Tips for decorating a child’s room

Decorating a child’s bedroom usually involves compromise – they want Thomas the Train or princesses and fairies – you want neutrals and furniture that ties in with the rest of the house. Many parents now put as much effort into designing a child’s room as the rest of the house and savvy brands are responding with a greater choice of furniture and accessories designed for pint-sized inhabitants. This makes it easier to find a solution to keep both parent and child happy. Indigo Kids managing director John McLennan, who is also an interior designer and a father of two, says the most extravagant example of a children’s room he’s seen is one with a loft area and a fireman's pole to get down from the loft. While not every parent wants such extravagance, McLennan says they are looking for furniture that is well-built and safe. “This includes the paint finishes and glues used during manufacturing,” McLennan says. “Natural, organic or any materials used to make children’s furniture should be tested for safety and pass UK or US safety standards. “Once that factor has been met, then a child’s room does not need to match the rest of the house décor. “In fact, a child’s room should be engaging and a place where they are happy to be for reading, sleeping or just hanging out.” TREE’s managing director Kate Babington says parents are generally happy to take more risks with their child’s bedroom by including unexpected pops of colour and fun silhouettes, while keeping the overall décor in line with the design of the rest of the home. “Beautiful neutral creams, beiges and greys are popular as foundation colour schemes to create a calm and tranquil interior,” Babington says. “Strong but muted primary and secondary colours perfectly complement a neutral colour palette by adding splashes of colour to the décor of a child’s room.” McLennan says it is important to remember that as children grow so do their tastes and likes. “With this in mind, setting a good foundation with the right furniture is key,” he says. “With white furniture as the base, one can never go wrong. “The rest of the pieces and colours in the room can change as the child’s and your tastes change. Another popular colour is a more natural wood finish and this tends to be more popular with boys.” Babington says TREE’s customers often instilled an eco-friendly ethos in their children early on by furnishing their rooms with reclaimed and recycled pieces crafted from sustainably sourced wood or other eco-friendly and safe materials. McLennan adds that blue and pink are colours that never seem to go out of fashion with children’s rooms, but there are an increasing number of options available now for non-traditional colours. “I am also seeing a big trend in multifunctional furniture for [children’s] rooms such as cabin beds with built-in desks, storage and book shelves. Wall stickers are also a big trend as it allows you to create some fun for a room without damaging the walls.” As far as the essentials go, McLennan says aside from a comfortable bed with 100 per cent cotton sheets and non-allergenic pillows, the next thing he would suggest is a bookshelf. A bookshelf is ideal for storage because there would be room for books on the upper shelves and soft box storage on the bottom. He recommends opting for a bookshelf that is not too high to encourage children to be able reach the books. Babington says clutter control is always high on a parent’s list of essentials. “It is important to make use of clever space-saving storage solutions that can keep your child’s room clutter-free,” she says. ““Furniture that is scaled-down to perfectly fit little tykes helps to encourage [children] to take care of their belongings. “Easily accessible underbed storage solutions are a must for keeping clutter at bay.” She adds that bed frames with plenty of space beneath allow you to stash two or three storage boxes with lockable wheels for books, clothes and toys. “Eye-catching fuss-free storage boxes are also a handy way to keep clutter under control while adding to the décor of an interior. “These are great for keeping magazines and files or little knick knacks all in one place. Stackable storage solutions are a great way to save space. It helps children organise their stationery and small toys, holds A4 paper, plus compartments for art and crafts.” Once the furniture and storage is in place, it’s time to concentrate on the accessories. The most on-trend children’s rooms are decorated with maps, globes, bunting, garlands, oversized letters and chevron stripes. These, along with a touch of vintage style in the form of perhaps one piece of up-cycled furniture or an unusual accessory, also feature.

Tips for decorating a child’s room

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Decide on a basic colour, then look for multifunctional furniture made from safe and recycled materials with storage space

Decide on a basic colour, then look for multifunctional furniture made from safe and recycled materials with storage space