If you think out of the box, organising and decorating children’s rooms becomes as easy as A, B, C. Jane Drew reports
When designing your child’s room start by looking at the bigger picture and thinking ahead. You’ll want this room to take care of his needs for the next 18 or so years, so focus on its adaptability. Remember you’re designing a nursery that will one day morph into a teenager’s bedsit.
“The function of your children’s rooms will change as they get older, so 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,” advises local designer James Leung.
While you can’t anticipate exactly what your child will want from his room in 10 or even five years time, you can work out the basics. Cribs will give way to beds, toy cupboards to wardrobes, changing and play surfaces to desks and dressing tables. And while accessory items can be changed on a six monthly basis, the backdrop needs a longer lifespan.
Resist the urge to paint the walls pastel pink for a girl, blue for a boy. “As with any scheme, it’s a good idea to keep the background neutral and add colour through the soft furnishings,” says Leung. “This way you’ll only have to throw out a few cushion covers and curtains when it’s time for a revamp.”
You’ll need to factor in your child’s desire to express himself and personalise his room but be prepared to designate boundaries. Think twice about ‘themed rooms’: 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.
Furniture should be durable and functional, and able to take the knocks handed out by its rug-rat inhabitants. And if you’re challenged for space, think about double-duty pieces – sofas that can change into extra beds for sleepovers, for example.
Flexible storage should also be planned at the early stages. Instead of pint-sized, child-specific cabinets, which become obsolete in no time at all, Leung advises you install a full-length fitted wardrobe, divided into two. “Use one side for hanging space, fitted with two rails (you can remove the lower one as the party dresses get longer), and shelve the other side, using it first for toys and later for storing bulky clothing,” he says.
Waist-high surfacing, running the length of one wall, will also serve you well, first for changing the baby and later for play. If you are really on the ball, fit drawers underneath for extra storage and leave space for a chair in the centre to facilitate an eventual desk-cum-dressing table. When shelving the surrounding walls leave space for pictures – alphabet letters at first and later the inevitable Led Zepplin posters.
While teenagers require drawers in which to secrete personal belongings, young children have no sense of privacy and require readily accessible shelving that doubles for both storage and display. So factor both in at an early stage, ensuring that all units are securely bolted to the wall and positioned at a sensible height lest tiny tots decide to use them as jungle gyms. But Leung advises against filling every nook and cranny with fixed storage, as children of all ages need plenty of room to move around.
Comfort, practicality and, above all, safety are essential in kids’ rooms so hands-on lighting is essential. “When setting up a scheme begin with simple wall lights on a dimmer switch and add in at least eight other outlets: two above the work surface, two beside the bed, and the others in the corners of the room,” says Leung.
And what tips does Leung have for those who are pushed for space? “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. Bunk beds provide siblings with sufficient sense of their own territory and you can make sure they have personal shelving and separate bulletin boards,” he says.
“Unless you have the luxury of a separate playroom, think about letting the children have the master bedroom to share,” Leung adds. “Not only will this give them plenty of space, it will allow 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.”
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