We asked Megan Doherty from our interior design partners, Edward Thomas Interiors for her top tips when it comes to designing children’s bedrooms…
How can I make an inviting space for children?
Children’s bedrooms typically tend to be the smallest rooms in the home, but they can still be memorable, playful and somewhere to enjoy spending time. Themes are a fantastic way to achieve this. You can take inspiration from local landmarks or popular culture, for instance well-known characters like Paddington Bear, Spiderman, Barbie or Lego; or pick a versatile topic such as zoo, farmyard, space, pirates and build around this. One of our favourite eye-catching features is the bed, we’ve made these in the shape of pirate ships, camper vans, tents, even a London bus!
One thought to bear in mind when styling children’s rooms is that their tastes change very quickly so think about how designs can evolve. For instance, in many of our themed bedrooms, we use hand-painted murals – while these can be really striking and make a fantastic focal point, they can just as easily be removed by re-painting or wallpapering.
What about teenagers?
For older children, the same principle can be applied but in a more mature design. Why not take inspiration from their hobbies, places they aspire to visit or even social media brands to style a bedroom? How might this be captured with accessories, wallpaper or artwork?
“Remember for teenagers and young adults, privacy is just as important as inclusivity. Townhouses or properties with 2.5 or 3 storeys are ideal havens for teenagers – top floors can be transformed into sanctuaries with space for a bedroom and bathroom alongside a cinematic snug, gaming room or den where they can relax, study or hang out with friends.
I want to make room for grandchildren, nieces or nephews, what do I do?
Creating an occasional bedroom, somewhere gender neutral for visiting grandchildren, nieces or nephews, is increasingly popular. For these, we wouldn’t necessarily incorporate a theme, but rather use some simple styling hacks such as a painted ceiling, wall stickers or block painted panels/shapes to create an imaginative environment. Furniture and accessories that match or are from the same family as the rest of your home will help this room’s design remain consistent.
How can I make sure a bedroom is practical too?
It’s easy to get carried away with a theme and forget that designs need to be functional as well as entertaining. Storage is essential, not just for clothes and toys but remembering children like to collect things, so consider shelving, display cabinets or storage cubes.
For younger children, make sure there’s space for hobbies – so something like a small table and chairs where they can have tea parties, or maybe a reading corner, or arts and crafts bench. If you have the space, twin beds for siblings can be a wonderful way of encouraging play. One of our recent designs was a cupcake theme including a play kitchen in between the beds for baking practice!
For older children, try to make sure there’s somewhere they can study. Try a floating desk, ladder desk, or even a foldaway desk in the wardrobe that they can close away at the end of the day.
I'm about to have a newborn, what are some tips for nursery design?
Think about your furniture first. At the very least you’ll need a crib, nursing chair, changing table and plenty of storage, think chest of drawers, temporary baskets, shelves, and in different configurations and sizes. Ideally you want to create ‘zones’ in the room too, so somewhere to sleep, change, play, and make sure these are all easily accessible.
In terms of colours, soothing and tranquil neutrals or pastels are always popular, and you can add personality with themes such as woodland, farmyard, or the night sky. Wall decal stickers, or patterned wallpaper bands are a great option for creating the zones I mentioned and can be easily changed as your little one grows up!
How can I include my children in the design process?
When you move into a new home, you want peace of mind that children will feel comfortable in new surroundings. As well as the obvious action of asking children what they want their room to look like, there’s some simple steps that can make a big difference. Buy low-level or adjustable furniture, install reachable shelving, hang mirrors or pictures lower so children can see them. This will immediately make a child feel more at home.
Lastly, don’t forget to have fun with it, children’s bedrooms are just as much a sanctuary as adult ones so let personalities be expressed and imaginations run wild!
