Halfway through the school summer holidays! A time of juggling work schedules with childcare, trying to maintain some sort of a routine whilst also hanging onto your sanity!
Having a designated area in the home for children to keep their toys is important – it teaches them how to tidy up when they are finished with something (in time!) and, somewhere to create and imagine without too many distractions going on in the home.
If the house has the space, a playroom is a great solution and decoration can be really fun, i.e. bold design, bright colours – something that perhaps a restful bedroom couldn’t take – or alternatively, it can be sympathetic to the rest of the décor in neighbouring rooms, with little accents such as scatter cushions and floor cushions, wall art, creative storage or even hidden storage in bespoke storage benches with seating as well. You may choose to make the space age appropriate and let it evolve as the children grow or consider something that wouldn’t need redoing as the use of the room changes.
Creative storage
If a playroom isn’t an option, creative storage in a child’s bedroom is a must. There are some ingenious ideas for book corners and reading dens, with creative drapery, to help add dynamic and extra layers to the space. When dressing the windows, we often recommend beginning with a blackout roller blind. These come in a variety of colours and can also be made in a fabric of your choice as well if looking to add some pattern or connect with other fabrics in the room. To let light in, the blackout blind doesn’t need to be fully closed, but is a great addition for a child that doesn’t sleep well with too much natural light, and for early risers, as well as keeping the heat out on hot days – as we have had recently.
Layering with a curtain or a roman blind on the outside of the window reveal, not only adds interest and looks good aesthetically but can also help with acoustics in a room. If you are looking to invest in a window dressing that doesn’t need to be changed as the child grows older, a plain or simple pattern with a trim for embellishment can add interest and give the made to measure effect without the potential cost implications long term.
However, there is something quite magical about involving the child in the design of their space as they grow up… my daughter turns eleven this week and over the years we have created a “sky bedroom” which then became a “mermaid bedroom” with a lick of paint and new accessories and more recently was transformed into a “beach theme at sunset….” Complete with wallpaper, a new roller blind and more grown-up accessories.Possibly a budding interior designer in the making!
We love working on children’s playrooms and bedrooms. If we can be of help, please do not hesitate to drop us an email!