A child’s bedroom is one of the busiest and most versatile areas in the house. Besides serving as a quiet sleep area, it’s also a room for study, a space for play and imagination, a place to entertain friends and a storage for all earthly belongings.
It’s certainly a lot to consider, especially if you plan to keep it as a toddler’s space to a teenager’s room. Knowing the most important elements when decorating your kid’s bedroom is vital to ensure they have all they need. Here are the must-haves for every kid’s room:
1. A stylish bed
One of the most important items to cross off your list is your child’s bed. It’s a no-brainer, but you have to choose carefully to make it work with the rest of the room. You will need to consider your child’s age, the size and shape of the bedroom, and the style of the room. Think of your short-term and long-term plans.
Consider bunk beds if the room is shared with a sibling. If the room is small, you may want a loft bed to help create a space for your child to do homework or play. If your child is about to hit puberty in a few years, it’s best to choose a bed that can fit them well into their teens. If your child likes to host sleepovers, a trundle bed or sofa bed can serve as a perfect place to accommodate a friend when they spend the night.
Bed frames that have built-in storage (ex: under drawers, surround storage, etc.) are great space-savers and it can easily provide your child’s storage needs in their room.
Besides being functional, it must also reflect your child’s personality. Choosing beds for kids is fun because you get a lot of novelty options that are not available for adult beds. Nevertheless, if you don’t want something that your child will eventually outgrow, it’s best to stick to neutral-styled beds.
2. A comfortable mattress and pillows
It’s no secret that getting enough sleep is vital to a child’s growth and development. This is why the right mattress can make a big difference. The right one can help your child fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and be comfortable in their room overall.
Like with the bed, factor in your child’s age and the size of the bedroom. Small mattresses may be fitting for your children below ten years old, but they may need something bigger and longer during their teen years. Good mattresses last for around ten years, so plan accordingly – you may not want to invest in a high-quality but too-small mattress that your child will quickly outgrow.
Also, consider the optimal firmness and type of mattress suitable for your child. There are pros and cons of each type regarding its durability, motion isolation, temperature neutrality, and foundation they require.
The, make sure they have comfy pillows on their bed. Cute pillows in fun shapes add some charm to the room, so choose those that fit with your child’s personality and preferences. If your child likes to sleep with a stuffed toy, let them be – they will outgrow it before you know it.
3. Dressers, chests, and nightstands
Whether you have built-in closets installed or not, a child’s bedroom isn’t complete without dressers, chests, and nightstands. Closets are great for hanging clothes, while dressers help keep them more organized. Most often, kids’ clothes are stored in dressers instead of closets because these are enough to store most, if not all, of your child’s wardrobe.
Smaller items like socks and undergarments are also often stored in dressers. The size of organizing panels (and the need for them) depends on your child’s age and the kinds of garments they own. For instance, you may need smaller cubbies to keep newborn mittens and socks organized, compared to when you’re storing your teenage daughter’s socks and undies.
Meanwhile, chests are great for storing different kinds of stuff, like toys, games, supplies, school projects, and random tchotchkes your kid wants to store. Nightstands have some additional drawer space that can be used for clothing and storage for other stuff, but their proximity to the bed makes them great for holding a lamp, a glass of water, an alarm clock, books, and a phone. Nightstands also provide a space for your child to place their eyeglasses, diffuser, or white noise machines (if your child uses these things).
4. Desk and chair
Desks are another essential piece of furniture to place in your child’s room. It’s a place where they can do their homework, play quietly, make arts and crafts, or hang out when they want to be alone. Toddlers who have not gone to preschool yet can learn how to write and draw on a desk – and it is especially helpful for school-age children. If you don’t have enough space for a separate desk, a study nook with built-in shelving can be the next best thing. You can also install a loft bed with the bottom spot especially designed as a study area.
For children who need to use laptops or computers for school work, their desks must be placed near an electric outlet. The desk must have a dedicated space for electronics, an empty space for working, and plenty of storage space for pens, books, notebooks, and other school supplies. It’s best to keep everything they need within reach while they are busy with homework.
Some study desks come paired with a chair, but you may need to buy a separate one to ensure your child’s comfort. Teens may prefer a gaming chair or office chair, while younger kids may prefer desk chairs with fun designs.
