Where does your child usually play? Some homes have enough space for a separate playroom, but parents need to make their children’s bedrooms multi-functional more often than not. It becomes a place for rest, play, study, exercise, and everything in between! If a child’s bedroom is going to be used for more than just sleeping, it’s a good idea to plan the layout strategically in order to maximise the potential of the space.
Read on for some top tips on how to make your child’s room perfect for many different purposes.
Consider a different style of bed.
Beds usually take up the most space in a room, and this space is especially valuable when the room is going to be multi-functional. Thankfully, there are some creative solutions to choose from when you buy your childrens bed. A bunk bed, for example, is ideal if the room will be shared between two children, and a cabin bed can provide much-needed storage space under the mattress.
An elevated bed is also an option if your child is confident enough to climb up each night. This frees up a lot of floor under it. You can also build in features below the bed, like a desk to do homework or a cosy corner designed for reading and watching movies. Choosing the right furniture can make a big difference to your child’s multi-functional room.
Be smart about storage.
It’s not just rooms that can be multi-functional – furniture can be too! A table could be used for drawing, play or snack time, and you can also store items underneath it. In fact, many items of furniture come with storage space included. Look for furniture that folds away too. That way, your child can access more space when pieces aren’t in use.
It’s also a good idea to build floating shelves for things like books and action figures: it frees up the floor while also keeping items on display and easy to access. It can look really attractive too! Plastic boxes that can be stacked are a great space-saver, and you can make tidying up straightforward by labelling them with what is to be kept inside.
Design the room based on its uses.
Every child is different, so it makes sense to customise the room to their specific needs and interests. Maybe your child is a budding artist; you could easily incorporate a drawing and painting station into the layout of the room! Or maybe your child loves to dance or practice martial arts. In that case, you’ll want as much vacant floor space or movable furniture as possible.
Does your child love to have friends over for sleepovers? That means you’ll need additional sleeping space, for example, a pullout or foldaway bed. A good start is to list all the activities you expect to take place in the multipurpose room and think about how you could make the space as accommodating as possible for each of them.
Make a chill zone.
Alongside play, sleep, and study areas, why not make space for your child to relax? Like adults, children benefit from quiet time, and you can facilitate that by creating a dedicated chill zone. You might want to physically separate this space using a structure like a small teepee. Alternatively, you can find a corner to cover in cushions and blankets so your child can read and rest there.
To really make the chill zone special, you could include fun sensory features. A lava lamp or unusual fibre optic lighting can be soothing for children. Other items might include a beanbag, a rocking chair, or even an inflatable seat.
Turn the practical into play.
With a little imagination, you can make the fundamentals of a bedroom into something much more exciting. Adding a slide to your child’s cabin bed might sound like a crazy idea, for example, but they’ll undoubtedly spend hours playing on it! Walls can be transformed into chalkboards for children to write and draw on and exercise balls can easily double up as bouncy seating.
Maybe your child doesn’t need a desk now, but they have one installed for future use. Items that are currently out of action can be transformed into a prop for play – with toys, minor alterations or just a little imagination, a desk can become a shop counter, a restaurant table, or anything else your creative kid comes up with.