Child's Play: Fun (and Functional) Children's Room Design Ideas
Designing a room for the kids is as easy as ABC. Jane Drew pieces the puzzle together for a fun, playful kid's room that can grow with them.
Tough love
Furniture should be durable and functional, and able to take the knocks handed out by its rug-rat inhabitants. Now is not the time to incorporate family heirlooms or antiques, save that until the kids are older – much older. And if you’re challenged for space, think about double-duty furniture – sofas that can change into extra beds for sleepovers or a changing table that converts into a bureau.
Homework
As children grow up, they will need a space of their own in which to work. But don’t make the mistake of transforming their playroom into a home office. Re-upholster an old chair in bright fabric (rather than buying an overly adult desk chair) and line a wall above the desk in cork to create a fun and practical pin board.
Two’s company
A room of one’s own is not a priority for most children under ten, so don’t be afraid to set up a shared nursery. Kids will need to develop a sense of their own territory and have sufficient personal space, so bunk beds are a good idea. You can also allocate individual shelving and separate bulletin boards on which they can express themselves.
Baby talk
Resist the urge to paint the walls pastel pink for a girl, blue for a boy. Less obvious and long-lasting schemes revolve around lavender and lime, even ochre and cinnamon. Sunshine-yellow walls brighten up the smallest room and work for either gender.
All grown up
The function of your children’s room will change as they get older and your chosen design scheme will need to be flexible enough to grow up with them. Draw a floor plan to work out what goes where, and plan ahead.
Roll with the changes
Think about letting the children have the master bedroom – not only will this give them plenty of space, it will enable you to keep kiddie clutter in just one part of the house. As the kids grow up and begin to share more in family time, they can be moved into a smaller room.
Hands-on lighting
Simple wall lights on a dimmer switch are great for kids’ rooms, and ideally you’ll need at least eight outlets. Put two above the work surface, two beside the bed, and the others in the corners of the room. Add in novelty lamps (that can be replaced regularly) and remember that you can always paint over the “glow-stars” on the ceiling.
Create boundaries
Not matter how much the kids plead, you don’t want to create a cutesy, over-the-top scheme that will have to be changed every few years, so avoid a themed room at all costs. Little Johnny will tire of Harry Potter sooner than you think, and when he does, his Hogwarts-styled nursery will cost you a small fortune to renovate.
Colouring pad
As with any scheme, it’s a good idea to keep the background neutral and add colour through the soft furnishings. This way you’ll only have to throw out a few cushion covers and curtains when it’s time for a revamp. Toddlers are said to react well to bright primary colours but even these can be kept for the “disposable” furnishings.
Hide and seek
Storage is your number one consideration when designing a child’s room. Initially baby clothes might not take up too much room but toys will soon overwhelm a small closet, so it’s smart to plan for more storage than you think you’ll need. A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe fitted the length of one wall will prove invaluable, as will readily accessible open shelving.
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