5. Bookcases
Bookshelves can help your kids organize their reading materials. When choosing a good bookshelf, you’ll want to consider one that your child can grow into. When your child is young, an open bookshelf may work as a toy storage through the help of organizational bins. But when they grow older, it can be a place for them to store their school books, reference books, old notebooks, sports memorabilia, old projects, and more.
6. Toys and supply storage
Whether it’s in the form of bookcases, baskets, bins, closets, or tubs – you must provide ample storage for your child’s toys and other supplies. These must also be easy to access to allow children to be able to put their things away and take care of them themselves.
7. Additional seating
Besides the bed and the desk chair, you may want to provide additional seating for your child’s room. A bedroom bench on the side of the room or on the foot of the bed can be an excellent place for your kid to sit down when getting dressed or catch up on their reading, or chat with their friend in the room. Some come with hidden storage to help keep their rooms clutter-free. And because they tend to be long and narrow, they won’t take up too much space in a small bedroom.
Is your child’s bedroom short on space, and there’s no place for a bench? Pouf seating and floor pillows are your next best choice. Not only do they look cute, but they can also be a comfortable place for your child to read, play, or entertain a friend. Beanbag chairs can also serve this purpose. The best part about them is that your child can easily move them whenever they want, and they are relatively inexpensive to replace as your child gets older and their taste in style changes.
Another seating idea for a kid’s bedroom is an accent chair that is fun, unique, and will bring color and style to the room. An excellent accent chair must reflect your child’s personality and the bedroom’s interior style. It can serve all the purposes mentioned above. Just make sure that you have ample enough storage for bags and a proper rack for hanging coats and clothes – or else, this accent chair may end up being “the chair” your child chooses to dump clothes and random stuff on.
8. Lamps and lights
Like all other parts of the house, bedrooms have built-in overhead lighting. But it doesn’t mean that your child’s lighting needs are already covered. They may need table lamps placed on the nightstand next to the bed so they can read in bed before sleep without having to stand up after to turn off the light. Desk lamps and floor lamps can also offer some extra focused lighting for when your child is doing homework or working on crafts at night. These lamps are useful in shared bedrooms, where one child pulls an all-nighter, and the other is about to go to sleep.
There are many fun lighting options for children, but don’t get up on cute ones if they’re not functional. Clutter can quickly gather up in a child’s bedroom, so make sure any light fixture you add to it will be useful.
Nightlights can also be essential if your child doesn’t like to have a lamp open while trying to sleep. They are great for smaller children who are afraid of the dark, but they can also be helpful for older children and even adults by offering little light to help them find their way to the door in the middle of the night when they are suddenly awaked by the need to pee, drink water or milk, or for any other reason.
9. Area rugs
When it comes to bedroom décor, you can’t go wrong with area rugs. They serve a lot of practical and stylistic functions. For younger children, area rugs can soften their falls and prevent injuries. For most kids, rugs can make hanging out on the floor cozier, prevent echoes, protect flooring, and keep the feet warm during the winter. It also pairs well with floor pillows to serve as a space for them to hang out with friends.
10. Wall art
Furniture can be expensive to replace, so wall art offers an easy way to update their bedrooms according to their tastes. Kids go through a lot of phases, so wall art can help them transform their space as their interests grow and change. Wall art can help showcase your child’s personality, give them ownership over their bedroom, and even serve as a way to showcase their artistic talents (if they choose to make one for their room).
11. Family pictures
Remind your child every day that they are a part of a family – an essential part. Putting up framed photos of your family in their room will serve as a reminder for them that they are loved, and they belong. There’s nothing like having the smiling faces of your nearest and dearests greeting you whenever you walk into the room.
12. Trash can
Another essential for a kid’s bedroom is a trash can. Kids make a lot of mess, so make sure they learn to put all the things that need to be thrown away in one place. It’s best to place it near the desk area or under the desk since most trash from school children is comprised of paper, scrap art materials, paper or plastic cuttings, pencil shavings, etc.
13. Laundry hamper
Make sure your kid gets a hamper or basket in which to place their dirty laundry. It’s where they can throw their dirty clothes as they undress after school, after bath, or before and after playtime.