Big ideas for small children's bedrooms

01/01/2023 ● Published by : Paul

Some kids live in big houses, with their own bedroom and play spaces. Some children share bedrooms with siblings, or live with different parents at different times. And sometimes, childrens’ bedrooms are just big enough for a bed and some clothes.

Everyone’s situation is different. But even the very smallest bedroom – say, with 70 square feet (6.5 square metres) of floor space – doesn’t need to limit fun! These are some of our big ideas for small bedrooms, with space-saving tips and decorative ideas that’ll turn a tiny room into a whole universe to explore...

Maximise floor space: think vertically!

Multi storey car parks, office towers, apartment complexes, shopping malls... One thing they all share in common is a huge usable area, in a footprint a fraction of the size. And that’s all thanks to building vertically.

Approach your child’s small bedroom in the same way – by moving as many elements upwards as possible.

Cabin beds

The biggest space-eater in any child’s bedroom is the bed itself. There’s no way around it, either – unless you opt for an inflatable one, or a zed bed. And they’re not exactly ideal for a great night’s sleep...

But a cabin bed? Now you’re talking! They pose two very obvious advantages over a normal bed:

1.A cabin bed is the absolute coolest and most fun thing a child can have. It’s a top bunk that you never have to share. You access it via a ladder. You are invincible when you’re at the top of it. It doubles as a castle watchtower, a treehouse, or the cabin of your spaceship. It is a universe of imagination. Oh – and it’s a bed.

2.The floor beneath is completely cleared for storage, homework, and play. Some children might not be able to access a cabin bed – but a bed with plenty of built-in storage could offer a similar amount of space-saving, while also being easy to get into.

Safe, plentiful storage

Wardrobes and drawers also take up a lot of floorspace, so make sure you’re using as much vertical space as possible. If you can, install fitted wardrobes that use the full height of the room (and also pose less risk of toppling over when used as a hide-and-seek location).

Shelving is also your friend in a small room. Walls offer another opportunity to build floorspace vertically, and can be used to hold anything from books and toys, to lighting and music speakers.

Stick to the essentials

Small bedrooms are easy to fill, so think about what’s really needed beyond the bed and clothes storage.

This will come down to your child’s interests and needs – but they will most likely need space to play over things like easels, rocking horses and other big, bulky items (we’ll cover ways of making a room creative and interactive in a little bit).

Try to keep it to the essentials. In a small bedroom, any furniture you choose is likely to be pressed against the walls in order to maximise the floorspace. Positioning is always going to depend on the room – but as a general rule, keep doorways clear, and avoid creating obvious climbing routes to window sills (same goes for shelving).

Small space, big fun: design the space around a theme

A themed bedroom makes a small space big on imagination. It can make a small, dingy room seem like a whole new world – a blank canvas for imaginative play, and an opportunity for a better relationship with their personal space, and their sleeping environment. Bedroom themes are kind of our thing... So we know a thing or two about what makes a brilliant themed bedroom.

Read more – Let’s make a space theme bedroom!

Creating a space with a theme in mind also lets your child’s personality shine outwards into your home. It gives them a place in the family, and a sense of self. We’ve covered the importance of this before – but we really can’t overstate how powerful it is to a young, growing mind.

Make it interactive

So, we said we’d cover ways of making a room creative and interactive – and here we are! Instead of adding a desk or easel for drawing and creating, you could use kid’s bedroom wall stickers – and let them regale and remix their stories, all over their bedroom.

Or, take it even further by creating a chalkboard wall:

It doesn’t have to be a forest style chalkboard wall; use your imagination (or better, your child’s imagination) to create any shape or style you want.

Managing light in a small room

To overcome the small feeling of a bedroom, people tend to choose lighter paint colours – but don’t be afraid of the dark!

Using darker paint strategically can actually make a space seem bigger. For example, having one very dark wall (especially at the end of a long room) can make it appear as if the space goes further than it does.

You can also try painting the ceiling a light colour, and then using the same colour a quarter of the way down the walls. The rest of the wall can be painted a darker colour, to create an illusion of higher ceilings and an airier space.

Add a link to “Painting a wall with masking tape: tips, design ideas, and more!” when live. Small rooms usually have small windows, and light can be scarce – even on a sunny day.

But your lighting sources don’t have to be relegated to the ceiling and desk lamps. Instead, try draping fairy lights over shelves, or even around the window, to cut through the gloom. Safety; are loft rooms okay for small children?

If your family is growing, and you’ve been wondering where you’re going to fit everyone, a loft conversion has probably crossed your mind. But is it okay to put a young child way up in a loft room?

Well, it all depends on the child. You know your kids best – and if it feels right, then it is. If they’re a night time waker, or need additional supervision, then maybe a steep set of stairs or a hideaway far from prying eyes isn’t the best option.

If you’ve already decided that this is the way forward for you and your family, then check out this post – Making Your Loft Conversion Safe For Children – which covers everything you’ll need to consider.