A kingdom for children
2.12.2016
Translation: machine translated
Children bring change to the home. The children's room is an important element in their development. It is important to design a space in which the little ones can let off steam, develop creatively and relax, and which fulfils their everyday needs and wishes.
When planning a baby and children's room, it is helpful to decide on a style and colour concept at the beginning. Creating a mood board - a collection of inspiration and interior design ideas from magazines, image databases or blogs - will help you with this. The next step is to record the key data. How much space is available, what furniture is needed and where is the light coming from? If you are not sure about the placement of the furniture, you can mark the dimensions of the furniture on the floor with masking tape to get an idea of the dimensions.
As the needs of growing children change quickly, it should be possible to adapt the furnishings to the changing requirements without much effort. It is a good idea to use a neutral base colour as the basis, to ensure that the furniture has a timeless design or to start with furniture from your own childhood. With a new coat of paint, you can turn old pieces of furniture into beautiful, unique pieces for the children's room. Toys, drawings and decorations will add a lot of colour to the room later on. As children's tastes are constantly changing, it should be possible to create a new look without too much investment.
In order to meet the different needs, it is advantageous to visually separate the play, work and sleeping areas to create corresponding feel-good zones. If the children are old enough, their wishes and ideas should be taken into account when designing the children's room. Children love to make up their own worlds - whether it's a teepee tent, jungle feeling or pirate ship - retreat areas are popular. Children should be able to give free rein to their creativity and imagination when playing in their room. Children should be given plenty of opportunities to read, snuggle up and daydream. For soft sleeping or play areas, flat mattresses can be converted into great playscapes and decorated with cushions and cosy blankets. A comfortable rocking chair or armchair near the cot is ideal so that mum or dad can sit with the child in peace for the evening bedtime ritual.
In addition to factors such as room orientation and window area, room lighting plays an important role in children's rooms. By using different light sources, you can better fulfil the different requirements. If the room is used as a playroom or study during the day, it is important to ensure that there is sufficient ambient lighting. Dimmable ceiling lights that illuminate the room evenly but can also vary moods and brightness are ideal for this. The desk as a creative and working zone should ideally be placed in front of windows to maximise natural daylight. Additional lighting should also be provided here, e.g. in the form of a table or wall lamp. This should be adjustable or positioned in such a way that it does not cast shadows when writing. The bed is a place to rest and switch off, so reading lamps should not dazzle. Night lights help to create a relaxed atmosphere for falling asleep and can also be used as a decorative element during the day.
Large boxes, storage boxes, woven baskets and drawers integrated into furniture help to keep the children's room tidy. They create storage space for books, toys and cuddly toys. A loft bed is suitable for children's rooms with limited space. This provides enough space for playing or working in the lower area. The older children get, the more active they are and the more space they need.
Children's furniture should be robust and easy to clean. Fabric covers should ideally be removable and washable. When buying, always pay attention to paints, colours and compatibility for children. Furniture must be free of harmful substances. Purely natural materials are the best choice. Wood, for example, is naturally antibacterial and hygienic, making it ideal for children's rooms. Rounded corners and edges can protect against injuries. It is advisable to fix larger pieces of furniture, such as shelves and chests of drawers, to the wall to prevent them from tipping over when the drawers are open. Furniture that grows with the child or can be used multifunctionally is also practical.
Beautiful ideas such as climbing nets, paintable walls, hanging caves or height markers made of foil on the wardrobe to measure height create excitement and fun in the children's room. Get creative and make your little ones happy with the design of their room, because nothing is more beautiful than a happy and contented child's smile.
What might interest you:
I like to spend my time with creative projects, friends & family and delicious recipes from all over the world. Travelling to distant countries, discovering foreign cultures and observing people are the cornerstones of my creativity. All this inspires and motivates me in my work. The challenge of giving a room or an object a soul, arousing emotions and at the same time creating something functional and practical fascinates me. I think interests only become passions when you can share them not only with yourself but also with other people. Together with my colleague Michael Sollberger I founded the interior design studio "MOOMII" in 2016.