children's bedrooms

Combining form
and function

Do you remember your childhood room? It was your own little haven where you could sleep, read, play, daydream—and, when you got older, enjoy some precious privacy.

At the very least, children need a room that provides a comforting environment for sleeping and relaxing and a closet for storing clothing. If you don't have a playroom, family room or finished basement, your child will most likely also use their room for playing, socializing and studying and will need ample storage space for books, papers, toys, games and the numerous objects kids manage to collect. That's a lot of function to fit into what are often some of the smallest rooms in your house.

Add to this the fact that children grow and change so quickly. Some parents are comfortable redoing a child's room every few years. If you would prefer not to, you'll need to consider your child's needs both for now and for the future.

A charming nursery is the dream for many expectant parents. The truth is, though, babies aren't picky about room decor! Feel free to choose a decorating scheme that makes you happy; after all, you'll be spending almost as much time in the room as your baby. Try not to give in to themed murals or wallpaper unless you're okay with changing the paint or paper as soon as your baby is old enough to tell you she prefers ballerinas over teddy bears.

Babies soon become curious toddlers, so make safety a priority. Install wall and ceiling lighting fixtures instead of using lamps that can be knocked over. Since some young children will quite readily climb up shelves or drawers, use built-in units in lieu of dressers or shelves on brackets. For more tips on safety and childproofing a baby's room, as well as your entire house, contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) or the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (www.jpma.org).

Even when the destructive toddler phase is over, children still need rooms that can hold up to typical children's activities. After all, no child wants to live in a room that feels like a museum. Use floor coverings that can be cleaned easily and replaced inexpensively, if need be, such as a laminate or resilient flooring. Carpeting or area rugs are good choices, since children spend a lot of time sitting or playing on the floor. Look for carpets treated for stain resistance, such as DuPont Stainmaster.

Walls will also need to stand up to smudges and fingerprints. Avoid paints with a flat finish in favor of gloss or semi-gloss versions that can hold up to washing, or try scrubbable wallpaper that can be vigorously cleaned.

While most children's rooms have straight, boxy walls, building in some nooks and niches will help zone the room by creating little areas for different activities. They're especially helpful at defining territory when two or more children have to share a room.

Older children and teens spend even more time in their rooms than younger kids. If you don't have space for a typical desk, you can have a built-in desk or table custom-made to fit into an awkward space or corner. Will your child have a computer, TV and/or audio equipment in their room? Include enough grounded outlets to protect the components from power surges, and expand your high-speed wiring to your kids’ rooms (see page 110).