A children's room is not just a separate room for a child. This is a whole world where the little owner spends quite a lot of time. In his room, a child should be interested in playing, relax comfortably and gain strength for new achievements and discoveries. Therefore, the interior design of a children's room is a task that must be approached creatively and with due responsibility.
Furniture for baby
When looking for furniture to decorate a children's room, many people, especially young parents, cannot decide for a long time what to choose, since the variety of furniture offered today is truly very huge. But in fact, it’s difficult to even decide what basic items you need to buy, because you like and want a lot. Well, if there are financial restrictions in the family, then it can be completely difficult, since you need to invest a minimum amount to purchase a maximum of useful and necessary items for the children's room.
Be that as it may, in every child’s room you need to provide 4 zones: for sleeping, studying, storing things, for relaxing and playing.
Also required are 4 types of furniture that are essential: a bed, a closet, a table and a corner for physical activities. What are the characteristics of each of these types? Read on.
Ceiling decoration in a children's room
Naturally, the ceiling in the nursery must also meet environmental and safety requirements. Whitewashing and painting with water-based emulsion are recognized as the leaders in safety, but what to do if you don’t want to be limited to such boring interior solutions?
You can use suspended ceilings - but only those in which the absence of phenol is documented. Use material with photo printing - for example, a blue sky with clouds, and you will see how such a finish has a calming effect on the baby.
If the height of the room allows, then you can create a multi-level plasterboard ceiling. It is also good to use for zoning space - for example, with the help of different levels you can easily distinguish between areas for sleeping and playing.
Attic ceiling in a children's play room
The ceiling in the nursery is always light, and the elegance of its shape can be emphasized with the help of LED strip lighting.
Nuances of lighting devices
Electrical safety and correct lighting in the nursery are some of the key points. Open wiring is a taboo for a child's room, and therefore suspended ceilings. allowing you to hide all communications are considered an absolute find here.
There are a few more rules:
- all sockets must have child protection, preferably built-in and not removable;
- absolutely all lamps must have shades - even a night light, thanks to which the child will be protected from direct contact with the lamp;
- The switches should be placed at a height of 110 cm from the floor - so even a three-year-old child can turn the light on and off himself.
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Choosing a children's bed
This is a very important question, because for every child it is very important to have a comfortable sleeping place where the baby can replenish his own reserves of strength and energy, which requires good, healthy sleep. You've probably already looked through our photos of children's beds and noticed that they come in a wide variety: cradles for newborns, bunk beds, transformers, etc. If you have one child and the room is not too large, you can install a loft bed. Thanks to it, you will have additional space in which you can organize one of the important and necessary zones. Regardless of the type and type of bed you choose, it is also important to put the right mattress in it. And you will also need to devote time to choosing it.
It is important for the child’s body that the mattress has orthopedic effects. This is necessary for the correct formation of posture. The quality of the baby's sleep also depends on this factor.
The materials from which the mattress is made must be exclusively natural. This will ensure not only hypoallergenicity, but also free air circulation inside the product. This, in turn, will provide the child with comfort at any time of the year.
In addition, when choosing a children's mattress, pay attention to its upholstery fabric, which should have the following qualities:
- Easy to remove and wash
- Naturalness
- Pleasant to the touch
- Does not accumulate dust and static
- Hypoallergenic
When you wash the cover of a children's mattress, carefully look in advance at what the temperature should be and strictly observe it. After all, the fabric tends to “shrink”, making it difficult to fit onto the mattress later.
Do-it-yourself wall repair in a nursery - cladding
Before you start finishing the walls, do not forget to level them by resorting to painting. To do this you will need plaster or putty. Before applying the plaster, you need to coat the wall with a primer, which can be easily applied with a roller. Divide the wall into sections and begin leveling the wall using beacons.
To prepare the primer, you need to take a clean container, pour water into it and add the dry mixture in the correct proportions. The solution should be mixed well with a drill and stirrer, leave the consistency for 5 minutes and then mix again. The solution is prepared at the rate of half an hour, since after this time it will begin to harden and set.
