The time when our children are growing up is so precious, and it passes so quickly; doesn’t it make sense to really go that extra mile on making their bedrooms just right.

decorating your kids’ room
decorating your kids’ room

The basics

A child’s bedroom needs to work on a practical level. Storage is always a big deal in kids’ rooms, if there isn’t enough their stuff just ends up on the floor. It’s a good idea to think about how much storage is required, and then to double it. Storage can be on the wall, hanging from the ceiling, under the bed, concealed behind other stuff, in large boxes – whatever – just make sure there is a lot of it. Choose flooring for easy cleaning as well as good looks. Laminate flooring functions well in children’s rooms because it is hardwearing and minimizes dust. Also good for limiting dust are interior wooden plantation shutters which look smart in a range of unique styles and finishes; they maximize space, control light levels and ensure privacy.

Colors

Allow the children to be involved in the decision making when it comes to colors and see their interest levels soar. Pink is not an automatic choice for girl’s bedrooms, and neither is blue the only shade that works for boys. Be flexible and listen to what they want. If on a tight budget, go for neutral colors that don’t need frequent updating.

Babies and toddlers

There’s a tough balance between soothing and stimulating which needs to be achieved. Soft lighting is essential for encouraging sleep, as is a good blackout blind to limit the incoming light. Yellow is a happy color that helps to calm little ones. Make changing stations, wardrobes and seating practical and easy to use. Small children play on the floor a lot so a zoned area with soft textiles and toys readily to hand works well. Children of a young age respond well to tactile pleasures. Texture, color and stimulation of the senses are very important. Address this by using interesting lighting, reflective surfaces, textural fabrics and wall coverings.

Young girls and boys

As children grow up they form strong opinions about how their room should be. Bookshelves, a desk, somewhere to relax and read and somewhere to display their treasures are all worth including. Platform beds that double as storage solutions are great, and they free up space beneath. A pirate ship or a princess’ carriage transformed into a bed can really fire the imagination, as well as the added bonus of making them love bedtime!

Teens

Somewhere to listen to music, hang out with friends, to do their homework and some privacy – these are the things that teens want from their bedrooms. A strong preference for certain styles and colors emerge in adolescence so stand back and let them steer the interior choices to a certain extent. Again, platform beds work well, with a desk and office space below. Beanbags, sofas and casual seating areas are popular among teens as is zoned lighting for flexibility.

Shared space

When a room is shared bunk beds are the sensible choice. A shared room needs tons of storage, areas they can call their own and a calming atmosphere to aid sibling harmony. Some design schemes literally draw a line half way through a room with different wallpaper, flooring, bedding, etc. It may look quirky, but in reality it encourages territorial attitudes and isn’t helpful. Try shelving around beds to display personal items, separate desks and mirrors to help smooth the way.

Themes

Sometimes it helps to design a room around a theme. If a child loves music or animals for example, this can be reflected in the wall coverings, bedding and other accessories. For other popular themes that introduce real spark and flair to a room consider inspiration from pirates; the galaxy and planets, zoo animals, marine themes, maps charts and explorers, beach huts, airplanes, fairy tales, sports, horses, favorite cartoon characters, motoring themes, the fun fair, dinosaurs, princes and princesses, cowboys and more.

Childhood is a magical time that passes so quickly – go the extra mile and give them the bedroom they deserve. They will thank you for it.