One only needs to look at various Pinterest boards to notice that décor for children’s rooms is as eclectic and diverse as ever. This year, home design and décor are underpinned by an over-arching trend to be more self-expressive when choosing elements to bring into one’s own living space, and the selection of colour, theme and balance in a child’s room is following suit. Wendy Williams, Director of Engel & VÖlkers southern Africa, provides valuable guidelines on what to keep in mind when creating the perfect space for your child.
A child’s bedroom is a space where they sleep, dream and play. It’s their own little world where they can be themselves and feel comfortable and safe. Whether you opt for a jungle theme or parred down neutrals, children's rooms should allow for both fun and functionality with easy access to toys and other essentials.
Read more: Fun décor and colour ideas for kids' rooms
This year, consumers are choosing what they like, what they want and what makes them feel happy and incorporating these into their own context as opposed to following a trend meticulously. The toddlers, children and teenagers in our lives have their own personalities and tastes and if we incorporate these into their space, it showcases their unique perspective and self-expression.
While the trend for 2019 revolves around personal style, there are a few things to consider when designing a child’s bedroom:
Form and Function
The format of a child’s bedroom should be functional for both parent and child. Toys, games, colouring books and crayons ought to be well within reach. Create a place for everything as this will help you be better organized and make tidying up quick and easy. Who wants to spend hours packing away toys? Make a place in cupboards for seasonal clothes and pack away out of season attire for the following year or, if your child has grown out of them, give them away or hand them down.
The room should be welcoming and not visually cluttered and the general rule of thumb where less is more applies to this bedroom also. In this way, every aspect of the space can be fully enjoyed and appreciated. It will also look good.
Age appropriate furniture and décor
Know that the space will grow and change with your child. The toy box in the corner may be replaced with a reading nook and a toddler-sized table and chairs will probably be cast out in favour of a homework desk and bookshelves.
By reflecting the age of your offspring, the room will be all the more inviting and user-friendly. Young children will appreciate low shelves where they can reach toys, whilst storage boxes in a hardy material such as wood or plastic helps keep the room free of clutter. Teenagers will need drawers to store gadgets and bookshelves to keep textbooks.
If you’re about to invest in furniture, a good idea is to visit outlets that specialise in bedroom furniture that grows with your child. Modular pieces provide a cost-effective way of re-inventing the space at each major growth spurt.
In terms of soft furnishings and décor, bring in a young child’s favourite cartoon character through bed linen and decals for the walls. For older kids, well-placed inspirational quotes or their favourite photographs not only add personality but the objects become a talking point.
See more: Safety tips for kids' rooms
Creativity and self-expression
Walls are an ideal canvas for artistic expression. Using one wall to showcase your child’s artwork from pre-school all the way up to high school adds a pop of colour to a neutral palette, an area of interest to a themed room and furthermore instils a sense of pride and ownership. Personalising a child’s room will help them explore and cultivate their own style.
If you have the basics right, changing this bedroom as time passes becomes fun and easy. Enjoy the process!
