A couple weeks ago, a young girl walked into our shop. You can imagine my surprise—we don’t usually have kids around the workroom!

But she was cute as a button, and we listened eagerly as she told us what she wanted: to choose a fabric for her very own bathroom window.

I took her over to our samples so she could find the one that she liked best, and it brought back fond memories—I still remember the first time my mom let me pick the wallpaper in my room!

The experience was so heartwarming that I couldn’t resist dedicating this month’s blog post to designing children’s spaces. Because the best kids’ room is not quite what you think.

Here are 5 unexpected things to keep in mind…

1. Give the Kids a Say

I was 15 when I first got a say in how my space looked. We were moving from Atlanta to Birmingham, and I chose a combination of blues and greens. Now, my own kids are grown, and I still remember that room and its wallpaper!

All that is to say, if you let your kids pick and use their creativity, they’re likely to appreciate the space more than ever!

2. Be Free with Color

I’ve seen many cases where children’s rooms are designed with neutral colors that match the rest of the home. I can understand the concept behind this—you want the whole home to look cohesive.

But kids are more innately creative than adults, and they need color. (And luckily color is back in style!) The adventurous kiddos might be empowered by bold colors, while our lovable introverts might prefer more subtle, muted tones.  

So not only is it nice to give your kiddos a say, but letting them be free with color will help keep their creative spirits alive—and who knows what they’ll do with that creativity!

 

3. Express Their Personality

The best bedroom is the one that lets you be exactly who you are, whether you’re young in years or young at heart. 😉

So when designing your child’s room, think about (or ask them) what they enjoy doing during their free time. Do they love jet skiing on the lake? Camping? Playing baseball or football?

You don’t have to turn their bedroom into a themed room, but incorporating the things they like will make their room comfortable, unique, and even help them feel accepted, which is important to a kid!

 

4. Create a Safe Haven

On that topic, it’s safe to say that life has always been a little hard for kids. But with social media these days, it looks especially tough. That’s why it’s so important that their room feels like a safe space.

In addition to expressing their personalities, a great way to create that feeling of safety is to incorporate soft textures. A room that’s all wood and leather will not feel especially warm to a kid.

The right window treatments also play a role in ensuring they have privacy, but without trapping them in a dark space. (Talk to us about the best options for kids’ rooms.)

 

5. Make Studying Pain-free

Not every child loves studying… but I guarantee they all have to do it!

That said, sitting down to a rock-hard chair and finger-numbing desk is sure to increase the complaints (bad for you) and decrease their productivity (bad for them).

Make sure they have a comfy chair, a table top that sits at the right level for their computer and books, and a nice lamp. Or get even more creative with a reading nook!

These are sure to put them on the path to straight A’s! 😉

 

Well, what do you think? Did some of these surprise you? Had you thought of them before? Did I miss any that you’ve learned from experience?

Whatever the case, I hope that you and your child will enjoy the experience of creating their space together! And if you need a little design insight along the way, you know who to call. 🙂

All our best,
Sheri + the Style & Stitch team