Decorate a child's room for any age – here’s how to succeed
A children's room is a true multi-purpose space where sleeping, playing, resting, and studying all take place. Often, a child grows up in the same room from a toddler to an independent schoolkid. But how will the child's room grow with the child? Interior designer Anu Rekola shares her best tips.
Anu Rekola, a mother of four living in Nurmijärvi, recently graduated from the Interior Design School Harmonia. She has plenty of tips on how to design a functional children's room for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children.
"The most important thing in a child's room is, of course, that the child enjoys being there. But functionality and space utilization come in as a close second, no matter the child's age," Anu says. "What this means varies by age: preschoolers need plenty of floor space for playing, while teenagers need space for schoolwork," she summarizes.
With the following clever tips, you can customize the children's room in a rental apartment to serve different ages. The key lesson is that updating the room doesn't have to be a massive effort that costs a fortune.
Small changes have a big impact. And when you do it together, it turns out great!
Storage solutions that suit both toddlers and schoolkids
Anu highlights a versatile storage solution as the most important purchase for a child's room, one that can be easily modified to suit different ages. Drawers can hide the toddler's toys and Legos, while open shelves provide a home for the schoochild's important books.
Storage solutions should also have height, especially in small rooms, where building storage upwards makes the most of all surfaces.
Extra baskets are also a beautiful solution for managing toy mountains. When the child grows and the number of toys decreases, it's easy to find new uses for the baskets. Could the no-longer-needed toy basket find new life as a teenager's laundry basket? Or perhaps as an organizer for the closet chaos?
"The best storage solution is versatile and timeless, accompanying the child from toddlerhood until it's time to move into their own home," Anu sums up.
Utilize wall space
Walls often provide a venue for displaying children's changing art exhibitions, but they can be utilized for other purposes as well.
"For example, cabinets installed above the bed or desk are excellent, especially in small spaces, as they free up floor space for playing," Anu advises.
A table or floor lamp can also be replaced with a wall lamp, which not only creates a nice atmosphere but also frees up table and floor space for better use.
As the child grows, it's a good idea to add a wall hook to the room: it helps keep clothes off the floor and backpacks out of the way.
Make the schoolkid's workspace inviting
Starting school is a memorable moment in a child's life. Backpack on, a tight grip on a parent's hand, and the journey towards new beginnings can start! To ensure the new phase gets the best possible start, it's worth creating an inviting and inspiring workspace at home for the child. A good-sized desk is, of course, the foundation of everything, but it's also good to bring in things the child likes.
"For example, a bulletin board where the child can hang their own stuff works well!" says Anu. The bulletin board can feature a schedule, notes, favorite character pictures, or something else fun and beautiful.
At this point, it's worth handing over the reins to the child and letting their imagination run wild. "When the workspace environment is pleasant, it invites the child to do their schoolwork."
Interested in a light renovation? Check out the instructions for customizing your SATOhome here ›
Harmony with colours and wood
"There absolutely should be colour in children's rooms! But it's best to avoid bright primary colours. Otherwise, it might start to feel like a daycare," Anu advises as she browses a colour chart at the K-Rauta store in Vantaanportti.
Instead, Anu favors muted shades. They make the space calming and are more timeless than bright colours. "It's worth trying different intensities of the same colour. That way, the room stays colourful but peaceful," Anu advises.
"SATO's interior colours are amazing! By choosing from them, it's easy to achieve a good overall look," she tips. "The colours come with great instructions on which shades to use only as accent colours and which can be used to paint the entire room."
Before painting, it's always worth checking with the landlord about their stance on painting the walls and using colours. For example, at SATO, the goal is for every resident to feel at home, which is why personalizing your space with your choice of colours is encouraged.
If colours are used in curtains, bed linens, and other textiles, they are easy and relatively affordable to change as the child grows and favorite colours change.
Wood is also a scientifically proven calming element. By scattering it throughout the room creates harmony and ensures a cohesive look.
"But a child's room doesn't have to look like something from a design magazine," Anu emphasizes.
"The most important thing is to use the colours your child likes, creating a space where they enjoy spending time."
Interior designer's DIY tip
The most valuable LEGOs and other important children's collections can be safely displayed by placing them in a wall-mounted cabinet or display case with glass doors. Adding spotlighting to the cabinet creates a luxurious atmosphere worthy of the cherished collectibles.
For example, IKEA offers nice furniture suited to Scandinavian tastes:
We collaborated on this article with the Interior Design School Harmonia. Interior design training programs are regularly organized at the school. Read more and apply ›