Then the plaster is prepared and applied. If you are going to use putty to level the walls, do some priming work before doing this as well. As soon as the putty has dried, the wall needs to be sanded with sandpaper.
Not all facing materials can be used to repair a nursery for a girl or boy. The cladding itself provides several options. The most common among them is wallpapering, which can be vinyl, paper, etc. Paper wallpapers are especially safe. But be that as it may, if you decide to opt for vinyl wallpaper, be sure to ask the seller for a certificate that would confirm their quality.
Liquid wallpaper would be an excellent option, but this method is more expensive. In this regard, you can choose a lot of original and surprising options. The choice of coating color should be taken especially seriously so that it complements the interior of the room and blends harmoniously with the furniture. If you decide to paint the walls, then experts recommend using water-based paint.
If the child decides to make a drawing, it can be painted over or washed. The safest option for decorating walls would be wallpaper made from plant material or eco-friendly wallpaper. In the production of plant material, straw, bamboo, seaweed, reed, and jute fibers on a paper base are used.
Such weaves create an effective pattern. You can buy wallpaper made from valuable species - zebrawood, cherry, sandalwood, cork. This option will cost much more, but will have a positive effect on the health of your baby.
Repairing walls in a children's room with your own hands: choosing materials
Most often, wallpaper is used for walls in a nursery. However, understanding their assortment can be extremely difficult, especially for the uninitiated, since it is worth paying attention not only to the base material, but also to the coating.
The best choice for a children's room will be paper wallpaper, there are several reasons for this:
- absolute safety and environmental friendliness;
- variability and aesthetics - many designer collections are based on paper;
- low cost - when the child grows up or shows his artistic talent on the walls, you can easily replace the finish without spending a lot of money.
Non-woven wallpaper, which is very popular nowadays, is not the most suitable option - although they are safe, they are not as environmentally friendly compared to paper. Moreover, they involve dyeing, and choosing a dye is also difficult.
Advice! Polymer or oil wallpapers are not used in children's rooms, as they are toxic. The best choice would be water-based paint - it dries quickly and is considered environmentally friendly, which means the repair will be completed much faster. Acrylic dye is also perfect - it has virtually no odor and forms a durable film that can later be cleaned and washed.
Vinyl wallpaper is not suitable for a child's room, as it does not allow air to pass through, preventing the walls from “breathing.”
Paper-based photo wallpapers can be used, but it is better to give preference to materials with safe dyes and high print quality. They will not lose their original appearance when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
The theme for decorating the walls itself is selected in strict accordance with the age of the child - if he is still very young, then you can opt for neutral motifs, and if he is over ten years old, then he can choose his own covering together with you.
Don’t forget that both the wallpaper and the glue used for its installation should be environmentally friendly. Therefore, the most logical option is to use an organic adhesive, since silicate glue can lead to yellowing of the paper, and synthetic ones often contain acetone, phenol and other unsafe solvents.
For cladding a children's room, you can use wooden panels rather than plastic ones. Plastic disrupts the microclimate of the children's room, so you should stop using it. Wood can add a special flavor to a room if it is used to properly zoning it.
Do-it-yourself renovation and decoration of a children's room
Decorating a room with your own hands means showing your imagination, creating a truly functional and beautiful room. Do not forget that the baby is constantly growing and developing, and at the same time his interests change.
For this reason, when decorating a nursery, you need to give preference to universal colors for the main elements: ceiling, floor, walls. To set the mood of the room, you can decorate it yourself or together with your child. These can be pillows, curtains, furniture, paintings, carpets, baskets of various colors. As the child grows, the decorations can be changed without resorting to serious and costly repairs.
Creating the interior of a children's room with your own hands requires a lot of effort, but if you take into account the basic design recommendations, the result will delight your child for many years.
Security questions
Each of the materials used for the children's room must be safe and environmentally friendly. It is worth completely hiding sockets and electrical wiring. It would be good if the lamps are resistant to falls and impacts (closed type lamps are perfect).
