers and armoires that can hold clothes now and stereo equipment later.

It’s easiest to work with basic shapes of furniture that have a wood stain or are painted white, according to Stephanie Anne. A secondary color could be added almost as an accessory, maybe by painting drawer fronts or the posts on a crib a traditional color. Trim or little details think drawer pulls, pillows and lamp shades can be done in brighter, trendier colors because they are easy to change.

Stephanie Anne also says rebelling against our “throwaway society” encourages an emotional investment by parent and child in the home and in the family.

“Sure, this will save you money over time but the best part is to give a child a room she can grow up in. You create family heirlooms that they will pass on to their own children,” she explains.

Stephanie Anne uses her own childhood bed in the guest room in her house.

“I cringe when I walk into a room and there are dinosaur sheets and other characters. You’ve succumbed to the marketing, which is not as tasteful as classic furniture and nice bedding,” she says.

She suggests that if your child insists on keeping company with the latest cartoon characters, decorate with items that can be taken out of the room, such as posters or stuffed animals.