A child's room need to be colourful and fun and to mirror the owner's interests. It also needs surfaces that are tough and practical. In most cases the number of belongings expands at a surprising rate, requiring an adaptable storage system that is easy to use so there is some hope that things will be put away when they are no longer needed. Beds stacked on furniture, or raised on scaffolding reached by a ladder, are popular with many children and this arrangement leaves more floor space free for play. Furniture also needs to be adaptable so you can rearrange it as the child develops and interests change. A few additions can change the room into a teenager's bedsitting room.
Storage units
Bright plastic boxes can be colour planned according to type of contents.
Industrial metal shelving is a practical alternative to shelves fixed to the wall. Your local car body repair shop should be able to spray this almost any colour you want.
Instead of pictures, hang animal shape pocketed storage and large fabric bags on the wall to hold small objects and soft toys.
Sleeping arrangements
Bunk beds These are a good sleeping arrangement even for a single child, as they provide space for a friend to stay and for extra daytime seating (see Bunk Beds For Children).
Stacking beds One of the beds has folding legs and slides away unseen beneath the other. They are another useful alternative for an occasional guest.
Platform beds These provide space for storage below and can be placed against a wall or used as an island. The supports for the bed take up a minimum of floor space and so the system is ideal for small rooms.
Stacking beds One of the beds has folding legs and slides away unseen beneath the other. They are another useful alternative for an occasional guest.
Platform beds These provide space for storage below and can be placed against a wall or used as an island. The supports for the bed take up a minimum of floor space and so the system is ideal for small rooms.
A simple method of making a platform bed is to use those redundant kitchen units again, and a timber frame bed with the legs removed. You will need to secure a 100mm (4in) batten the length of te bed firmly to the wall at bed height.
Then line the units up in front of this and far enough away from the wall to form the front edge. You can add a short ladder at the back for climbing into bed. If the units are not the right width you can fix a rail to fill the space which you can use for clothes hanging. Then fix the bed base firmly to the batten at the back and the unit work surface at the front.
For a smal child add a surrounding rail to the bed but make sure that the height of the rail does not allow a child to slide, then get stuck, underneath it.
You could adapt the instructions for the bunk bed (see Bunk Beds For Children) to make a platform bed with cupboards beneath.
Space below a bed can also be used for shallow storage boxes on castors.
Scaffolding can be used to build an exciting work area plus bed platform.
Extras
To avoid walls being covered with original artworks it is a good idea to supply drawing space. You can make a large pad from scrap paper attached with giant clips to a thin rod or garden cane then hung from the wall. Paint a section of wall with blackboard paint to form a special scribbling spot.
Alternatively, street and countryside scenes would provide a background for the use of vehicles and farmyard animals.
If wall space is at a premium make a simple easel-style drawing board. Use two equal-sized sheets of 12mm (½in) thick medium density fibreboard. Attach battens to the back down each side, extending them at one end to form legs. Attach hinges to join the top sides and use two lengths of heavy duty tape to hold the board in its extended position.
One side could be painted with blackboard paint, the other used for drawing paper.
A hard floor is the most practical surface for many games. Boards can be covered with ply or chipboard sheets to provide some insulation and these can be painted with a series of designs for use with specific games.
Large floor cushions, tied together, can be used for daytime seating or an extra bed.
Teenager's rooms
Old children feel a need for independence and many want to entertain their friends in their own sitting room. A bed length bolster and cushions can turn a bed into a day-time sofa. Large floor cushions can provide extra seating for friends, then be stacked in a corner when out of use. You could make a low coffee table from a square of blockboard with empty paint tins screwed on in each corner for legs.
Bear in mind sound insulation when items are being positioned. This can, to some extent, be provided by shelf-stored items, a cork noticeboard and a fitted carpet. The position of speakers is also important.
SAFETY POINTS
Small children are best supplied with lighting that is out of reach but with easily accessible switches. A dimmer switch allows lighting to be lowered and still provide some night-time glow. Use special push-in covers on sockets throughout the house. Child-safe paint with a low lead content should be used for renovating furniture and lays.
Thanks for reading Children's Rooms. Please share...!
