Chris Jones
So your littlies are at that age where they really need a bedroom update or perhaps a space to call their own? Let your imagination run wild and turn their current room – or a spare room – into a kids’ wonderland.
Start with a house-shaped bed, new flooring that not only looks fab but is easy to install, and simple flat-pack furniture hacks.
Sweet dreams are made of this
Walls lined with acoustic pinboards provide soundproofing as well as a canvas kids can decorate with all kinds of press-on shapes. To make shapes, draw any design you love on thin MDF. Use a jigsaw to cut them out. Sand cut edges. Colour shapes with paint or cover them in fabric, secured at back with hot glue. Attach a series of heavy-duty velcro dots to the back so they’re easily pressed onto the pinboard panels.
Kids will be kids
Set up a space in their room that’s just for them. Include a comfy chair for reading, a low table for creative pursuits and plenty of clear area on the floor for play dates. If updating window furnishings, install a double layer for maximum control: a roller blind to block-out the sunlight for naps and a sheer to diffuse its intensity at other times.
Nighty-night, sleep tight!
A timber houseshaped bed is a magical way to create a cute and cosy sleeping nook for your child. Nestled in one corner of the room, decorate the roofline with flickering fairy lights and a bright pompom garland. You can mimic the geometric shapes of the bed in new flooring for a playful effect.
Add leaning shelves
Whether it’s a home for toys or books, leaning shelves boost the amount of storage in your youngster’s room. Keep it safe by anchoring tall furniture to the wall to prevent tipping.
Clothes storage
Containing kiddie clothes in a large wardrobe will make it easier to keep the room neat and tidy. Open-basket storage on top can be for less-used items. If you’re willing to tackle a little DIY, you can take a flat-pack three-door unit, as here, and give it a custom twist by painting it with subtle stripes that echo the colour palette of your makeover. To do this, pencil-mark the level lines, neatly apply masking tape then paint on a suitable primer. Once dry, paint your top-coat colours one at a time, using masking tape to define the individual stripes.
Get hooked!
Make use of wall space behind the door by attaching an assortment of wooden hooks – they’re ideal for planning the next day’s outfit or for displaying your child’s favourites.
Bad dreams begone
Attach LED lights to the underside of the bed so, when night falls, the bedroom is softly lit until your little one nods off. You’ll find suitable lighting options for this application at Bunnings or specialty lighting stores.
Add retro furniture
The charming shapes of retro-style furniture make it the perfect fit for a kid’s room – just look at this sweet little bedside table and those legs! Complete the scene with a glowing bunny reading lamp, colourful poster and basket storage. Now, shift your focus to the wall: grey acoustic pinboard panels can be easily attached to make a cute play zone at kid level.
Enchant your kids
Enchant your kids with a tree-shaped storage unit that’s easy to make. Screw together two corner shelf units (here, from Fantastic Furniture). Draw a large tree canopy shape on pegboard. Cut out the shape with a jigsaw. Mark and cut a slit in the base of the canopy shape so it slips over the top of the two shelving units. Lightly sand cut edges. Paint the pegboard green, let dry. Use button-head screws to secure the tree canopy to the frame of the two shelves. Anchor the completed display to the wall. Trim your tree with anything that delights the kids. Here, a series of little bows made from colourful ribbon look a treat.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
