Comfort, practicality and safety are the key to planning a calm and stress free environment for a child.
Babies need little in the way of furniture so opt for the basics . a cot, clothes storage, somewhere to change nappies and a chair for feeding. The cot is the most important buy. Choose from simple white painted ones, more colourful painted models for a traditional wooden cot. A good investment buy is a .cot bed. which will grow with your child until they are four or five. The bed continues to be a focal point of a child.s room as they grow up. Bunk beds are a great solution for siblings who share a room. A divan with a spare bed underneath is perfect for sleepovers. Differentiate between boys and girls beds by choosing from the large selection of attractive children.s bedlinen available.
Storage in children.s rooms should be as flexible as possible to cater for their changing needs. Shelving systems or cupboards with adjustable shelves are a good option for storing toys and will also be handy later on for books and games. Fill open shelves with similar containers eg wicker baskets or plastic boxes - they will look smart and practical and categorise toys into different sections. Limit freestanding furniture as it will obstruct the flow of space in the room and what there is should be fixed to the wall so small children won.t be able to pull it down on top of them. Also place furniture away from windows so children won.t be able to climb up and fall out.
Children love colour so go for bright and fun colourschemes. Steer clear of classic baby decoration and twee schemes in pink and pale blue. Fresh, contemporary colours are the best eg primaries or pastels, mixed with plenty of white. Extra colour and pattern will be added with soft toys and clothes.
Opt for simple curtains or blinds with a black out lining to cut out light for daytime naps, and install a dimmer switch for control of artificial light in the room at night. Carpet is the softest flooring option, though a colourful and washable rug over wooden floorboards can provide a jolly focal point.
If there is space try and integrate a play area into the room by adding some scaled down furniture, beanbags or floor cushions. A large wicker basket is ideal for stashing toys out of sight at bedtime.
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