How to design a bedroom that grows with your child

Room to grow

As they grow from chubby-cheeked tots to young adults, children have evolving requirements for their bedroom. Versatile storage is the starting point for creating a room that grows with them. Here, we take one flatpack wardrobe unit, and then add and update the storage around it to suit a child's changing needs.

Toddler

To create a welcoming space with a priority on play, there should be plenty of low storage, such as baskets and a toy chest, within easy reach of little hands. A novelty bed can do wonders for creating a child's sanctuary. Avoid a cluttered space by opting for a monochrome design, let the frame shape do all the talking.

For comfortable floor play, an easy-to-clean rug is ideal. Textured varieties won’t show stains as easily as flat monochrome rugs.

Tween

Bring in a desk for homework and crafts. Add higher storage – and more of it – for no-longer-little kids. We made this desk using a Flexi Storage Home Solutions 900mm x 350mm x 16mm shelf. (For the full instructions see page 17 of the February 2022 issue of the Bunnings magazine.)

Open shelves are great for tweens to store favourite books and display items that reflect their personalities. You only need a few open shelves to get the look - too many can look cluttered and invite mess. Fill the rest of the shelving space with drawers to keep things organised.

Adjust the height of clothes rails in the wardrobe to suit smaller children. For ordered and clutter-free storage, choose fabric baskets to suit your decor and use them to group similar items. We painted the walls in Taubmans Kaleidoscope to transition the room from an earthy-toned nursery to something a bit cooler.

Teen

This almost-adult room has personality plus, and includes a serious study set-up and maximum storage to minimise clutter.

To create this mature retreat, we painted the walls in a soothing yellow called Good To Go by British Paints. Complementing tones of green and brown were pulled into the space through storage baskets, potted plants, bed linen and decorative accessories to create a relaxed, beachy feel.

Tailor the accessories to suit your teen's style. We painted a white Verve Design ‘Chloe’ desk lamp in Dulux ‘Duramax’ chalk finish spray paint in Pink Splendour, and made hexagon pinboard tiles by cutting cork tiles to shape using a Stanley knife.

Keep in mind:

• Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. When spray-painting, wear a mask and gloves and work outside or in a well ventilated area, covering surrounding areas with a drop cloth for protection.
• Our rooms are for inspiration. Always assess safety when planning your child’s room. For example:
• Secure storage units such as wardrobes to walls with appropriate fasteners to avoid the risk of them toppling over.
• Position climbable objects or furniture away from windows.
• Avoid floor-length or reachable curtains in young children’s rooms and ensure blind and curtain cords are secured at least 1600mm above the floor.
• Check house plants are not toxic to humans or pets and place out of the reach of small children.
• For further information on child safety in and around the home, visit kidsafe.com.au.
• Before drilling into walls, use a stud finder to check for wiring and pipework, and turn off the power while working.
• The D.I.Y. desk featured is not suitable for standing on.
• If painting a lamp, make sure it’s not plugged into the power, avoid getting paint on any electrical parts and allow to dry thoroughly before use.

Looking for a D.I.Y. craft project for your kid's bedroom?

Try a customisable cork bedhead. Check out our guide on how to make your own.