Tips On Designing Your Child's Room

Our architects and designers, many parents themselves, have put together a list of practical tips for designing your child's bedroom and creating an organized space that will adapt to your growing child from cradle to college.

Since decorating your child's room provides a great opportunity for them to express their personalities and for you to learn more about their style and interests you should involve them in the design process and product selection. This will ensure that you create a living space that your child enjoys and wants to spend time in.

Don't get caught spending big money on trends, unless you are sure they will work for you, your child's age and your home. Accessories are a great way to introduce a trend, because they don't cost a ton of money and it allows you to compromise with your children.

A common mistake most parents make when designing a child's room is not thinking ahead. For example, bunk beds and twin beds seem like practical bedding for your small child, but in a few years they may be six feet tall. If the room is big enough, our designers recommend moving your toddler straight from the crib into a full or queen-size bed.

You can never have enough storage space, especially when it comes to your child's room. Like most children they tend to pile things on the floor or toss in a closet if there's not a place for it to go. You can easily keep your child organized by having built-in shelves, a bookcase and a desk. And down the road, when you children have moved out these rooms can easily convert to a home office and den.

Since there are generally three major design transitions in the life of your child's room — crib to big girl/boy bed; toddler to young child (ages 6 to 12) and then late teens — you'll need to buy a few, high-quality items like a bed and dresser. Many furniture companies offer very versatile pieces that adapt to these life changes, so be sure to spend some time looking at the bedding options that are available.

In the end, your goal is to create a room that's not only memorable for your child, but is a comfortable, functional space that grows with their changing needs and style.