Collaborative post
As the season shifts into autumn, my home projects are also shifting focus from outdoors to indoors. We’ve done so much work to our home in the last twelve months, including a major kitchen and garden renovation, so I definitely don’t have any big plans for the near future!
That said, we do need to make some tweaks to our youngest’s bedroom, and this is my next interiors job to tackle.
In my experience, kids’ bedrooms can be one of the trickiest rooms to get right. They’re often the smallest bedroom in the house, but tend to make the biggest demands when it comes to storage and functions.
Our eight year old has lots of tiny-component toys to store, hundreds of books, and an impressive collection of homemade art and craft to display. Add to that the need for space to play, store clothes, and actually sleep, and it’s easy to see why kids’ bedrooms can end up a bit of a disaster zone!
If you’re struggling to make a compact bedroom work well for your child, here are some small-space design tips to help you get it right.
Use the wall space effectively
When floor space is tight, think about the vertical space that’s available. Wall cupboards or shelving are a great way to boost your storage options without using precious floor space.
You can also use wall space to really add character to your child’s bedroom. Simple shelves will give them the ability to display their treasures neatly, or a pretty noticeboard is a great way to organise little bits and bobs. Both of these options will make it easy to keep clutter out of the way, making the room easier to use and keep clean.
Choose fit-for-purpose storage
It sounds obvious, but using storage boxes and furniture that are a good fit for the things you want to store makes a huge difference to how easy it is to keep a small bedroom tidy. Minimising clutter is a brilliant way to make small rooms feel bigger, so it’s crucial that you get the storage right.
Before you invest in any storage, take some time to really define what it is you need to store, and how much space each thing will need. Modular storage is a great option here, as you can add to it if you find you need a little more room – pretty inevitable with birthday and Christmas presents in the mix!
Clever beds
Your child’s bed can really multi-task if you choose the right one. By raising the actual bed off the ground with something like these cabin beds from Children’s Bed Shop, you can make the most of the vertical space and create room for storage or playing underneath. For older kids there are options which include a desk too.
We’ve just changed from a standard single bed frame to a cabin bed for our eight year old, and it has made a big difference. She has created a cosy little den underneath her bed, which is now her preferred place to play and read – so the rest of the floor is suddenly clear!
Get the lighting right
As with any room, the right lighting can really influence the look and functionality of kids’ bedrooms. In a small room, it’s even more important.
Try to make the most of any natural light that the room receives. Sheer curtain panels and light curtain fabrics will help to avoid blocking natural light; these work best in kids’ bedrooms when combined with blackout roller blinds for bedtime.
When it comes to artificial light, a ceiling light is great for general lighting, and you can add in task lighting for things like reading or desk work. There are lots of really funky lights on the market these days, which will help give the room personality. And if you’ve got a dark corner, a great trick is to use a mirror to bounce light around the room.
Choose a light colour scheme
Lighter colours will automatically give a greater sense of space in a small bedroom. White can be very unforgiving when it comes to keeping it clean though. You could go for pale shades of grey or pastel colours instead and still get the same effect.
If you’re painting the walls, it’s worth considering a light reflecting paint; these will work wonders on dingy areas and help to make the room feel bigger. Light-coloured furniture can make all the difference too, and is ideal for creating a neutral backdrop.
Once you’ve lightened up the space, you can move onto the fun part: stamping your child’s personality on the room. This is a great way to introduce accent colours and fun accessories, and also get your child involved in the design process – they’re bound to have lots of opinions and ideas!!
What’s your top design tip for small kids’ bedrooms?
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