Windows must have a securely fastened mesh, an additional locking mechanism, and tight handles. We recommend that you pay attention to the fact that the furniture should under no circumstances have sharp or protruding elements. As an alternative, special sharp edge protection can be used. Make sure that the door does not close from the inside.
Choosing a children's table
This item will be needed from preschool age. After all, after the baby has already learned to sit, he can be seated at the table to eat or play. In addition, modern production involves many different risks, making such furniture the safest and most comfortable for the baby.
When a child is of preschool age, he also cannot do without a table. After all, on it the child will be able to do the same drawing, modeling from plasticine, etc. creativity. This method has two main advantages. One of them is the ability to avoid painted walls. Another thing is that the child is gradually disciplined until the school period begins.
The need to zone a common room with children's furniture
The baby’s consciousness cannot fully regulate the psychophysical state; this is largely facilitated by a change of environment. Even if the family lives in a one-room apartment, the child must have a separate area. It may consist of only two pieces of furniture, but with skillful arrangement it will help create a feeling of personal space.
It is mandatory for a schoolchild to have a personal desk
Designer children's furniture allows you to select elements that match the basic style of the room. Wall cabinets, arrangement of furniture in several tiers, and linen drawers built into the designs of sofas and beds provide significant space savings.
It is mandatory for a schoolchild to have a personal desk. Working at a table for other purposes (at a dining table, a coffee table, etc.) will necessarily involve suppressing the sense of temporality and the need to adapt to certain conditions.
Even if the family lives in a one-room apartment, a separate area must be equipped for the child
A corner table for a children's room will be the most acceptable option. This model is suitable even for a room where a small part of the area is allocated to the child. The working surface of such tables is significantly increased due to the corner part, allowing you to freely place a large number of objects.
Selection and photos of children's wardrobes
Items such as diapers, baby vests, rompers, etc. are more convenient to put in a chest of drawers. As for older children, not only things, but also toys can be stored in the storage area. Today, many manufacturers of furniture for children's rooms consider the issue of practicality and functionality. Therefore, for example, you can buy a chest of drawers with a changing table.
As for a child’s closet, it must be selected taking into account his height, otherwise it will be very inconvenient for him to reach out every time to get the necessary thing. The closet must contain shelves and hangers. There may also be drawers, which is very convenient, but such products will cost more. It is best to store toys in one of the lower compartments of the closet.
If toys are hidden at the bottom of the cabinet, the baby will be able to hide them on his own, which may help the child become more independent and ambitious.
Common cabinet models are:
- Classic straight shape. It should not be too large, so in addition it will need a chest of drawers, a bedside table or a shelving unit.
- A fairly spacious wardrobe that will last for a very long time. If the doors of such a cabinet are made mirrored, the room will visually have more free space. You can also make the doors to order, with any photo or drawing applied.
- A corner version of the cabinet, which is quite convenient to install in a small room. After all, using it you can save a lot of space.
Boy's room
It is important for a boy to have a spacious room so that he can easily splash out his energetic energy, move around and play active boyish games. The pieces of furniture in his room should have qualities such as functionality and practicality.
If your child plays sports, let the room say so. A decorative element can be a punching bag, various diplomas testifying to his achievements in sports, posters with portraits of famous athletes. Organize a corner for the future champion where his training will take place.
If a boy loves cars, it would be a great idea to buy a car bed that is so popular now, place car-related accessories in the room, models of his favorite cars - anything that will help him express his individuality. You can add posters on the wall and bright curtains with pictures of cars.
For a young traveler or pirate who loves adventures and films about treasure hunting, a marine theme is suitable. Ships, boats, pirate flags, steering wheels and maps will simply delight you! And instead of an ordinary toy box, you can make an antique chest.
How to choose children's furniture for a sports corner?
Sport is very important for adults, and especially for children. In addition, children cannot always splash out their energy on the street, since the weather is not always, say, “flying” and warm. This is precisely the reason for the need to install a children's sports corner for your baby. If he is still of preschool age, you can buy and install a ladder with a horizontal bar, a small swing, or maybe a climbing wall up to one meter high.
