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The Secret to Designing a Child’s Room That Will Grow With Them
These décor choices will save you the time, money and waste of having to update your child’s space later
Wondering what’s the most important thing to include in a room for your baby or young child? Yes, toy storage is essential, but if you want to avoid waste, it’s vital to incorporate furniture and décor that lasts.
Take a look at these rooms, where Houzz professionals have planned ahead to help homeowners avoid frequently updating paintwork and throwing large items into landfill.
Take a look at these rooms, where Houzz professionals have planned ahead to help homeowners avoid frequently updating paintwork and throwing large items into landfill.
Add adaptable details
When you’re creating your storage, think about how the cabinetry will be used later on. With some careful planning, you can include some wiggle room for adapting the joinery for changing needs.
Here, Karen Knox of Making Spaces has built useful plywood storage for her young son. The wide, open surface to the left of the bed is ideal for building Lego, but as he grows, Karen can attach an extra surface onto it to turn it into a desk.
Tour this child’s room with storage that will evolve.
When you’re creating your storage, think about how the cabinetry will be used later on. With some careful planning, you can include some wiggle room for adapting the joinery for changing needs.
Here, Karen Knox of Making Spaces has built useful plywood storage for her young son. The wide, open surface to the left of the bed is ideal for building Lego, but as he grows, Karen can attach an extra surface onto it to turn it into a desk.
Tour this child’s room with storage that will evolve.
Double up
Combine storage with seating to provide a place for children and teens to snuggle up. The key to making it work is to ensure the area is low enough for kids, but large enough for grown-ups.
The team at mimodo architects have given over ample space at the centre of these cupboards to construct a bench seat. It’s cosy and spacious enough to remain useful as the child grows.
Discover how two flats became one striking Victorian home.
Combine storage with seating to provide a place for children and teens to snuggle up. The key to making it work is to ensure the area is low enough for kids, but large enough for grown-ups.
The team at mimodo architects have given over ample space at the centre of these cupboards to construct a bench seat. It’s cosy and spacious enough to remain useful as the child grows.
Discover how two flats became one striking Victorian home.
Choose a piece that could be repurposed
If you’re hoping to add some kid-friendly freestanding furniture, consider going down the recycled route. Hunt in second-hand outlets and online for fun vintage items to add character to your child’s space.
Here, designer Mel Massey has added an old school desk and a midcentury wardrobe to her son’s bedroom. The beauty of pieces like these is they can be repurposed elsewhere or sold on again to another homeowner.
Visit the rest of this Victorian house with a family feel.
If you’re hoping to add some kid-friendly freestanding furniture, consider going down the recycled route. Hunt in second-hand outlets and online for fun vintage items to add character to your child’s space.
Here, designer Mel Massey has added an old school desk and a midcentury wardrobe to her son’s bedroom. The beauty of pieces like these is they can be repurposed elsewhere or sold on again to another homeowner.
Visit the rest of this Victorian house with a family feel.
Swerve single use
The need for nursery furniture can be fairly fleeting, particularly cots and changing tables. As soon as your toddler is out of nappies or sleeping in a bed, they become redundant.
The clients of Indie & Co had this mind when they turned this vintage chest into a changing station for their baby. The cabinet is beautiful enough to stay put in the room and can be used simply for storage in years to come.
Discover how natural finishes added texture to a calm, minimal home.
The need for nursery furniture can be fairly fleeting, particularly cots and changing tables. As soon as your toddler is out of nappies or sleeping in a bed, they become redundant.
The clients of Indie & Co had this mind when they turned this vintage chest into a changing station for their baby. The cabinet is beautiful enough to stay put in the room and can be used simply for storage in years to come.
Discover how natural finishes added texture to a calm, minimal home.
Revamp an heirloom
A piece of furniture that has sentimental value will be treasured for years in a child’s bedroom. Even the tattiest of items can often be restored and upcycled to look as good as new.
The chair in this child’s bedroom belonged to the owner’s grandmother, so interior designer Joy Flanagan had it reupholstered. It looks fantastic as a reading chair now, and can stay in the space for years to come.
Take a peek around this welcoming home with a warm, calm palette.
A piece of furniture that has sentimental value will be treasured for years in a child’s bedroom. Even the tattiest of items can often be restored and upcycled to look as good as new.
The chair in this child’s bedroom belonged to the owner’s grandmother, so interior designer Joy Flanagan had it reupholstered. It looks fantastic as a reading chair now, and can stay in the space for years to come.
Take a peek around this welcoming home with a warm, calm palette.
Colour carefully
When it comes to selecting a colour scheme, go for a palette that appeals to kids and adults alike. A neutral backdrop is ideal for framing smaller, bolder accents that can easily be updated. Alternatively, opt for an interesting shade combination that’s not obviously for children.
This child’s bedroom, designed by Jenn Hannotte, is a combination of fresh white and charcoal grey. The dark wall is the perfect foil for bright artwork, but can easily be complemented by grown-up accessories later on.
Feeling inspired? Read customer reviews of interior designers in your area.
When it comes to selecting a colour scheme, go for a palette that appeals to kids and adults alike. A neutral backdrop is ideal for framing smaller, bolder accents that can easily be updated. Alternatively, opt for an interesting shade combination that’s not obviously for children.
This child’s bedroom, designed by Jenn Hannotte, is a combination of fresh white and charcoal grey. The dark wall is the perfect foil for bright artwork, but can easily be complemented by grown-up accessories later on.
Feeling inspired? Read customer reviews of interior designers in your area.
Stick around
If you’re going for neutral tones, try adding brighter hues in temporary form. In this apartment, a wall of stickers brings a playful look to a pale grey wall.
The little girl who lives here can easily remove them later, leaving a blank surface for her to add more grown-up designs.
Look inside the family home belonging to this interiors blogger.
Tell us…
What long-lasting items have you included in your child’s bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
If you’re going for neutral tones, try adding brighter hues in temporary form. In this apartment, a wall of stickers brings a playful look to a pale grey wall.
The little girl who lives here can easily remove them later, leaving a blank surface for her to add more grown-up designs.
Look inside the family home belonging to this interiors blogger.
Tell us…
What long-lasting items have you included in your child’s bedroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Kids’ clutter gets everywhere, no matter how tidy you try to be, but you can make it easier to stay organised by incorporating plenty of storage in their room. Rather than choosing a mini wardrobe they’ll outgrow, though, try fitting bespoke shelves and cabinets that will be just as useful for adults later as they are for children now.
In this teen bedroom, for example, Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors has designed a wall of cabinetry with space-saving sliding doors. The joinery is practical for the child who lives here, but is stylish and functional enough to last for years to come.
See more of this converted Victorian dairy.