Children grow up so fast and a child’s bedroom should change and grow with them as their needs change. As a baby and toddler, you never let them out of your sight. At preschool, you have to learn to give them a little more independence. And by the time they’re teens, you may not see them from one day to the next! Suddenly, they’re off to college, and they’re packing up their bedroom. How this room has transformed in eighteen years! If your little ones haven’t quite reached the point of flying the nest, here are just some of the transformations a child’s bedroom may go through:
Birth
Your tiny bundle of joy may spend more time in their Moses basket beside you than in the child’s bedroom. But decorating the nursery is one of those most precious tasks an expectant mother can undertake. The beauty of the room will never match the beauty of your baby. But it will still be the cutest little room in the house. You may choose pink, blue, yellow, or something else. The color palette will be soft, and the images on the walls will inspire your newborn.
The child’s bed may be small, just a cot, or perhaps something that changes into a toddler bed later on. The bedding will be soft and perhaps feature cute characters. You may have a mobile to help focus your little one’s attention. This room must also be practical. You’ll be nursing and changing your baby in here at all hours of the day and night. A comfy rocking chair for you, some soft lighting, and a changing station cabinet could be ideal. Block out window treatments are essential for a good daytime nap, but they needn’t be boring. Look for cute characters to delight your baby.
Toddler Bedroom
Once your little one starts toddling and walking, they will be able to climb out of the crib. This can lead to injuries so a toddler bed is essential. You can still put up a roll bar to prevent them rolling out in the night. You might keep the block out blinds and cute characters from the nursery for now. But the bedding might feature a favorite TV character. Toddler beds are shorter and narrower than a single, so the bedding will be smaller too.
Some of your toddler’s favorite toys may be in the bed or in the room. Look for soft toy hammocks to help you keep the bed clear. Cute cupboards with colorful doors and knobs are ideal. Bolt furniture to the wall to prevent them toppling over if your toddler likes to climb or pull on things. Try to avoid shelves that can be reached at this age.
Preschooler Bedroom
By now your little one is trying to become more independent. He needs to be as he will be spending more time away from you and in the company of others. Socializing is so important at this age. He may even want to show off his bedroom to his new pals. It’s up to you if you’re ready for at-home play dates. Toys upstairs will need to be considered more carefully now the stair gate is gone. Look for small toy boxes to help encourage your child to tidy up.
Kids love TV characters like Thomas and Peppa Pig. They may delight in you coordinating their soft furnishings in these popular themes. But colors like blue or pink can be enough if you’re not keen on merchandise. Now is a great age for children to make their own pictures and posters to display. Allocate a board or wall where it’s OK for this to happen. Add a soft rug where they can sit and play.
Preteen Child’s bedroom design
As your child gets older, they will have more and more homework. They may be socializing more and developing close friendships with one or two other children. Sleepovers are more common too. You may have other children. Sharing a room is great fun, whether you need to or not. Bunk beds can be fun in a child’s bedroom, adding to a theme, or offering more function to the child’s bedroom. A small desk and chair are essential now. Modular furniture can provide all you need if you want the style to match. Of course, a paintbrush could make an eclectic mix of vibrant colors to your taste.
The TV characters and cute pictures may not be making way for pop posters. These can be presented in a stylish manner using frames and poster blocks. Coordinating a mish-mash of images isn’t going to be easy. Confining it to one area will allow your chosen style to shine through, keeping the room as you like it. However, some kids are quite will-full and your bedroom designs may no longer have a place in their room!
Teenager‘s bedroom
Some parents dread having to go into their teen’s bedroom. They worry about stale smells, dirty washing and a raft of other teen paraphernalia clogging up the room. This is an important age for a young person to assert their independence and personality. The child’s bedroom is their private space to do this, trying out different styles of their own to find one that fits. Of course, if it’s affecting their sleep, you may be keen to intervene.
You can still be a part of this process. Making suggestions may not get you far. But supporting your child with shopping trips to the soft furnishings store, and exploring color palettes together can be a great way to bond. By now, the bunk or cabin beds are long gone. A larger double bed may be the seat, sofa, and lounging choice for your teen. By investing a little time and money into supporting their style, they may be inclined to keep it tidy and clean!
By the time your baby is ready to leave home, the bedroom may resemble a space you’d be happy to offer guests. There may be some gym equipment, extra hanging space, or an over spilling dresser in there, but it won’t be too off-putting for most. The bedroom decor will also have tamed toward something more grown-up. But all this may become a little deflating for a parent saying goodbye to their college-aged son. After all, this room has been through so many transformations. You might just put off your next decor project for a little while yet.
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