7 Clever Ideas for Designing Cool and Creative Kids Bedrooms, Playrooms and Study Areas in 2023
Let your imagination run WILD when designing for a CHILD!
Children’s Rooms are always the most fun part of our projects. We get to re-live that feeling of freedom, unlimited possiblities, encourage creativity and take risks!
1. Play with Patterns
Patterns can enhance a room and provide visual stimulation. We love adding a little texture in there too. Our motto when it comes to bedding is ‘the more layers the better!’
In the daughter’s room in our MOUNTAIN LAKES RESIDENCE project we layered up with lavendar. For the walls, we used Cole and Son Rousseau paper. It is a graceful cartouche design featuring painted scenes of exotic palm trees and animals on a delicate craquelure ground. Drawn from porcelain tableware of the 18th and 19th centuries. To complement the exotic palm motif we created a bespoke animal print cut pile wool rug with STARK carpets in lavendar and bright purple tones. We continued to layer it up with full length soft wool drapery and delicately patterned tie-backs.
2. Make it Monochromatic
One way to have more fun with patterns, but avoid rooms feeling messy or chaotic is to choose one color and stick to it.
This way you can be courageous with patterns and textures. In a girl’s room in our PENTHOUSE ON THE PARK PROJECT we created a bespoke deep-tufted velvet bed for a luxurious look. We love creating bespoke cushions to add lush texture and beauty to the bedroom. Silks and embroidered fabrics tend to be costly so we love saving them for smaller areas like cushions - by KNOF design.
3. Create a Concentration Station
With Virtual School, On-line Tutoring and Mentoring growing in demand and popularity it is important to dedicate a space for learning. For this boy’s bedroom in our MOUNTAIN LAKES RESIDENCE project we created full length custom ‘floating’ shelving in a small recessed area. The shelves were created with a shallow depth and front lip to allow the books to be front facing - easier for young children to find their favourite books while showcasing all those lovely children’s books illusrations.
4. Designate a Space for Playtime
When all that homework is complete, children need a place to unwind and simply play! An area to spread out and let their imagination run wild. For our PENTHOUSE ON THE PARK project we created a custom tv and toy wall with custom colored lacquered shelves. We provided some closed covered cabinetry at the base to conceal the AV equipment and provide a little extra storage for smaller items to keep the open joinery from feeling visually cluttered.
Personality is key!
Playrooms are an entire area dedicated to imagination and fun. But it is nice to keep them organised - or at least allow for storage space. In our PENTHOUSE ON THE PARK project featured in these images. We tried to sneak in additional storage wherever we could, like this bespoke storage ottoman made with a custom patterned fabric to tie the room together and play off the large scale pattern of the wool rug beneath.
5. Creative use of Color
From hue, value, and saturation to tints, tones, and shades, there are a lot of ways you can use color to create a one of a kind space. More important than the understanding of basic color theory, is to remember that color is personal. It’s how it makes you feel. High impact hues will amp up the energy of a room. Inky, dark tones will bring it all in close, making the space feel cozy and intimate. When using a variety of different hues, we like to stick to similar saturation levels. This way the eye will be drawn to all the different hues equally to keep it all visually stimulating while not feeling overly chaotic. We used a wonderful printed fabric by Finnish Design House - Marimekko. to provide some powerful punch in contrast to the all white walls. Further pops of color and detail were used on the bedding and bespoke joinery. Recessed bookshelves with a Diane Von Furstenberg wallpaper at the back panel add an extra layer of detail.
For more colorful inspiration check out how paint can provide colr and inspiration "Colorful Dreams: Top Picks for Children’s Room Paint Colors"
6. Consider all Spaces
Why stop at the bedroom and playrooms? Bathrooms are an opportunity to continue on with your theme. It’s a place to soak it all in.
7. Encourage Creativity
There is always time for Make Believe! When Bedrooms provide out of the ordinary areas it encourages new ways of thinking. This clever nook for impromptu puppet shows was created by knocking into the void area under the roof eaves where the ceiling sloped.
Detail image of custom made Make Believe Nook
Inspired by a trip to Morocco, this bespoke daybed area was created in addition to the main bed. It is an area to get cozy and creative. It also doubles as another bed for sleepovers. Because friends make everything more fun!
Detail Image of Custom Daybed in Teen Bedroom