Create the ultimate, adaptable sleep space for your child’s ever-growing needs, with functional furniture, savvy storage and well-thought-out décor
Keeping up with the evolving requirements and demands of your child is a skill every parent has to master, so when it comes to planning and decorating their bedrooms, (often a place for work, rest and play) then the specific requirements of these smaller humans really come into focus. Change; it happens gradually and yet comes around surprisingly fast. Where a cute cot once stood, in the space you carefully created even before your bundle of joy arrived, you now have a ‘big kid bed’, and those small cuddly toys have been replaced with board games, Lego scale models and a library of books. Forwardplanning the fundamentals of this room will ultimately save you money, so investing in some long-term thinking should mean you will buy once, not thrice. This type of forethought can start from the very beginning once you know which their dedicated room will be. Spatially plan by looking at plug socket positions, and take into consideration wall lengths where larger beds can be placed and where fitted furniture can go, limiting the need for a total redesign five years down the line.
FUTURE-PROOF
The challenge here is not just looking at what their current needs are, but taking into account the young person your little one will become (a scary thought) or – if you’re a real forward planner – what the room might evolve into or how you can repurpose the furniture at a later date. Creating a practical, fun, yet ultimately restful sanctuary that’ll last into their teens without the need for big budget updates is the key to a savvy design.
FITTINGS AND FURNISHINGS
Big ticket items, such as the bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers, will ideally stand the test of time and be large enough for growing needs (hello sports and crafting kits plus copious amounts of outerwear). Practical items like fit-for-purpose window treatments and easy-clean flooring are also worth opting for. As they grow, dedicated furniture for home working or hobbies will be crucial – as will extra space and seating for friends to drop by or stay overnight. So think multipurpose with choices to keep things flexible.
DECODE AND DECORATE
When it comes to decorating, you might have a child who happily lets you take the reins on how their room should look, which means you can easily incorporate their space into your home’s existing scheme. Then again, you may have a budding interior designer on your hands, chomping at the bit to get their idea of perfection materialised no matter what! If you want to go long term, a neutral scheme with accents can be easily switched up. For something more full-on, a tried and tested way to deal with design dilemmas is to edit down some of your own choices and then let them have the final say.
