The Monkey Tree - How to make the most of your child’s bedroom

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How to make the most of your child’s bedroom

A recent trade exhibition for interiors showcased a large range of living room, dining room and bedroom furniture and soft accessories. Although the exhibition spanned six halls, there were only a handful of manufacturers dedicated to children’s rooms. It made me wonder how many visitors and exhibitors were parents themselves. Children’s rooms seem to be bottom of their list of requirements, even though it caters for just as large a market share as the other rooms. On average householders redecorate after 4-5 years (if they choose not to move), and in this day and age of the housing market, more people will decide to stay put for longer. So, if you are deciding to stay in your current house then, hopefully, this article can help provide you with a few tips on making the most of your interior living space.

As an interior designer, I have specialised in children’s rooms simply because it is a space that can become fun and magical and, if done correctly, will last for 5 years or more. The space may need to cater for one or two children and needs to provide areas for entertainment and play, for storing away, for sleep and above all to be done in a way that is ‘future’ proof. With modern houses this space can be limited with low ceilings and so careful planning is imperative.

The first rule, to making more use of your space, is simply storage. A room that can take less than 10 minutes to annihilate should, technically, not take much longer to tidy away afterwards. Regardless of the age of your child, you know that they love owning things and are very protective of their items. My daughter knows every single one of her many cuddly toys which unfortunately means that I cannot secretly give them away (however tempting it may be!). It sounds simple and obvious but trying to buy the right storage to suit a room can be a nightmare. Many parents have complained to me that it is very difficult to find adequate storage for their child’s room that is of good quality and flexible enough for their space so, the first advice I always give is, bespoke storage. A fitted cupboard not only makes use of every inch of space from floor to ceiling but also allows you to design it in a way that is practical to your requirements. Having a fitted cupboard can act as a wardrobe as well as a hideaway for toys inside drawers or boxes.

If you don’t have the funds or the space for fitted cupboards then make the most of what you have already. Suited to your child’s taste and a sense of fun encourage your child to keep their room tidy. For example, one customer had mahogany louvre cupboard doors on existing fitted wardrobes - with a splash of pink and white, stencilled shapes and a change to purple cupboard knobs, these minimal changes made it into a lovely bright room. It needn’t cost a lot of money and just a little lateral thinking enables you to create a wonderful haven for your child.

If you have a standalone bed then consider under bed storage – perfect for storing bed linen, cuddly toys or even clothes and shoes. Smaller toys can be placed in a storage unit with small compartments or, simply decorating shoe boxes that will enable your child to separate their toys into categories. By organising toys from the beginning makes it easier to play and tidy away afterwards. Toy boxes, fun designed shelves and glittered drawers can all be put together to match a theme or colour scheme. Spraying drawers with glitter spray will immediately provide a sparkle in a girl’s room and do away with boring looking furniture. Clothes hooks are now available in fun designs that can complement any design of room. Colourful wall pockets are ideal for storing cuddly toys that can be hung behind the door. There are storage solutions available to cater for every inch of the room leaving enough floor space for your children to play.

Going back to the exhibition mentioned earlier, I did manage to find one gem of a manufacturer, based in England, that is designing Lego style storage. Beautifully crafted and finished in white, it allows flexibility with its design to coordinate shelves and drawers to suit any size or shape room. It made walking round for over 5 hours all the more worthwhile. So, when you are planning your child’s room, it is worthwhile doing some research, either online or visit as many shops as you can, as the perfect solution may be out there.
Noush Bailey – interior designer for children’s bedrooms. www.thelasttouches.com