Bedroom Makeover: Updating Thomas’ Space

A child’s bedroom design is a multipurpose project. A Venn diagram of personality and practicality, it is their sleeping area, their play zone, a hobby area and more! In my opinion, a great kid’s room design should lend itself to being playful and bring out your child’s creativity during these special years. As the backdrop to their imagination, it should nurture their personality.

Thomas is 8 years old, and when your child is old enough to participate, it is so wonderful to engage them in the design process. When it comes to wall colour or where the bed goes, get them involved! Quick tip: to ensure your vision, budget and goals are well represented too, try giving them either/or options rather than a blank slate and help them understand the options (‘if we put the bed here, there will be more room for playing on the floor’). Having your kid join in the process is a great way to empower their creative decision-making too. For instance, have them help choose which of their favourite things, personal creations and achievements they want to display versus put away (these might include artwork, trophies, musical instruments etc.) Through this process they’ll develop an editing process (subconsciously of course!) and think about how they want to live within the space.

In terms of sharing our passions with our kids – and for me, interior design is a big one! - letting them be part of the process and involved in their childhood bedroom design is a lovely first introduction. It will help them consider their connection to how interior aesthetics play an important role in our well being, how our mood is tied to our space. It’s also an extension of how we choose to express ourselves and how we best operate within our personal environments.

Creating a special sanctuary that nurtures and that they feel safe in, (especially during these uncertain times, when families are living in lockdown) is a very powerful gift to your kid. Having a space to escape to, be creative in, socialize with friends on zoom! ... is something, we, personally as a family, are very thankful for and feel very lucky to have the option of doing.

Obviously, this design project will extend well beyond this particular moment and I look forward to seeing Thomas host his friends in his new space too! And well beyond that too – we don’t redesign our kids’ rooms too frequently. One key is creating a room that works at their current age and likely for the next decade as well.

With that in mind, we chose subtle motifs for Thomas’ room, stayed away from anything overtly gender normative while incorporating plenty of personal touches that give ample ‘boy’s room’ vibes – including the classic football (or soccer dependent on your heritage) player poster in the salon wall paired with tokens from New Zealand and even a piece from my own latest collection ‘Assemble. The peg board desk was a discarded retail shop display (destined for the landfill), which I was given and I repurposed into an effective shelf and desk for Thomas’s keepsakes and the vintage sign letter, I absolutely love. Calming neutrals in the wood and bedding make it a serene spot and choosing to paint 60% of the walls lends the room lots of light. Plants & vintage pieces complete every room in our house and Thomas’ is no different!

Beautiful Grid patterned Linen sheets by Magic Linen

I hope this provides some thoughts for you as you embark on any creative kids’ project! Both Thomas and I are thrilled with how it turned out. 

Anna ox