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George Bernard Shaw wrote that youth is wasted on the young. The older I get, the more I believe it. I would be half the cranky mature citizen I am today if I had one of those cool kids beds on the market. When I was young, my brother Ted and I shared a bunk bed. Today, I favor a huge futon on a wood frame. But oh, these new beds for kids. My joints may calcify and my vision may blur, but nothing’s old about my imagination.

Making nights bearable

Photo by Furni-Ture

Who’s that sleeping in my bed? Me, of course. Bedroom furniture for kids is all about whimsy, while beds for grownups are all about back support. The last vestiges of playfulness and imagination for grown-up boys are reserved for game rooms.

The royal treatment

Photo by Suite Life Kids

Your little girl may be initially enthralled by this Cinderella Carriage Bed furniture from Suite Life Kids. But she may grow out of it by the time you pay off the $4,795 they want for it. There are full-size and bunk bed options, too, according the retailer. As for my life with my brother in our bunk bed, we fought royally.

Blue-collar model, black-tie price

Photo by Kids Unique Beds

If your boy’s room is beginning to look like a dump, try one of these truck models, a steal at $1,999 from Kid’s Unique Beds. The company also makes beds in frames resembling fire trucks, classic railroad cars and more.

Hold the mayo

Photo by Hometone

From the world of high-cholesterol furniture comes this burger bed, suitable for kids and grown-ups alike. (I’ll resist the temptation to say something about buns.)

Are wall trophies here to stay? Let’s be frank about taxidermy, shall we? Done tastefully, a stuffed animal looks great on your walls. Done poorly and your home looks like Norman Bates’ office in Psycho. The Pump House restaurant in Fairbanks has a 12’ tall, mounted grizzly bear that makes its point.

I confess that the only trophy I ever tacked on my wall was a singing plastic fish that I took outside after a while and hammered to silence with a rock.

Get  your goat!

Photo by Billington Ranch Taxidermy

Whether it’s a marmot, your child’s first deer, or a panther, Billington Ranch Taxidermy outside Houston claims to give it the same personalized attention to detail. Founder Evelyn Billington has won many national titles for her work, including National Champion Reptile in 2004.

Danger! Mind your fingers!

Photo by Cardboard Safari

When you buy an animal trophy from Cardboard Safari, beware the laser-cut edges of recycled cardboard. These sustainable, artistic and non-toxic designs from Virginia come in a number of heads, styles, critters and shapes. Custom colors available.

Octoguitarus Rex

Photo by Bit Rebels

Steampunk designer Nemo Gould grew up on Sci-Fi and comic art. He re-uses found articles like salad bowls, vacuum parts, and silverware. This “robo-trophy” was cobbled together from a trashed rocking chair and a hacked-up guitar.

Equine wall-wear

Photo by Art-ickles

This wild horse trophy (15in. X 11in. X 7in.) is but one of the delightful “funky animal trophies” sold at Art-ickles.com.  It’s yours for $105. Note: you may want to evaluate your room lighting before decorating with complex designs and subtle colors.

We’re hunting wabbits

Photo by Bronwyn Lewis

I love the audacity behind the designs of Bronwyn Lewis. Founder of the Lime & Iron Studio in Chapel Hlll, Lewis studied at Rhode Island School of Design and works as an illustrator.

There you have it. If you’re looking for quick fixes to your living room, shop for well-made or unconventional decorating that pleases your fancy. Never mind what others think!