At first glance, designing a bedroom for a child can look like a pretty simple task. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving. Due to the unique habits of children, designing a bedroom for one comes complete with quite a few unique challenges.
From increased storage space to the need for durable everything, quite a bit of care and planning needs to go into the design if you want to get your moneys worth.
And then there’s the small matter of what your child likes' it tends to change on an annual basis. Here are eight practical tips for designing a bedroom that your child will not only love today, but hopefully, for years to come.
Think Durability.
The first rule of decorating a child’s bedroom is that you must choose durable materials. As a general rule of thumb, if a child can reach something, you can expect them to jump on it at least once.
You can also expect your little bundle of joy to spill drinks and food on just about every available surface. Strong, durable materials are therefore very much a necessity. And when it comes to fabrics, anything even remotely white is a very bad idea.
Functionality.
A surprisingly common mistake when it comes to decorating a child’s bedroom is forgetting about the specific needs of the child in question.
What does your child need from a bedroom? If, like most children, they like to play on the floor, don’t purchase anything that’s going to take up valuable floor space.
Or if they’re at the age when their homework is beginning to pile up, consider reserving a corner of the room, with a desk and adequate lighting, for study time.
Think Long Term.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, children grow up incredibly fast. And what they like today isn’t necessarily what they’re going to like next year.
Keep this fact in mind when deciding how to decorate. Favorite cartoon characters tend to come and go. Covering the walls in your child’s latest obsession is therefore very much unwise.
If you want your child’s new room to stand the test of time, it’s important to make more neutral choices.
Provide Plenty of Storage Space.
Minimalism might be a popular design concept among adults but unfortunately, it’s a trend that has yet to catch the attention of children.
In other words, children like to horde things. Ample storage space is therefore very much required. The cheapest way to store your child’s ever growing collection of bits and pieces is to invest in a stack of clear plastic boxes. Believe me, they are an investment very much worth making.
Decorate with Toys.
Speaking of storage space, shelves are another must have for just about any child’s bedroom. Most children love to keep their belongings on display and shelves provide the perfect medium for doing so.
And thanks to the colorful nature of children’s toys and books, keeping them out in the open can also make a lot of sense in terms of the room’s aesthetics.
Matching Matters.
Unfortunately, regardless of how much storage space you provide, you can still expect your child’s bedroom to be a mess more often than it’s clean.
The easiest way to make a messy room seem less cluttered is to choose plenty of matching furnishings. In other words, you should aim counteract all the disordered toys with a highly ordered color scheme. Aim to decorate with no more than three colors.
Don’t Break the Bank.
Regardless of how much money you have at your disposal, investing heavily in a child’s bedroom is rarely a logical decision.
First off, children have little to no appreciation of expensive furnishings. And secondly, even the most durable of choices will eventually succumb to the wear and tear that comes with being placed in a child’s possession. In other words, think plastic, not fine oak.
Involve Your Child.
Finally, the most important thing to remember when decorating a child’s bedroom is that you’re not going to be the person who has to sleep there.
Making all the decisions yourself is therefore neither wise nor fair. Involve your child in the decorating process as much as possible.
It’s also worth noting that the more your child likes the finished product, the more likely they are to keep it clean, or at least, looking less like a war zone.
About the Author
Tia Suarez is a notable interior decorator by profession. She is of the opinion that a customized leather sofa with embroidered cushions add a unique feel to your living room.