If your boy is already older, then you need to choose a more serious sports complex. In addition, in a girl’s room such a corner would not be superfluous at all, because an active lifestyle has never harmed anyone, and it is also a great way to teach a child to take care of herself from childhood, in addition to leading a healthy lifestyle.
Transformable children's furniture
Such furniture options are especially relevant, especially for small apartments. With its help, space can be organized very comfortably and rationally. Usually, such furniture options are very easy to transform and even your baby will be able to quickly learn its modifications, and later he will learn to fold or unfold it himself.
Very often, such beds are made with the expectation of different ages of the child. For example, such furniture for a newborn can be provided with a cradle installed directly inside the crib. When the child gets a little older, the bed will be used as a playpen. And thanks to the sidewall, which is lowered, the sleeping place can be used until the child goes to school.
General recommendations for arranging furniture
The most convenient arrangement of furniture is along the walls. In this way, you can successfully organize each area of the room, allocating more space for the child to move freely around the room. After all, children need space for active play.
There are a number of rules that will help a person drawing up a design project for a children’s room to make the most of every meter of space:
- It is recommended to install a work desk, chest of drawers, small toy cabinets and other furniture under the window opening;
- It is better to place wardrobes close to the wall, in close proximity to or opposite the bed;
- For books, it is better to use hanging structures of shelves or open cabinets and install them at a height corresponding to the height of the child.
By properly organizing the space, even a small room can accommodate all the necessary furniture.
If you have a balcony, you can use it to expand the area of the children's room. The room will have to be insulated, the level can be raised using a podium, and an arch can be made instead of a balcony door. On the balcony it is good to organize a play area (if the child is of preschool age) or a work area (for schoolchildren). The pantry can be used as a closet for things, then there will be more free space in the room. Children's room design photo with redevelopment by opening the balcony can be seen below.
For newborn babies
In this case, the use of black and white colors, as well as other too dark colors, is not recommended. Furniture should be chosen in soft pastel shades. The use of bright accents is recommended. You can make them yourself by decorating the crib with bright stickers.
The issue of furniture reliability is very important, thanks to which you can be calm that the baby will not be damaged, for example, on the same sharp corners. Such a crib must have the option of adjusting the height of the berth.
For newborn children, it is strictly not recommended to choose furniture that has been exposed to paint coatings! After all, when his teeth begin to erupt, he will begin to pull everything he can get into his mouth. And, of course, if he chews the varnish, it can be disastrous for his health! The best option is a crib with sides covered with silicone pads.
In the room where the newborn sleeps, it is appropriate to place a rocking chair. Yes, this is for mom! After all, sometimes there are difficult days, or the child may not fall asleep for a long time, which will require a long time to lull him to sleep, and all the time, standing on his feet, this is very difficult.
Furniture for preschoolers
At this age, children are the most curious. They become more independent and uncontrollably interested in everything, which is why they climb wherever possible.
It is important to be sure that the furniture is securely installed, especially if it has drawers.
It is also extremely undesirable to have sharp corners, as well as glass and mirror surfaces.
Furniture for schoolchildren
For this age, it is extremely important to design the work area, which should in no way distract the child from his activities. At the same time, it should be interesting so that the child still has the desire to sit down and do his homework.
At this age, there is also still a risk of injury, which is why the choice of furniture should include the same precautions as for preschoolers.
Considering that schoolchildren, as a rule, already have certain hobbies and interests, furniture can be selected in accordance with them.
Furniture for a teenager
It is very important to take into account the child’s taste. If he doesn’t like the design of the room, he will feel completely uncomfortable here. Because of this, he may spend a minimum of time not only in his room, but even at home. Even if you are not at all satisfied with his taste and preference, find a compromise solution.
Furniture for teenagers is already more reminiscent of “adult options”. However, it fits his small stature.
