Twenty seven great ideas for kid's rooms

A child's bedroom is about far more than a place for them to sleep. It's a place to read, play, grow and dream. Start with the basics, then allow for plenty of changes as their personality and own sense of style develops.

Babies
A bedroom for a newborn needs to be calm and relaxing for both of you.

• Soft neutrals that can be updated as your baby grows area great place to start.
• Blackout blinds or curtains are a good way to establish a good sleep routine early on.
• A dimmer switch is good for nigh-time feeds, it can also act as a night light during the toddler years.
• Pretty bunting brings instant colour to an otherwise neutral space.
• Hang a mobile above a change table to interest and distract your little one during nappy changes. A change table is useful, but a chest of drawers with a pad­ded change mat works just as well and provides more storage.

Early years
Your child's personality will be beginning to show by now. Their bedroom is a great place to reflect this. It's easy to go overboard with favourite cartoon characters, but these can go out of favour just as quickly.

• Try the less is more approach with a poster of a favourite character, rather than a matching duvet and curtain set.
• Getting a storage system sussed early on will make tidy­ up time so much easier.
• Boxes labelled with photos will make it very clear where your little one needs to put the blocks, dinosaurs or toy cars.
• Create a snug spot for quiet times. A pop up tent with cushions and a rug is perfect.

Middle years
By this stage, kids will have a much clearer idea of what they want in their bedrooms. Let them have as much input as is appropriate into colour and style.

• They'll need a bedside lamp and a bookshelf to encourage a love of reading.
• Think of creative ways to indulge their collections. Lego mini figures look great in old printer's trays and soft toys can be stored in a hanging hammock, or pinned on the wall in a colourful montage.
• Encourage them to begin to be responsible for their own activities by hanging a calendar in their room and a 'what to pack' chart for each day of the week.
• Kids love having sleepovers at this age. If you need to buy a new bed, consider one with a trundle so that friends can be easily accommodated.
• Fairy lights aren't just for Christmas, they look gorgeous in a child's bedroom.

On the board

• Blackboard paint is perfect for childrens' bedrooms - no matter their age. Resene has a great range.
• Toddlers can indulge their intrinsic love of drawing on walls, then it becomes a great place for art, reminders and messages as they get older.
• Try painting a whole wall, or just a wardrobe door. A section of wall surrounded by a funky old frame looks particularly good.

Teenagers
By the teenage years, the bedroom needs to double as a study space, too.

• Good lighting, and a sturdy desk and chair are essential.
• They can do their own laundry now - remind them by installing a hamper in their room!
• You may have to bid your own design aesthetic goodbye in terms of the posters they want to display on their walls. But as always, you get to set some boundaries - nothing that would make grandma blush! A large inboard works well if you don't want too many holes in the wall.

Storage
You thought your new baby needed a lot of gear; the amount of stuff they need only increases as they get older! The earlier you start systems the better.

• If you have the space in your entranceway, include a shelf or baskets for each child where bags, footwear and coats can be stored.
• Like you would in an office, have an in and out tray to keep abreast of school letters and notices. A inboard in the kids' room is also great for this.
• Don't forget about that space under the bed for storage.
• Remember everything doesn't have to be on display all the time. Store some toys in the garage for a while, then pull them out and they will think it's something new!

Shared spaces
Bunks are the most obvious choice when you have more than one child to a room. Co-ordinating, not identical, sheets and duvets give a sense of individuality.

Arts and crafts
Having their art on display makes kids feel special and is a great way to personalise their room.

• Stretch string or wire across the room (like they do in class­-rooms) and you can easily change the display.
• Set up an art corner with pens, pencils, paint and glitter stored in a lazy susan, or glass jars, so everyone can see what is available.
• A child-sized table and chairs set is a bonus for the living area, but it works really well in children's rooms, too. A space of their own to do projects is great for even young children.
• Worried about the mess? A large sheet or tarpaulin will catch any drips.

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