8 tips for designing your child's bedroom

Are you preparing for the arrival of your baby? Are you already a parent and want to renovate your son's or daughter's bedroom? The only problem is, you have no idea where to start? 

It's hard to create a space where your child can play, draw, sleep, but also be neat and organized. That's why it's so important to think carefully about this famous room, this little cocoon for your child. 

Discover our 8 tips for designing your child's bedroom.

1. Choose a soft, soothing color

We now know that colors affect our moods. Red, for example, is a color to be avoided in a bedroom, as it is too stimulating. Choose softer, more soothing colors, such as sky blue, beige, light gray or powder pink. 

Choose pastel tones for an even more harmonious result. And in a gender-neutral way! Pink can be as beautiful in a boy's bedroom as it is in a girl's.

Choose the colors you like, without restricting yourself because of stereotypes. Give free rein to your creativity: mustard yellow, khaki, cream and grey are all trendy and pleasant colors for a child's bedroom.

Discover our article on choosing colors: How to choose the right color palette for your interior design?

Don't forget to play with lighting, which brings out colors and creates moods. A soft light on the bedside table or a small firefly for the evening are all elements that can create a warm, soothing atmosphere.  

2. Don't overload the room with furniture

Again, to create a calm atmosphere in your child's room, avoid overloading it with too much furniture and objects. Too much can give an oppressive feeling. Keep it simple: a bed, a chest of chest of drawers for clothes, a toy chest, a small bedside table and, depending on the child's age, a changing table.

Keep in mind that an uncluttered decor is more conducive to a good night's sleep, and therefore to your child's rest. 

To add a touch of decoration, a small shelf will do the trick. However, avoid covering the walls with pictures or posters! Keep it simple and pay particular attention to what you hang above your child's bed. Two or three pictures can stimulate your child's imagination and creativity, so choose wisely!

Depending on the type of floor in your child's room, add a mat to delimit the play area or soften the impact of a fall.

3. Practical storage - Furniture that encourages a sense of organization

A child also means a lot of things to put away! So it's a shame to forget to create storage in their bedrooms. For their toys, clothes, books, diapers, products and then what our little ones accumulate: the stuffed toy from their birth that they wouldn't throw away for anything in the world. That's a lot of accumulated stuff!

It's always a good idea to choose furniture that you can use in other ways, as this is not only more economical but also more ecological and sustainable. Your child will inevitably grow up, so furniture that you also like means you'll be able to reuse it in other ways later on.

So, from a very young age (whether boy or girl), start teaching your children to tidy up. Of course, in a fun way! The concept of order can be learned, but above all, it can be seen! If there are things everywhere, but not in a logical place, how can they understand where to put everything?

In a tidy place, your child will learn that everything has its place: clothes in the chest of drawers chest of drawersin the right drawers, books on thebookshelftoys in the trunk or in the bench.

So choose furniture that's accessible and easy to use. In short, the more practical your furniture, the more your children will want to be tidy!

4. How to choose the right crib for your child?

From age 3 to 5, there's no need to buy a new bed every year! The evolving bed adapts to your child's size. Once again, in addition to being an economical solution, the ecological aspect is undeniable. Another advantage is that some include several storage before switching to "big bed" mode.

Pay attention to the height of the bed: your child's independence depends on this criterion. Will he be able to get up on his own, or will he need you to get in and out of bed?

For the length of your child's bed, here are a few guidelines:

• before the age of 2-3: an evolving bed is the best choice 
• 2 to 6 years: opt for a 70x140 cm bed
• up to 8 years: 70x160 cm may still be suitable
• gradually increase to 180 cm as your child grows

Forget the mezzanine bed or bunk beds before the age of 6. After that age, this type of bed saves a lot of space, especially if you live in an apartment. The possibility of making a desk underneath, for example, can make your child's bedroom even more spacious. 

5. Involve your child

Can you imagine someone coming into your room and changing all your decorations? Does the idea appeal to you? 

It's the same with your child! The more you involve them in the design of their little cocoon, the more they'll feel at home in it. He's old enough to understand the whole process: the choice of colors, furniture and materials. And he's old enough to have his own tastes!

Trust him and leave room for his creativity and personality. He'll then be better able to take ownership of his space, and in particular of the concept of order mentioned earlier in this article. 

This work gives your child a sense of responsibility, so that he or she feels more "in charge" of his or her own space, his or her own "place".

6. Choose materials

Your child's bedroom needs to be harmonious to make him feel at home. Natural materials are soothing and ideal for creating a warm atmosphere. Discover all our tips for creating a natural decor in this inthis article.

There are many ways to incorporate natural materials into your child's bedroom.

Choice of floor materials :

• a wooden floor with a natural-fiber carpet
• a neutral or wood-effect laminate floor with a rug
• a carpet reduces minor injuries but gets dirty quickly

Choice of fabrics :

• choose fabrics made of natural fibers
• Also check the materials used inside your furniture: the trim, for example. At Nordlys our upholstery fabrics are OEKO-TEX certified, healthy and sustainable

7. Create specific activity zones

Your child's bedroom is a bit like his home, or "his apartments" as we would say! It's where he builds his own world, according to his own taste. To help your child develop his creativity to the full, work with him to define areas dedicated to certain activities.

• Play, art and drawing corner
• Sleeping corner
• The corner office for working
• Relaxation and reading area (away from noise if possible)
• The clothing corner with a chest of drawers

Each space can be defined on the floor by rugs, for example, or on the walls by wallpaper or the use of a different color.

Finally, spaces can be defined by furniture. For example, a small armchair to create a reading area. Think carefully about the layout to create a room that's uncluttered, but with spaces that stand out from each other.

And don't forget yourself! After all, you spend enough time in your child's bedroom to have the luxury of putting a armchair rocking chair!

 8. Focus on safety

Finally, safety is a key element in the design of your child's bedroom.

The dangers are numerous and can be just about anywhere. So be careful:

• secure furniture to the wall to avoid accidents
• choose non-toxic, resistant materials for paints and floor coverings
• do not use cold finishes such as tiles
• control access to windows and staircases, if any
• watch out for furniture corners
• be careful where you place heavy objects, and avoid placing them high up.
• place electrical outlets high up, and opt for socket covers or elliptical sockets with childproof locks.

Conclusion

To create a soothing cocoon for your child, start by choosing soothing colors and natural materials. Don't overload this space with furniture; it should remain uncluttered, functional and practical.

If he's old enough, get your child involved in designing his room. Their tastes, but also their responsibility, will give them the keys to keeping their space tidy and harmonious.

Pay particular attention to your choice of bed, floor materials and fabrics.

Last but not least, create specific zones for each activity, while thinking carefully about how to secure the spaces. It's up to you!