The beauty of any room is in its functionality. When form follows function, you automatically feel more comfortable in that space and use it more, filling it with your energy. When it comes to planning a child’s bedroom, the function keeps changing as they grow. 

Kids rooms ideas

As kids grow and change, so do their needs. We cannot, of course, keep completely renovating their rooms every year. Kids rooms do have a few things in common even as they age.

Once we identify the key aspects of what we need from the space, kids room makeover becomes more manageable as they transition from one stage to the next.

Kids bedroom ideas for small rooms

If you have larger spaces at your disposal, then you can do much with it. You can segregate different areas for different activities for the kids without overwhelming the entire house.

However, kids bedroom ideas for small rooms need a little more thought and planning. Here’s how we transitioned from a nursery to a ‘big boy’ room.

When our son was a baby, he just needed some basic things from a room – a place to sleep, a place to nurse, change him, and storage for all the tiny clothes and toys. So we had a crib, a rocking chair, low-height wardrobes so the top could be used as a changing table and the wardrobes for storage. The rest of the space was for us to move around without tripping on something while holding the baby! Or, god forbid, make any kind of sound once he was asleep.

When he transitioned from the crib to a bed, we removed the rocking chair and crib. We also updated one of the walls to make it more vibrant. The low-height wardrobes ensured that he could reach all his toys and books on his own—things we didn’t want him to play with went on top.

Recently, he updated his room once again. He moved into the room we were using as a guest room. He wanted red walls. He selected the colour and the curtains. The full-length wardrobes give him enough space to store his belongings and a small carpet area to play.

His old room has been converted to a study / work-from-home office.

Dos and Donts to keep in mind while designing a kids bedroom

DOs

• Keep it simple by keeping the focus on play and utility. Reduce clutter by keeping just a few items on display that can be rotated periodically. Make sure there’s enough space to play safely. It should be their safe zone. Don’t have things that could break or hurt them. 

• Make the most of small spaces by using intelligent storage solutions (seats that double up as toy storage). Have plenty of storage for clothes, toys, books. I like to organise in boxes.

• Remember the accessibility factor and that kids should be able to reach for stuff they use independently. If they can do a few things on their own, they feel empowered. This helps them gain confidence in themselves and helps them on the road to independence. 

• Incorporate a good mix of colours, patterns, and texture in room decor, books, and toys. Sensory learning exposes them to new feelings and thoughts – crucial in their development.

• Once they’re old enough to make choices, involve them in deciding things like wall colour or choice of fabrics, etc.

DONTs

• Don’t buy themed items that will last long past their interest span. A bright-coloured wardrobe or a cartoon-themed curtain might be appealing for only a short time. Instead, go for themed clothes that would be easier to replace.

• Don’t overload when it comes to colours and materials. A busy-looking room doesn’t let your eye rest or bring calmness.

• Don’t over-spend on things that look good but are not practical. A car-shaped bed might spark squeals of delight till you realise it takes up too much space and will need replacement in just a few years.

A child’s room must spark joy, as much as your kid’s smile does. Enjoy setting it up, changing it, and spending hours of joy in it.