children bedroom ideas – The Interiors Addict

Mum of two and founder of Incy Interiors Kristy Withers, knows first-hand how quickly children can grow and their tastes can change. While growth spurts can result in overhauling children’s wardrobes year on year, the interiors enthusiast shares five considerations parents should make to ensure their child’s bedroom stands the test of time.

1. Splurge on a larger bed

“If there is one furniture item that you are going to invest in, make sure it’s the bed!” says Kristy. “Investing in a high quality bed straight up can save you money in the long run. Of course, with a good quality bed you can hand it down to other children but if you really want to avoid having to upgrade your bed every few years and both your space and budget permit, consider purchasing a bigger bed from the beginning.”

Double beds are a great size for kids, not just because they give off the grown up vibes that kids crave, but you are almost guaranteed an upgrade won’t be required until they hit their mid-teens.

2. Choose convertible pieces wherever possible

When you are creating a space for a newborn, it is difficult to consider the functionality beyond those first few years, but there are some items that you can purchase that will still serve a purpose for your child as they grow. Kristy recommends looking for a change table that also doubles as storage.

“All of our Incy change tables either convert to a dresser or a bookcase so you can continue to use the product for many years to come,” she explains.

3. Keep sheets and linen plain

“I always recommend that people keep their sheets simple and stick with plain linen. It is not only difficult to ‘outgrow’ plain linen but a neutral, unpatterned colourway means décor can be interchanged without needing to overhaul every part of the room. It is much easier and more cost effective to update a bedroom with throws and cushions,” Kristy says.

Be sure to invest in quality bedding too – it’s essential for both comfort and assurance you’ll get to enjoy it (and not update it) for a while!

4. Think about smart storage solutions

Regardless of age, you’ll always need somewhere to clear the clutter! A neutral storage ottoman or trunk is perfect for this and can store anything from stuffed toys to books. Kristy loves ottomans in particular, as they double as a place to sit and always look great at the end of the bed.

5. Choose a plain, timeless colour for the walls

While it can be tempting to paint the walls in pastels for newborns, Kristy recommends keeping the walls in neutral tones that will stand the test of time. “Instead, add colour with removable wallpaper and decals,” she says. “There are so many great companies out there now that offer removable wallpaper and wall decals and they are a great way to set a theme or a room, but as they are removable, it’s only as permanent as you need it to be!”

A gender-neutral theme/colourway will ensure a bedroom’s longevity, but Kristy suggests complementing this with little personal touches, like artworks, drawings, mementos and precious keepsakes, turning your child’s bedroom their own personal haven. “Additionally,” she says, “updating the artwork allows personality to be injected, but it can be easily updated as your child grows and changes.”

Photography: Francoise Baudet/Minty Magazine, Styling: Madeline McFarlane

For more on Incy Interiors

Home school ideas: creating a great kids’ study space

Children’s spaces are fast becoming a creative extension to the family home and Nicole Rosenberg of Liberty Interiors is quite the expert at creating stylish and practical spaces for kids,…

After being kept indoors for so long, revamping your child’s bedroom now will give them a new, fun space to make their own as we head into winter. Interior designer Janelle Miles lends a hand to share some of her design tips on how to transform your child’s bedroom to align with their current and future needs, as well as some ways to make redecorating a fun school holiday activity that will spark their imagination and creativity.

Empower your kids to be creative and involved in the design process

No matter how young your child is, they’re likely to already have a sense of personal style and know what they do and don’t like. Make sure you ask your child questions to help involve them in picking furniture, colours and decor so that their room can express their personality and interests. Kids have the best imaginations so encourage them to get creative about how they’d like their room to look – then it’s up to you to bring it to life in a practical sense. If your child is shy about what they like or is unsure, spend some time with them on Pinterest and get them to point out rooms they like to help them feel inspired.

Choose practical furniture

It’s important to select functional, high-quality furniture that the kids can grow with. Whilst race cars and fairy princess beds can be a real crowd pleaser, they won’t last long as your child’s taste will change as quickly as they grow. It’s a good idea to choose neutral furnishings for the larger ticket items; you can be bolder with decor such as linen, artwork, lamps or perhaps a coloured or patterned feature rug.

Modular furniture is a fantastic option as it can be moved around and reconfigured to suit changing needs. In-built storage is also a great solution for small rooms and ease of tidying. Items such as bookcases, dressers with drawers, cabinets, storage boxes or trunks, under-bed storage baskets and even overhead cupboards will all keep the clutter under control.

Pro-tip: A fun activity is to create a to-scale model of the room on paper, including to-scale furniture, so your child (and you!) can play around with the layout of the room before you commit to moving or buying new furniture.

Unleash your child’s inner Picasso

DIY artwork is a cheap and fun way to decorate your child’s bedroom walls. Encourage them to paint their own artwork on either canvas or paper and then get it framed and hung on their wall to make the space unique to them and also give them a sense of achievement. If you have old pieces of furniture such as wooden chairs, desks or side tables, sand them down and give your kids the task of painting it their favourite colour.

Another fun way to bring the room to life is wall panelling, where you can paint the panelling in your little one’s favourite colour, adding a few stencils or sticker details for character along the way. Most good wall stickers will peel straight off and won’t damage the paint. Keep the base palette of the room neutral so that as the room adjusts to their changing taste, you won’t need to commit to a full makeover.

Pro-tip: Interactive walls are a great way to let your child unleash their creativity and have some fun. You can have hours of fun with chalk paint. Get creative with the kids and use chalk paint to draw on the walls or to decorate furniture. Loads of fun!

Have a variety of lighting options

Just as you would for the rest of the home, think about the ways that your child will use their room throughout the day and plan for different types of lighting so they know when it’s time to play, and when it’s time to unwind for bed. Fairy lights and lava lamps make a space fun for kids and create a
feeling of cosy ambiance. Bright overhead lighting and desk lamps are important for when they’re doing homework, and a bedside lamp is a great way to encourage bedtime story reading. Solar light ceiling stickers in the shape of the moon and stars are another way to make bedtime fun for
the kids and gives them something to look at when they’re going to sleep.

–Janelle Miles is Queensland lead interior designer for Porter Davis Homes, awarded the 2019 Housing Institute Association – Australian Professional Major Builder of the Year award. For more information about Porter Davis Homes displays.