The most important function of the children's room is to encourage play.
This is our most important message, and that is why we have chosen to state it firmly right away – and again. The most important function of the children's room is to encourage play.
The message leads to the first rule of thumb for parents. THE CHILDREN'S room must meet your child's needs and not yours. In other words, the children's room should be your child's sanctuary, not your showroom!
The first step is therefore to decorate the room in collaboration with your child (of course depending on your child's age) or at least based on your child's needs.
There are many tips on how to best furnish the children's room, but as everyone knows, it can be difficult to find your way through a jungle of possibilities. That is why we have chosen to share 6 simple tips for better furnishing of the children's room on the blog.
Pssst. Children would much rather build forts and be free from cleaning up.
- Make the children's room a playroom with plenty of floor space
- Buy furniture in child size for younger children and tumble furniture for older children
- Decorate with wide and low storage boxes that make it easy to find toys
- Remember display furniture that can showcase favorite toys
- Make room for a work table so your child can express their creative side
- Paint one or more walls in a neutral color
These are our main points in bullet form. Now it's time to elaborate a bit more so you can better understand what we mean.
What we are trying to say is that you should furnish the children's room as a play area where your child has space to let their imagination run wild. It is not a must that there is space for beds and clothing storage – in most cases, it is your need and not your child's (it can also be a solution to a lack of space. Quite fair!).
That said, we would like to add that for the smallest, it can be fun to furnish the room with child-sized furniture – like a reading chair, an ironing board, or a mini kitchen – because younger children find it fun to play based on what they see their parents do. For older children, tumble furniture like bean bags, floor cushions, and poufs are great. They can be used both to build forts and to relax in.
But one thing is what specific furniture and toys are in the children's room. Another thing is where it is stored. Here we want to emphasize that it is important for children that it is easy for them to find their toys (otherwise the toy box will be turned upside down). This is also why we advocate for wide and low boxes for toy storage, so your child doesn't have to stand on their head to find their favorite toy.
It is also important to have so-called display furniture like shelves and hooks, where your child can showcase their newly built LEGO ship or look at the beautiful princess dress hanging on the wall.
Another way your child can be inspired to unleash their imagination is by furnishing the room with a child-sized work table. Here, space is made for creative play, as your child can try their hand at finger painting, bead trays, or paper cutting at the table. Alternatively, you can buy high chairs for a regular table. It is also important to have natural and electric light over the work table – and in the children's room in general.
With tons of toys in the playroom, the room quickly turns into a jumble of colors in all directions. And that is why we suggest that you paint a wall or a section of a wall in a neutral color, which can create a necessary calm. Another idea is to paint the door or a section of the wall with chalkboard paint, so your child can decorate the wall themselves. Alternatively, you can decorate the walls with wall stickers that can easily be removed when the interest in Winnie the Pooh eventually fades away.
Now we are almost at the end of our tips for better decorating the children's room. But at the last moment, we want to emphasize, once and for all, that the most important function of the children's room is to encourage play and free imagination because that is what you should remember after reading this blog post.
The most important function of the children's room is to encourage play.
Suggestions for fun solutions
- Wide boxes with wheels for toys that can be stored away under the bed
- High loft bed with a workspace underneath
- Create a playroom for your child in one room and a sleeping/clothing room in another room