For almost every teenager, how they look is very important. Therefore, it is worth installing a closet with mirrors on the door or doors. And if you have a girl, then you can even set up a real girl’s boudoir table! It would be very original and stylish to decorate a teenager’s room with a hanging chair option.
Gender of the child and choice of furniture
Furniture for girls
Any girl will be a woman in the future. And all women, starting from a very young age, need a large and spacious closet. After all, there can be a lot of outfits and they all need to fit somewhere. It is also very important to have a full-length mirror.
The most popular colors for interior decoration for girls are: pink and yellow, lilac, white or beige. You can use not too intrusive floral design motifs. If we talk about choosing a style, the most interesting options will be: classic, Provence, Mediterranean style, Shabby chic.
Boy's furniture
It is very important to design a corner for sports here. You can use colors such as green, blue, terracotta. The theme can be sports, computer, racing, space, nautical. Loft, Hi-Tech or the same classic style is most suitable.
Two same-sex children
They may have combined functional areas. So, for example, install a bunk bed, divide the closet into 2 equal parts, and make the play area common.
Two children of different sexes
Each of them should have at least a little of their own space. So, it is better to make beds and wardrobes separate, and the area for games and homework can be combined.
Nursery design and planning
The nursery should be well lit
When planning a nursery, start by choosing a room based on size and natural light. Give preference to the west and south sides.
Note! If possible, the child’s separate room should not be less than 6-8 m². It is advisable that it be located away from the kitchen and living room, especially if your child is very small.
Lighting
The light in the room should be predominantly overhead and spotlighted; provide night lighting as well.
You also need to plan desk lighting for your desk and additional lighting for important interior elements, pictures and the play area. In this case, the illumination should take into account the age-related load on the baby’s vision.
By changing the brightness of the light reflected from all surfaces, you can adjust the volume of the room. For example, diffused or reflected light visually expands the space.
When working on interior design, keep in mind that the colors of facing materials for a children's room should have light, moderately bright tones. In this case, coatings must be non-flammable and have a high degree of environmental safety.
Floor and wall finishing
By choosing parquet or laminate as the flooring in your child’s room, you will solve the problem of ease of cleaning. Carpets should not be spread over the entire floor of a renovated children's room; place it only in the play area or near the bed.
It is better to cover the walls with wallpaper. Currently, a wide range of special wallpapers for children with images of animals and cartoon characters are sold on the construction market.
Wallpaper stickers, price - from 299 rub.
Wallpaper can be pasted in two rows; from the floor to ⅓ of the height of the walls, the wallpaper should have one pattern, and above that, another. To smooth the transition between them, use a border that matches the color.
The walls can also be painted. Such nursery renovation options are good because the painted walls can be used as a canvas for depicting fairy-tale characters.
If you choose this option, use an acrylate or alkyd compound. It is water-based and has almost no odor when working, and when it dries, it loses it altogether. In addition, this paint is not afraid of household detergents.
The ceiling can be turned into a starry sky; wallpaper with stars or special stickers are suitable for this.
If your children are very young, the floor must be covered with good linoleum or laminate. Such floor coverings are absolutely not afraid of wet cleaning. If you are thinking about linoleum, purchase insulated material.
If the children are older, use natural carpeting. When choosing it, pay attention to the length of the pile. It will be better if you choose medium-pile or short-pile carpet. Otherwise, a lot of dust will collect in the coating.
It is advisable to equip the children's room with sports complexes for the physical development of the baby. If you are renovating a nursery with your own hands, you can make a simple Swedish ladder, a rope and gymnastic rings next to it.
Note! When choosing a color scheme for a room, rely not only on generally accepted norms, but also on the unique character and personality of your child. Remember that color preferences change depending on age.
At a young age, children really like bright colors: red, purple, yellow. Gradually, the child prefers less bright colors - orange, blue, green. In addition, when selecting color options, one cannot help but take into account such aspects as the orientation and lighting of the room, the color of furniture, as well as the general color background of the apartment.
General recommendations: all surfaces - ceiling, walls and floor should have the lightest tone, and buy darker furniture.
