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If you’ve got kids, you’ll know only too well that they grow up fast. And that doesn’t just have implications for their clothes – it also presents a challenge when it comes to designing and fitting out your kid’s bedroom.
How are you supposed to get the room’s style and layout just right when your little one’s tastes could easily change as they grow up? Check out these tips to make the whole process easier.
Do largely what you want for the baby phase
You don’t need to go overboard with how you design your baby’s nursery. It will probably only be a nursery for a couple of years, at which point you will most likely want to update the decor to suit a pre-schooler.
Having said that, you can of course go to town on the nursery if you want to! Interiors consultant Mandy Milks advises Today’s Parent readers: “Don’t feel guilty about making it as sweet or as fox-themed as you would like. It’s a one-time thing and can feel very special.”
Cater for your child’s emerging independence
When your child reaches the age range of three to six, it’s time to start teaching them how to dress themselves and where things go in their bedroom. Encouraging them to put things away, tidy up, and generally take care of their things is perfect for this age, when they’re usually keen to assert their independence.
All of the items your child needs to use in their bedroom without your supervision need to be within easy reach. For example, shelves should be low enough for kids to store their own clothes or toys, and the laundry basket should be easily accessible too.
Go back to basics for kids aged six to nine
This is an age where the ‘stuff’ really starts to accumulate in children’s bedrooms. Clever storage is definitely your friend here.
If space is tight or your kid’s bedroom has two children sharing, bunk beds or cabin beds can be a good option. Do bear in mind though that changing the sheets on bunk beds can be more of a workout!
When it comes to bedding, there’s a whole world of character-themed designs out there for this age group. While it’s fun to indulge their favourites, if you can do this elsewhere in their room you’ll extend the life of your bedding. Plain colours or more traditional patterns such as stars, flowers and geometric designs can be used right through to their teenage years.
Let the room reflect your tween’s personality
You might be convinced that letting your child design their own bedroom once they reach the tweens is a disaster waiting to happen. However, getting them involved in the design will increase their sense of ownership, and can actually motivate them to look after their room and belongings properly.
Nonetheless, as Milks warns, you should “let them know any bold moves they make need to last a long time. You are more of a design coach at this point.”
Take a grown-up approach for a teenager’s bedroom
Once they become teenagers, it’s time to make the transition to a more grown-up bedroom design. Again, clever storage is vital here. You can also make your life easier and control the mess by providing a bin and laundry basket, and encouraging your teen to tidy regularly rather than let things get really out of hand. It won’t always work, but it’s worth a try!
If you’ve got the space, a teenager’s bedroom will benefit from a larger bed, plus a dedicated study area and more storage space, as Real Homes advises.
However, including all of these doesn’t have to mean skimping on the style. You could, for example, source furniture legs in various metallic finishes, allowing you to add a flourish to even the most functional furniture.
Do you have any tips for helping your kid’s bedroom grow with them? Share them in the comments.
The post How to update and redesign your kid’s bedroom as they grow appeared first on Growing Family.