Childrens Bedroom Furniture

When you design a child's bedroom you want a space that can adapt as they grow.

And boy do they grow. From the toddler who has no say in how you decorate their space to the independent child who wants it all her own way, you need to create a flexible scheme.

Not having kids of my own I don't have first-hand experience, but with nine nephews and nieces I can lay claim to some knowledge of the subject. If you need to give the room a single priority it has to be storage. A couple of drawers under the bed and a set of crates for toys makes a good starting point but however much storage you start with, multiply it three- or fourfold and you'll be getting close to the real demands that will be made on the space over the years from baby to toddler to youth. You can stop worrying there because after that it's pretty much up to them what goes on. A teenager's space is a sacred retreat - enter at your peril.

A WORK IN PROGRESS

Start with some basics in the room that will stay in place for several years. It has to be said that a good quality carpet is worth the investment as it will be crawled over, played on and might even have to survive the odd drenching from a drink thrown mid-tantrum. Any cheap flooring just won't withstand that much wear and tear.

Next think about your choice of bed. You can buy cots that convert into a child size bed. They may be pricey but make a good longterm investment. If you choose to buy a cot and then replace it when the child has grown out of it, you are looking for a bed that will last for ten years. That's about the maximum life span for any bed anyway, but if you spend wisely at the beginning you won't have to worry about it again for sometime. A bed that has another mattress which slides out from underneath, with legs that pop up to make another bed, is a sensible choice given that you are bound to have to provide more sleeping space at some point for pyjama parties.

Don't bother to wallpaper the whole room. If your child requests a paper with a favourite football team, cartoon character or doll, then buy a roll and use it on just one or two walls so that when they get bored with a design you aren't stuck with repapering the whole room. Paint the remaining walls in a neutral colour that will work with other changes in the place. Hardwearing finishes are essential so why not add tongue and groove around the bottom half of the room? (Also that way you would only have to wallpaper the top half anyway.) If you paint it in a hardwearing oil-based paint it will also be stain resistant and easy to wipe clean. Alternatively opt for a wipeclean vinyl wallpaper which cleans with the sweep of a wet cloth or sponge. Be realistic about how many times you want to refurbish the room through the years. Babysized furniture is very cute, and all well and good if money is no object, but I suggest you invest in 'grown-up' pieces from the start. If you want to change the handles on a wardrobe or the knobs on a set of drawers with suitably cutsie designs, it's a considerably cheaper way of making the furniture match the room. Look for pieces with lasting style and ones that could, should you wish, be repainted to update them - pine wardrobes and MDF shelving spring to mind. Bookcases, chests of drawers and blanket boxes are all valuable sources of storage in a child's room. They will be there for several years.

If you are thinking that it all sounds a bit boring for children, then the list of goodies that are comparatively cheap to buy and easy to change runs something like this:

Lampshades
Rugs
Bedlinen
Fabric wash bags
Blinds
Door / drawer knobs
Bean bags / floor cushions

You can happily let your children choose these according to their current passions, which at certain ages can change as quickly as their shoe size.

Choose practical and durable furniture and furnishings and your child's room will last through the ages.


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