Create a room for your children that says ‘stay and play’, whatever their age, with these design tips and tricks
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From tot to teen, a child’s bedroom needs to embrace fun and personality so designing and planning a space that caters for their likes and interests is no mean feat. There isn’t an exact life cycle in years for updating a child’s room but you don’t want to be redecorating every year. So, although you’ll be designing a room for the age they are now, do consider how you’ll adapt the decor as they grow and their interests evolve. Investing in furniture that lasts longer than a couple of years will, of course, be beneficial for your budget — an extendable bed, for example, will see a toddler through a few years. But a lot will depend on the size and shape of the room and the age of the children when you’re beginning to plan. If you’re self-building or extending to create bedrooms you’ll benefit from being able to create a space from scratch so can be savvy about the tips that follow, whereas renovating with what you have will call for some creativity! From flooring to lighting and more, here’s how to design a functional but fabulous child’s bedroom…
1Strike the right balance
You’ll want your child’s bedroom to be calm but playful so how do you strike a balance, especially if the room needs to be a bedroomcum-playroom-cum study area? The ratio and scale of furniture you choose to buy will be key. Be mindful of the space; don’t cram the room with bulky furniture that dominates and leaves no floorspace for play or chill-out time.
If it needs to be a multifunctional room, think about investing in multifunctional furniture —for example, a raised bed with a desk and storage housed underneath will help keep these activities all in one area, especially handy in a smaller room. Bespoke furniture that’s made to fit the dimensions of the room can also be worth the investment, and will add a unique touch, too.
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2 Find the right flooring
When it comes to choosing the right flooring for a child’s bedroom, you’ll want to pick what’s practical. Wood-effect flooring is a durable option. “Its hardwearing properties make it a perfect choice for a child’s bedroom, without the hefty price tag that hardwood can bring,” says Craig Smith, merchandising manager at Flooring Superstore. “Importantly, it’s easy to clean and scratch resistant, which is essential for little ones’ bedrooms. Also experiment with rugs to add warmth and softness to the room.”
Alternatively, a luxury
