When it comes to the little humans there is no right way of doing things. What works for some, might not for others. The trick is to create a space that evolves, adapts and involves. Creating safe, fun and evolving decor for the lil ones' room is probably one of the toughest design challenges faced by parents and designers alike. After all, you ain’t the boss of this space, your child is, and getting the brief right is easier said than done.

 

From custodians in charge of filtering information to understanding what they really want and also deciding on what they need, the job at hand could seem daunting, but fear not. We handhold you through this fine balancing act. There is no right or wrong way of approaching the task, but there are key elements that will guide you along the way. Think of it as the anti-rule book, where you interpret your child's wants in tandem with the unique requirements. So, let’s get started.

Create a fun haven...a room that focuses on playtime and igniting their curiosity and imagination. Play time is not only when children enjoy but also learn and cultivate their own unique personality.

 

 

Selecting a scheme can be a lot of fun since spaces for little ones allow for more creative freedom. Whether your child is playful and energetic, calm and sweet or a mix of the two, explore their personalities to discover the right colour scheme for their rooms.

 

FURNITURE

“Don’t over design and over do a specific theme. Keep things fun with a few main elements like a blackboard or bright green tree house that the child can enjoy over a span of time,” says Rohina Anand, Director of AA Living. Focus on a few pieces of furniture that can be immediately associated with fun activities. For example, a spaceship shaped bookshelf will stoke your child’s imagination and lend the perfect storyboard for play time. Fantastical shapes will help transform the space into his/ her very own imaginative playground.

DESIGN

Shabnam Gupta, Creative Head & Design Director of The Orange Lane shares some insight on creating a fun space: “Growing up, our surroundings are an influencing factor in moulding us into the people we become tomorrow. I believe in the notion 'surroundings make us', so creating corners and elements that are fun and educational, like a small library or wall art that acts as a canvas are important and keeps the child engaged as well.”

 

Photograph courtesy: Martyn Lawrence BullardKids room with blue wall

They're growing up and growing up fast! Keep up with your child’s ever-growing and ever-changing minds. Your child’s room should reflect and support their growing aspirations. Don’t fence them in with design that is stuck-up and limiting.

COLOUR

First off, let’s get this cliché that pink is for girls and blue is for boys out of the way, it’s so passé. “Sticking to these old-fashioned notions will limit your child’s and your imagination,” says Maithili Raut, Partner at reD Architects. The millennial colours are trending right now...it’s great to blur the boundaries between genders. Introduce pops of colour for a space that is bright, inviting and signals play. Muted colours like taupe, cream, light yellows, etc...provide a blank canvas that will let them fill these spaces organically (these tones are ideal for their study area). Tones like red, blue, bright yellow, will stoke your lil one’s creativity, but might get too jarring as he/ she grows. Avoid too many bright colours on bigger furniture pieces, stick to movable items (like storage boxes, standing shelves) that can be shuffled around the space.

FURNITURE

Modular furniture works well as it optimises space. As Krupa Zubin and Zubin Zainuddin of ZZ Architects explain, “It’s important to step back and understand the kind of openness children’s activities require. Don’t clutter the room with unwanted and large pieces of furniture. The more space, the better. It’s important to step into the little minds and provide them with space, colour and comfort through the right pieces of furniture. Their day is full of activities and it’s critical to understand and respect their preferences.”

 

The idea is to create a thoughtfully-designed environment where materials are organised, within reach of the child, and appropriate to their age with an eye on development. Photograph Courtesy: Clarke & ClarkeBed room with blue bedsheet

DESIGN

Shabnam Gupta advises, “Children are notorious for changing personal tastes from minute to minute. And, that’s good — it’s all part of the fun of growing up. However, when it comes to designing their rooms, constantly updating the decor to reflect those ever-changing tastes can be exhausting, not to mention expensive. It’s best to create a simple core that can be updated with wall colour and finishes as the child grows.” And lastly, a big no to overdoing a certain theme as children tend to grow out of themes.

The true test of success of your child’s room lies in its relevance — if they can play, study, laze, and do arts and crafts all in the same space, your space planning is successful. Make the bedroom work for your child in more ways than one.

 

COLOUR

Colour being such a sensory element is the most evocative design tool at your disposal. Its effective use is what differentiates a child's room from that of an adult. Tricks like colour blocking will help him/ her distinguish between fun and study areas. Stick to one primary colour and build the style around it. Let your child be involved in every aspect of the planning, especially the colour selection. A sense of belonging is a must. At the same time, refrain from pandering to every sporadic fancy that catches your child's attention.

 

Functional design is all about accommodating and facilitating the many needs of your child within the limited space available. Get creative and customise the space to the preferences of your child. Photograph courtesy: OttimoSeagreen bed room

FURNITURE

Storage is of pivotal importance here. It should be easily accessible, clutter free and clean with adequate space and storage to house their toys, gizmos, clothes and books. Bear in mind, open storage doesn't really work on account of its crowded and messy nature. Concealed is the best solution here. When it comes to furniture, Krupa Zubin and Zubin Zainuddin of ZZ Architects advise, "One needs to keep a programmatic and practical approach while selecting furniture for the children's room, it needs to have the perfect balance between function and aesthetics."

DESIGN

A well-designed and styled room makes all the difference — does your child like spending time in his/ her room? A bed with tons of storage options, fun toy organisers that teach the little one to take responsibility for their belongings, maybe a swing or a hammock that houses all those strewed-around toys when it's study or sleep time are design elements that make a functional space.

Provide an engaging atmosphere and ceate a design that interacts with your child/ children on a daily basis. This is the base camp of cultivating the future of your child and very importantly, keeping them entertained.

 

 

 

Red parachute

COLOUR

Not just a great way to add dimension and scale to the room, creative application with colour also works as a visual stimulator. Since the walls are the easiest to work with, opt for exciting murals or scenic wallpaper across an entire wall. Keep questioning your child on the number of birds they see, or how many colours there are. Colour is an important development tool and its contribution should never be underestimated.

 

FURNITURE

Without going overboard, the inclusion of fantastical-shaped pieces of furniture which are reflective of your little one's likes and passions, is a great way to further and nurture that drive. Customised activity-based furniture is great and will make for a great summertime project between you, your child and the carpenter! For example, a study table, for the budding artist, whose top can be flipped open to reveal an easel, or mini chalkboard tables where your child can scribble as they sit down for play time. Identify their passions and use that as the inspiration for furniture.

DESIGN

Avoid preconceived ideas of what you provide an think a child might like. A wall with a map and pegs for every place that the child might read about/ visit is way more interactive and educational than putting up a mural of a character from a brand that they like. L’Orange by Roheena Nagpal has an excellent, doodle wallpaper, where your child can draw, write, scribble, doodle on a daily basis and wipe it off as and when he/ she has a new thought.