How to design a child’s bedroom that grows with them

At All Done Design, we know how important it is that a design will let the room work for your family as it grows. That’s particularly important for the design of a child’s bedroom.

Designing your child’s first bedroom is an exciting time and you’re probably keen to get it started and made into a welcoming, safe place for them. But it’s worth taking a bit of time at the design stage, to add in elements that mean the room will grow with your child, without the need for major changes in the years to come.

Here are five things to consider when you’re designing a room for your child that will help you create a space that meets their needs well into the future.

Colour scheme and theme

Picking the theme and colours is a good place to start with the design of the room. If your child is old enough, it’s a good idea to get them involved with this stage of the process. Ask them what they would like their room to be like – is there a particular theme they’d like it to have?

A word of caution if you’re considering a particular theme though. Avoid overkill and keep an eye on the future. If you’re planning a pirate-themed room, pirate wallpaper, bed, furniture, accessories, and soft furnishings will probably be overpowering, and it will be expensive to change the theme when your child decides they don’t like pirates anymore.

Keep paintwork neutral with a feature wall either in themed wallpaper, or an alternative paint colour. Buy plain furniture that can be accessorised with soft furnishings and removable stickers. This will help you create a themed room your child will love, that won’t cost a lot to change if they suddenly decide they prefer superheroes to pirates!

Storage

Getting the storage right at the start will save you a headache in the future. Girls tend to need more storage as they get older to keep things like hair accessories, toiletries and makeup organised and tidy. So, if you are planning a girl’s bedroom, keep that in mind and create enough storage for the future.

Storage solutions don’t have to involve big cupboards and drawers. Be smart about adding discrete storage to places that don’t take up additional floor space. A bed with a drawer underneath is a great idea for a child’s bedroom. The space can be used for bedding or the next age of clothes and toys. Seats with storage are the perfect place to store toys.

Wardrobe organisers aren’t just for adults. Having them in your child’s bedroom means you get the most from their wardrobe and helps keep the space organised and tidy.

Make sure your storage solutions are easy to use for your child to use and encourage them from an early age to put things away.

Windows

Having a big window in a child’s bedroom is great for letting in light and fresh air. But particularly when your child is young, make sure the window dressings block out the light for naps and bedtime.

This can be done using blackout blinds or curtains. If you can’t get blackout curtains in the design you’re looking for, a plain blackout blind may be the solution. This can be fitted behind your themed curtains.

Future proof the design

Creating a room design that’s easy and affordable to change, isn’t the only way you can future-proof your child’s bedroom. Think ahead and put in things like extra sockets so your child can use a computer/games console/sparkly lights all at once when they’re older.

Make sure there’s somewhere in the room that can be turned into a study area in the future. You could use a desk or table as a doll changing station or Lego building area when your child is younger, which can be transformed into a study area when they’re older.

Invest in furniture that will last. Themed furniture such as a princess or car bed may be what your child loves now, but their love for them probably won’t last long and they can be expensive to replace.

Easy to clean

When you’re at the design stage, consider how easy it will be to access all areas of the room and clean it. Your future self will thank you if you make it a design that allows you to clean easily!

Your child may love the idea of a cabin bed, or a spaceship attached to the ceiling. But think about how easy it will be to clean. You want your child to be able to enjoy their space, and that also means it being safe and clean for them.

A cabin bed, even a low one, is a great space-saving idea, but you need to be able to change the sheets easily (until your child is old enough to do it themselves!).

Make sure the paint and wallpaper if you’re using it, can be cleaned easily. There are washable and wipeable paints on the market which mean sticky fingerprints or marks can be easily removed.

If you’re looking to renovate your family home, we’re here to help.