Your child’s bedroom plays a vital role in their development. Here’s how to design a practical and stylish yet timeless one that grows with them.
Every parent wants to give their child the best possible environment to grow up in, which is why designing your child’s room is an important task that will help shape their habits and personality. The room should be a reflection of your child’s personality, but also be versatile enough to grow together with them as their personal tastes and daily routines change throughout the years. Here’s how to design one that’s timeless, stylish, and practical.
Design around habits you want to encourage.
Structure your child’s room so that routines and habits will be effortless. If you want to encourage your child to read, for example, install a cosy nook for them to curl up in, next to a bookshelf that’s within easy reach. Likewise, if you’re teaching them the importance of keeping themselves clean and neat, a small grooming area and clothes rack at their height will encourage them to choose their own outfits and take pride in their appearance.
For wall décor, opt for wallpaper or vinyl decals.
Want to deck out your children’s room in cute cartoon figures? Consider using wallpaper or vinyl decals instead of painted murals, so it’ll be much easier to make changes without having to paint over or redo the room. Alternatively, dedicate a gallery wall to the display of their favourite artwork and cartoons in frames, so they can be swapped out as their tastes change.
Involve your children in the design process.
Your child should also have a say in what their bedroom looks like – they love being involved and you’ll get a sense of what they like, making it easier to create their perfect space. Get them involved with decorating their room by making a list of things they love, then go shopping together for artwork or furniture items.
Choose a colour palette that will grow with your child.
Finding the perfect colour palette for your child’s room can be a daunting task when there’re just too many delicious shades to pick from. Start with your child’s favourite colour, then look at the variations in saturation and intensity: which of these are most likely to stand the test of time as your child grows into a teenager? A soft lavender or dusty grape, for instance, may work better than bright purple. Pair the main colour with neutrals like tans, greys and whites, which will go with most items of furniture.
Allow your children privacy.
There are times when your child might want to be on their own, or keep out distractions like light and noise. Ensure that your child’s bedroom has privacy features such as thick curtains and a personal space they can call their own, like a cute tent or a loft bed where they can feel safe.
Introduce the joy of creativity.
Children and messes seem to come hand in hand, especially as they’re discovering the joy of creating art and mixing things. Give your child a dedicated space to do this, whether it’s a table with a whiteboard surface or an entire chalkboard wall – they need to channel all that creative energy. An easel with a pad of butcher paper works well too if you’d like to keep their drawings.
Keep clutter at bay with storage that’s within easy reach.
The number of toys and books in your child’s collection can grow at an alarming rate, which is why having plenty of storage is essential from the get-go. Keep these in bins under beds or in a low cabinet – the storage should be within easy reach for your child, so you can encourage the habit of putting their toys away themselves.