With our children spending so much more time at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we create a space that will help them grow physically, mentally and emotionally.
So let’s take a look at a few key planning essentials and some quirky ideas that will make your child’s room both unique for them and the perfect place for them to play, sleep and learn.
Consider their needs
Your child’s bedroom has probably gone from the place they go to play to their homeschooling station, so keep this in mind when designing the room!
There’s often the need for a desk but perhaps space doesn’t allow it, so it might be worth considering sliding wardrobe doors to really maximise the space available.
It’s a storage solution that can really get the most out of a space, and the fact that they are made to measure should create room for the other essentials to make for a multi-functional bedroom.
It’s also worth checking out which chair your child is using if they’re homeschooling. Adjustable chairs are a great investment and will have them at the correct height and ensure their backs are supported when they’re diving into their schoolwork.
Create zones for sleep, play and work
This is an important one if your child is now spending a lot of time in their bedroom. How do you establish good sleep habits? Help them train their body to know that the bed is for relaxing and sleeping by zoning the bedroom according to function.
Provide a proper space for the desk, so your child will not be tempted to do their schoolwork on the bed, and establish a separate corner for play, so he or she won’t clutter their restful sleep area.
Colour therapy
This is where you can get creative with the colours, but bear in mind that you can use colour to enhance your child’s sleep, concentration or psychological comfort.
Children with a lot of energy, for example, may benefit from a soothing colour in their environment, as if a room is super fun, bright and stimulating, some children may have a harder time winding down for rest.
Some psychologists believe these hues promote certain feelings, so use them accordingly:
Red – passion, aggression
Orange – pleasure, optimism
Yellow – creativity, fun
Green – balance, harmony
Blue – peace, calmness
Violet – meditation, imagination
Provide the right lights
Allowing light into a room is key to help not only with your child’s eyesight, but also to boost their mood. Keep the room as clutter-free as possible (again sliding doors can help with this!) and allow for a good amount of natural light.
It’s also a good idea to keep a warm white light for general illumination of the room after the sun goes down. Some children may also need a nightlight for anxiety or night-time fears, while some may be comfortable enough knowing that the light switch is within arm’s reach of the bed.
Help to expand their imagination and creativity
We’ve often incorporated chalk blackboards into the panelling of our sliding wardrobe doors to make for both a creative and functional tool.
Being able to draw/make notes on something that almost feels ‘naughty’ is a great way to get your child’s creative juices flowing and is something a bit quirky that not many others will have.
The important thing when designing the room is to make sure your child has some ownership. See it as a chance to get creative and include some quirky features, but ultimately allow your child to express their personality - this will definitely help them take responsibility when it comes to keeping it tidy!
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