Decorating your kid’s room should be one of the most creative and fun parts of doing your redoing your home interior design. Unfortunately, many parents find their fun spoiled if the space is leaning towards the smaller side.
If your kid's bedroom is delegated to a rather small space, this is the sign you have been looking for- there is no need to feel discouraged because there is still plenty that you can do to make your child’s room feel like it is much more spacious than it is in actuality.
We will explore the various elements and design choices you can opt for to make the bedroom feel and appear larger so your child has ample space to jump around, play, and be creative to their heart’s extent.
LIGHTER WALL PAINT
First of all, when deciding what to paint your kid’s room, make sure you opt for a lighter palette. Painting the walls a subtle shade makes the space appear larger because it reflects light.
Darker shades, on the other hand, absorb it which is why they make the room appear limited and constricted. So you should ideally go for a light, cheery color such as sunshine yellow or baby blue.
SUBTLE TRIMS
In addition to the subtle palette for the walls, you should also opt for a light color for the trims- preferably an even lighter shade than the walls. This seemingly increases the depth of the room simply through visual illusion.
LIGHT AND BRIGHT
To make your child’s room feel even bigger, you need to fill it with as much light as possible. Invest in some good light fixtures, get small lamps for the bedside tables, and hope that the little room has a couple of windows that you can keep uncovered to let the sunlight filter in.
Not only is it good for your child, but the light also makes the room appear spacious, particularly when paired with a light color scheme.
BOLD CEILING
Another technique very commonly applied to make a kid’s room appear larger is to draw the attention upwards - towards the ceiling.
This can be done by either - painting the ceiling a dark, bold color as compared to the lighter shade on the walls or dressing it up with a pattern or design. You could go for a solid bright color, decorate it with decals, or paint it like a starry night sky, giving your kid a rather interesting view as they get ready to go to sleep.
THE RIGHT BED
The bed is the most essential and prominent element of your kid’s room. The key is to invest in a bedding solution that is large enough and practical, but does not appear to be space occupying.
Bunk beds are a great solution for smaller rooms, especially if you have a couple of kids sharing, since they occupy vertical space.
For single beds, try to keep them as low to the ground as possible.
MOUNT IT UP
When it comes to shelving and basic storage or decor space, avoid going for bulky, space occupying items.
One great idea to conserve space is to mount up your shelving on a single wall either right above the desk or near the bed.
You can play around with the organization of the mounted shelves to create patterns and then fill them with color and personality to make the room fun and spacious at the same time.
CONCEALED STORAGE
Be smart regarding the furniture that you invest in and maximize storage space by opting for space saving furniture. These items give you concealed storage or save you precious room space without appearing distasteful or out of place.
For example, get a bed that has drawers underneath - the space makes for a great toy store.
You could also go for folding chairs and desks instead of dedicating an entire corner of the room for this purpose, populating the kid’s bedroom with their bed and bedside tables only.
POPULATE THE LOWER THIRD
In regards to decorating the walls of the room, this is an area where you can add height and depth to the space if it is lacking in that department.
Divide the walls of the room into three sections and try to place most of your decor in the lower to mid half, leaving the space above that bare. The empty space leading up to the ceiling gives the impression of taller walls.
MIRRORS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND
One of the best decoration tools you can use to make a small room appear larger is a mirror.
You can go for a large floor length mirror, but it is suited for older kids. If your kid is still pretty young, you will want to keep the mirror out of their reach to prevent it being a hazard.
In this case, you can opt for a series of smaller mirrors placed across the midsection of one wall, a considerable distance above the floor.
Use a mirror made of plexiglass rather than real glass for your kid’s room for safety standards. If they roll against it, bang it, or kick it, especially as they are older and stronger, then the plexiglass can withstand the abuse such as banging it, kicking it or rolling against it, better than real glass. At the same time, make sure that the mirror is fixed securely to the wall.
The mirror gives the room a sense of continuity and gives the illusion of greater depth and height. You will want to make sure that you place the mirror as such that they reflect light and spread it around to make it feel even wider. The ideal place for it is at an angle right next to the window.
In addition, if you are planning to design a Montessori bedroom (CLICK to read details of Montessori education), the mirror will support visual activity, movement, cognitive development, and independence.
SHEER DRAPES
If the room happens to have windows, you should keep them open and uncovered for the most part to allow the light to filter in and create the illusion of a larger space.
If you do want to cover them with curtains or drapes, the best option is to go for lighter shades and sheer or translucent materials such as lace to avoid disrupting the continuity of the room.
Another idea is to make sure that the drapes do not touch the ground but instead hang a few inches above it. This makes the walls appear taller and draws the eyes to the top instead of the bottom of the room.
ULTIMATELY......
You will want to keep the design simple and straightforward and avoid overcrowding it with furniture and extra accessories. The last thing you want to do is make the place feel stuffy and keeping the plan open gives your kid plenty of space to play around and be active.
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About the Author:
Ben Miller, an expert in professional interior design and home decor which something he is passionate about.