5 kids’ room essentials

Whether you’re decorating for a newborn or a toddler, creating the perfect kids’ room doesn’t just happen.  However effortless those beautiful nurseries look on Pinterest, you can bet your bottom dollar a whole lot of thought and hard work went in behind the scenes to create a space that looks beautiful and also functions like a child’s room!  A little person’s room has many different roles to play – it’s where they sleep, but it may also be the place where they get dressed, play, rest, bond and learn – so it’s a hardworking room requiring careful planning and some clever design.  Here’s our pick of the five items no child’s room should be without…

1. Storage

We simply cannot stress this enough!  Prior to becoming a parent, you’d never believe the amount of stuff you need to take care of one small human – it takes over the whole house, never mind the nursery!  In baby’s room you’ll need a mixture of large and small storage so you can store clothes, bedding, nappies and anything else you might need to grab at short notice in the middle of the night.  Open hanging rails and shelves make it super easy to grab what you need, but aren’t always ideal for creating a visually restful space so think carefully about the result you’re trying to achieve (and never underestimate the joy of being able to hide clutter behind closed doors!).  Last but not least, don’t forget about toy storage.  This becomes more and more important as children grow – you need simple storage that’s easy for them to access, but not so open that the mess is constantly on display!  Baskets, boxes and even paper sacks make great toy stashers.

2. Shelving

It might be your child’s room, but that doesn’t mean everything in there is fair game!  Being able to keep certain items out of reach of little hands is essential – just ask the mums who’ve had their carpets ruined by a giant tub of Sudocrem!  It’s also vital to keep medicines, scissors and other items safely stored up high, and this is where a pretty shelf really comes in handy for a child’s room.  Position above the changing station so you can reach creams and other essentials easily, or make the shelf a feature and use to display cute accessories, books or delicate ornaments not suitable for those chubby little baby mitts!

3. Rug

A rug is a super useful addition to any child’s room.  On hard floors it provides a soft, padded area suitable for tummy time and later for play, protecting delicate skin from chilly surfaces.  If you don’t have space for a changing table, a rug is a good alternative and offers extra cushioning for your knees as well as keeping your little one comfy.  If you’ve already got carpet, a rug can offer some welcome protection from spills and other stains – you might not cry too much over spilled milk at 3am (unless you expressed it!) but drop a bottle of Calpol on your cream carpet and we guarantee you, tears will be shed! 

4. Comfy chair

A comfortable and supportive armchair in your child’s room is something you’ll use for many years; in the early days for feeding and cuddles, and as they grow for those all-important bedtime stories or even just for a little snuggle if they wake in the night.  Choose a chair that offers good support for your back and shoulders, especially if you’re breastfeeding, and accessorise with a pretty cushion for some added comfort.

5. Wall art

Often we see rooms for babies and young children that are very neutral in terms of colour, which fits well with the contemporary home and also leaves leeway for the room to evolve as its tiny occupant grows and develops tastes of their own.  But as the place where a young child spends quite a bit of time – for naps, nappy changes and more – it’s important that their room is also visually stimulating.  We’re not saying you need huge murals or garish ABC posters everywhere – in fact, a bedroom that’s too busy might make it hard for your little one to wind down for sleep.  But a few carefully chosen pieces of artwork can add some much-needed colour and personality to their space.  Choose anything from whimsical prints to tactile three-dimensional wall hangings and watch your little one’s face light up in delight!