We all want our kid’s bedrooms to look and feel great – a fun hideaway for them to grow, learn and play. But before the colour and character themes are decided, we must think practically. I have put together a few helpful tips that I hope help with the design planning…

1. Provide Functional Areas

A kids bedroom is like their mini home – so create a room that houses a variety of functions. Sectioning off different areas for certain tasks creates excitement, enhances creativity and will encourage children to make more use of their bedroom. I understand that this sounds difficult if you have a small room to work with but please read on for more useful space-saving ideas…

2.Make Small Rooms Exciting

Any small space can be challenging and if you have more than one child, deciding who gets the smaller room can prove awkward. I remember sibling bickering myself over who got what bedroom. However this could be avoided if we emphasise the positive qualities of small spaces. Kids love dens so why not create a permanent one? Make a feature out of the room size. There are lots of products on the market that make bedtime more appealing to kids ie. bed tents and four poster single beds complete with curtains. Secret compartments and fold-away furniture are great for making the room more entertaining and for showing friends. Wall mounted drop-leaf desks, high shelving with little ladders and bunk beds all make fun statements and save space! Anything that is hidden goes down well with kids so think outside the box when it comes to storage too.

Click here to see some great adabtable ideas on Pinterest.

3.Utilise the Room Height

If you are worried about lack of space, think about the height of the room – how can it benefit the overall look and purpose? The whole volume area needs to be assessed, especially with children’s bedrooms as functionality is key. If you can build upwards then great. If a TV is required, hang it on the wall to avoid using a stand. Consider overhead cupboards and shelves or buy a storage bed – kids love sleeping high up. Some beds include wardrobes and desks underneath so this can eliminate the need for extra furniture. Ikea have a variety of really affordable combinations. Small spaces don’t need to feel cramped so see what solutions are on offer at IKEA by clicking here.

4.Use Light Well

Firstly ensure the room has as much natural light as possible. If the room is bright by day, it feels more uplifting, making the room more enjoyable in daylight for children to use. If you only have a small window to work with, ensure the window treatments are not too restricting for natural light. If the room is naturally dark due to limited window space or position, light coloured decor may be more effective to brighten up the space.

I believe ambience can be enjoyed by kids, just as much as adults and the best way to create this is with effective lighting. In terms of artificial light, many children’s bedrooms have a ceiling light and maybe a bedside or desk lamp. However a variety of choices allows changeable ambience settings as well as useful task light options. A main light dimmer is a good idea as kids loving using these to set scenes. Down lights (stick-on versions are available and so convenient) are great for hiding under some shelves and cupboards for focused lighting. Fairy lights are popular at the moment and make a room look very cosy.

5.No Bare Walls

Kid’s rooms are meant to be exciting, fulfilling and inviting. If you have plain painted walls – fill them!

Add framed pictures or posters, decorative shelving, maybe a black board if a wall space if feeling too sparse. It’s all about good visuals and bringing the room to life. Be careful not to overcrowd but fun kids room should have lots to please the eye.

Good luck and we hope you find these tips useful! Feel free to share your designs with us on social media, we’d love to see them!

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Jen x