Designing a new bedroom for your child is no easy feat, no matter their age or interests.
Choosing a new bedroom for your child can be overwhelming, no matter their age or interests. Whether they’re into cars, dinosaurs, pirate ships, or just want a room with lots of space to run around in, there’s a good chance it won’t match what you had in mind when you were designing your own room. If you’re like most parents, you probably end up going with something neutral and basic that will let your child grow and change as they please. But is that the best approach?
In particular, there are so many factors to consider: your child’s personality and hobbies, their taste (and possible clashes with your own), and the overall functionality of the existing space. The list goes on.
To save you time and aggravation, the following tried-and-true tips can help serve as a guide that will lead you on the path toward creating an ideal kids’ bedroom.
Designing a Bedroom That Will Grow with Your Child
No matter your goals and intention from the outset, redecorating always takes longer and costs more than you otherwise imagined. That’s why the design of just about any room in your house, including your child’s bedroom, should be as timeless as possible.
After all, there’s no fun in creating a Spiderman-themed bedroom, only to have to change it to a Batcave a couple of years later. The golden rule is to keep things simple. Any big expenses, such as furniture, should be as neutral as possible. From there, you can play around with accessories and easily change them out when needed.
Walls
If your child is small, choose a paint that can be scrubbed clean. To satisfy their artistic needs, paint one part of the wall with chalkboard paint. Finally, they can draw on the walls!
Painted walls can easily be updated in the future, but keep in mind that darker, richer tones can take several coats of paint to be covered. Experts recommend choosing a neutral, soothing color and personalizing the space with different kids’ wall art.
Wallpaper can look dated after only a few years and is more difficult to replace than repainting a wall. A simpler option comes in the form of wall stickers, which come in various designs for any age, from newborns to teenagers, and are relatively easy to remove.
Flooring
When choosing kids’ bedroom flooring, think about practicality first and aesthetics second. Case in point: The carpet is warm and mostly soundproof, but it can also be difficult to clean, especially in a growing child’s bedroom. Additionally, carpet isn’t recommended for children suffering from allergies or asthma.
Meantime, wood is a natural and rather popular option, as it tends to be long-lasting and can be sanded down and refinished when needed. However, it’s not a great surface when it comes to spills and stains, so any mess should be cleaned up quickly. Vinyl, rubber, and laminate all offer sturdy and easy-to-maintain options and come in many different designs and colors. Plus, you could always set down a throw rug on each of those surfaces.
Lighting
First, choose practical lighting for various different purposes — bright desk lights for a study corner, bedside lights for reading, and ambient light with an interesting ceiling pendant. Once you’ve done that, fairy lights and glow-in-the-dark ceiling stickers can offer a magic touch without breaking the bank.
Bed
Buying a bed is probably the biggest purchase you’ll make for your child’s bedroom, so choose wisely. Invest in a good, quality mattress that’s neutral in design and large enough to accommodate your child for years to come. Toddler beds are great because they’re designed to protect your child from falling out, but you could achieve the same effect with an adult single bed by setting up some guard rails.
Other Furniture
When choosing furniture for your child, think about storage and practicality. Ample storage is key to a tidy room (or at least a somewhat tidy room). Baskets are perfect for housing larger toys, and see-through boxes are ideal for Legos, puzzles, and building blocks. Open shelves are a fun way to show your child’s favorite books or collectible toys. However, closed shelves and boxes are the ones that keep the space looking tidy when guests or in-laws arrive. Chests are also a great choice, as they are versatile and can serve as a seating area.
Putting on the Finishing Touches
Once all the big decisions have been made, let your child have a little input to include some of his or her own touches. Maybe the teddy bear gets a special place on the chair, or there’s a particular poster they love. The ideal kids’ bedroom is not one that looks like a Pinterest board but rather something your child enjoys as their place of fun, exploration, and rest.