Creating the Best Bedroom Possible for Your Child
Designing a kids' bedroom is a delightful journey that blends creativity with functionality. The ideal kids' room is a whimsical haven that sparks imagination and fosters a sense of comfort and security.
Bright colors, playful patterns, and thematic elements can transform the space into a magical realm where adventures come to life. From vibrant wall decals that tell stories to multi-functional furniture that adapts to their growing needs, the design should evolve alongside the child.
In this article, we explore the design elements for a children's bedroom or children's playroom, the must-haves, and what to avoid if you want to future-proof the space.
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Should I keep a kid's room design simple?
When designing a bedroom for a child, a balance between vibrant aesthetics and practicality is key, ensuring the room is not only visually stimulating but also a functional and cozy space where a child can learn, play, and dream.
Your child’s bedroom is an opportunity for self-expression, and to celebrate the things in life that
they’re currently obsessed with. The bedroom should also, ideally, promote good sleep habits.
Bear in mind also that the things that interest your child now might not be quite as interesting to them in a few years’ time, and thus it’s a good idea to think about how you might adapt your decorations in the future.
The fewer furnishings and decorations you have, the easier it will be to create a sense of order. Since your children will probably be in the habit of creating disorder, this will be a particular priority.
Build everything up around the essentials. A newborn's bedroom must contain a cot and a changing space for example. You’ll also probably want a place to store clothes and other items.
Beyond that, you don’t really need much. It’s usually better to have more floorspace in which to play than it is any additional item of furniture.
As such we do not recommend adding armchairs or tables when the child is of a young age, as they will mostly want to play on the floor.
When they are of an age where they can sit independently at a table to draw, you are more likely to want to supervise them in the kitchen rather than allow them free reign over the color pencils in their own room!
Safety First: Safety is paramount in a child's room. Choose furniture with rounded edges, secure heavy furniture to the wall to prevent tipping, and use non-toxic materials for all furnishings. Ensure that electrical outlets are covered, and cords are safely secured.
A kid's room should show off their hobbies and interests
Is your child obsessed with a particular football club, television show or musical act? Then it might be a good idea to build the room around that particular passion.
If you’ve got a big Liverpool fan, then frame the Liverpool home kit and hang it on the wall. If they’re a huge fan of Bluey, then you might paint a large canvas of a few favourite characters.
We do not recommend painting murals or adding wallpaper that is of a very specific age. Kids move between stages very fast and you will need to update their room too often if you add elements that are not easy to remove.
Tip: use colourful large poster frames (or paint over them, and add posters that age appropriate. It is then easy to replace the poster every few years.
A kids' bedroom design should focus on maintenance
The more clutter in the room, the more difficult it will be to clean. Keep a toy chest so that the floor can be easily and quickly emptied. Keep surfaces, like tables, reasonably clear so that they can be wiped down. The easier the room is to keep clean, the more likely that you’ll be to stay on top of the problem.
For kids who love to display their toys, agree with them that not every surface in the room can be filled with toys. Showing off their Lego collection is great, but Lego is notoriously difficult to wipe down. Assign a specific space for toys to be displayed on instead.
Functional Furniture: Select furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as bunk beds with built-in storage or desks that can also be used for arts and crafts. This maximizes space and encourages organization.
Add a small basket too. Candy wrappers under beds are not cool. Teach your kid to use the basket for their rubbish and to bring it to you when it's ready to be emptied.
Popular kid's bedroom colours and textures
The bedroom should ideally provide some visual interest for your child. This goes double if the room
is also going to serve as an ongoing play area.
Think about which colours will match well with the theme you’ve chosen. You probably won’t want to go too loud, since this might end up making things a little bit too stimulating.
Ideally, you’ll want to be able to take all of the decorations out and still have a room that works and is pleasant to inhabit. In a few years time, you’ll be doing exactly this!
Whether it's a cozy reading nook, a stimulating study corner, or a dreamy sleep sanctuary, a well-designed kids' room becomes a canvas for their imagination to flourish.
Conclusion - How to Create the Best Bedroom Possible for Your Child
Designing the best bedroom possible for your child involves careful consideration of various elements to create a space that is not only visually appealing but also functional and supportive of a child's growth and development.
Jenny Kakoudakis likes to blog about interiors. She launched the award-winning Seasons in Colour in 2014. When she is not chasing criminals out of the financial system (her day job), she gets creative by redecorating her own home.
Download her free bathroom renovation guide here.
