Interiors 101: Getting the kids’ rooms right

When it comes to interior design, it’s easy enough to know what you like. But when it’s time to give the kids’ bedrooms an overhaul, you can find yourself – rather unexpectedly – in unknown territory. How do you create a space that promotes independence yet keeps the little ones feeling safe and secure? How do you make sure their bedroom is defined as just that – a bedroom ­– the place that they lay their heads down at the end of the day to sleep? And where do you draw the line on their weird and wonderful décor suggestions (how feasible is it really to have a tropical fish pond installed in the floorboards?).

While decorating rooms for youngsters can be great fun, there’s a bit of logical thinking to be done first. Once that’s out of the way, you’re free to let your inner creative genius reign.

From colour schemes to Disney themes, night lights to secret dens, read on for some top tips on how to get your kids’ rooms right.

The routine factor

Any parents of little ones will know about the importance of establishing a night-time routine. This helps children wind down from their busy day and set themselves up for sleep. And while it’s not always plain-sailing, a sense of routine is one of the biggest deterrents against those tiring evening tantrums. Getting the bedroom right is an essential part of this process. It’s all about creating a clearly defined space that provides all those ‘time for bed’ signals, which essentially make your job easier. Adults struggle to unwind in rooms that are cluttered, too bright or filled with work stuff, and kids are no different. Just like for grown-ups, their room is their sanctuary.

To give a child’s room the big ‘Bedroom’ stamp, fill it with lovely soft furnishings and make use of low lighting to give it that sleepy ambience it needs. Let your child pick out a night light to place on a lamp table by their bed. There are lots of creative options on the market, from glowing dinosaurs to star-strewn universe globes and Disney figurines – so pick something they’ll look forward to seeing at the end of the day. Next, make sure the bedroom can be easily converted between its two natural states – play den, and place to sleep. Fill the corners with lots of big storage baskets so you can sweep up any mess easily at the end of the day, switching the room into calming, sleep-friendly mode.

Another good way to help your child get ready for sleep is by creating ‘zones’ in the bedroom. Make sure the bed is in the sleep zone, and have a separate zone for playing or doing homework. You could define the zones by incorporating different wall colours, or even by draping the bed in a fun canopy to create a cosy den just for sleeping and reading.

And while we’re on the subject of story time – make sure your little one’s book collection is accessible so you can read from one of their favourites as they get tucked up in bed. When you’re shopping for bedside cabinets go for something with an additional shelf underneath so you know you’ve always got a couple of books to hand.