Decorating a bedroom can seem incredibly daunting. And that’s just your own bedroom.
But, for your child? It can easily become the most challenging of tasks.
That is why we have put together this easy guide to decorating your child’s bedroom. We’ll cover everything from the best bedding, colour schemes and the finishing touches.
There are some red flags to avoid – quite literally. Did you know that red in a bedroom can cause anger and aggression?
Keep reading to find out the do’s and don’ts when it comes to decorating for your little ones.
What Bedding Do I Need for My Children’s Room?
Children can be tricky (slight understatement?) to get to sleep at the best of times. The constant battle can seem never ending.
So, what is the last thing you need?
Poor quality bedding that is keeping them awake or making them uncomfortable.
No, a seven year old may not no the difference between polycotton and ultra-luxurious linen (or at least we hope not) but making sure the bedding is comfortable is the first step you should take to helping your child sleep better.
As an adult, you may have your specific preferences when it comes to bedding. You may prefer brushed cotton because it’s warm and cosy.
Or perhaps polycotton is your saviour because it doesn’t need ironing.
When it comes to children, there are two things to focus on: breathability and comfort. These are the two main factors that can keep children up at night.
Keep reading to find our top recommendations for soft and breathable bedding.
The Best Duvets for Children – Breathable and Comfortable
How old is your child?
If they are still in a cot, our Roma Cot Duvet is soft, comfy and airy. Available in 4.5, 7.5 and 9.0 tog, there is an option for every climate. We recommend to not go over 10 tog for children under the age of 10.
This is because their bodies are still developing and can’t regulate their own body heat as well as adults can. Although we can stifle ourselves with layers and layers of duvets and blankets to create the ultimate cosy little nest, unfortunately this isn’t what your child needs.
The Best Microfibre and Hollowfibre Duvets for Children
If they are past the cot stage, there are some great options to suit their needs.
It is still best to stick with a light weight, breathable duvet. Microfibre and hollowfibre fit this bill. They are also super budget friendly. (Bonus!)
If you’d like a comparison between these two materials, read our Hollowfibre vs Microfibre guide. For our product recommendations, keep reading…
This Hollowfibre Duvet is 10.5 tog which is the optimum tog for children over the age of 10. If you are looking for something with a lower tog, we also have it in 4.5. The high-quality filling with hollow spaces allows air to flow through whilst keep your child warm and snug.
If you are looking for a duvet that is perfect for all year long, this Microfibre All Seasons Duvet is the best option. A combination of a 10.g tog layer and 4.5 tog layer allows for easy customisation.
Perfect for tantrums and children that change their mind easily (pretty much all of them).
Can My Children Use Feather Duvets?
If you want a feather duvet for your child, opt for goose feather. As we explain in more detail in our Ultimate Duvet Guide, goose feather duvets are lighter than duck feather.
This is because of the size of clusters that go into the duvets. This All Seasons Goose Feather Duvet is luxurious, versatile and sure to keep the little ones happy.
What Pillows Do I Buy for A Child’s Room?
A perfect pairing to go alongside with the Roma Cot Duvet is this Roma Cot Pillow. The microfibre filling will do the same excellent job of keeping your child’s body temperature regulated and will keep them comfortable all through the night.
Similar to the duvets, Microfibre Pillows are light weight, breathable and super-soft.
The Perfect Bed Sheets for a Good Night’s Sleep
A pattern is starting to emerge, soft, breathable, lightweight…
Yes, this applies to bed sheets too.
This 100% Cotton Satin Bedding is buttery-soft, super smooth and budget friendly. They are also machine washable, as we know a trip the dry cleaners is certainly not a task most parents want to add to their long list of errands.
Choose from a variety of colours and sizes to suit every bedroom.
Choosing the Right Curtains for Your Children’s Bedroom
Selecting the right curtains for your child’s bedroom can make a bigger difference than you might think. Although it is easy to be dazzled by all the pretty princess and cool car patterns in the shop aisle, stay calm, keep focused and if you only remember one thing from this article…
Stay away from Frozen. Let it go.
Be one step ahead of unnecessary, lavish and boisterous curtains that your children will grow out of or decide they don’t like in a couple of years’ time.
Here are the top factors to consider when choosing curtains for a child:
- Noise – Reduce the sound of the outside world with noise reducing curtains.
- Heat – Keep the room warm and cosy with thermal features.
- Blackout – Light can be the biggest distraction from sleep for children. Blackout curtains are useful to keep out light when it comes to bed time, especially in the Summer months.
- Pattern – Keep it basic so they don’t go out of fashion or, so your children won’t grow out of them as fast.
- Length – This is a very important to consider. If you’re child is learning to walk, you may want to avoid floor length curtains as it could become dangerous if they pull on them.
Our range of curtains are all fully lined with faux silk, have thermal properties and will block out light. They also come in a wide variety of colours to suit any room design.
Storage Design for your Children’s Room – 5 DIY Ideas
Storage can be one of the most difficult parts of your child’s bedroom.
So. Many. Toys.
Where do they go? How do they all fit in? How can I make it look elegant? How do I stay within budget?
These are all questions we asked ourselves. Until we did a little research and found genius solutions. Even better, they’re DIY so you can create them yourself for a fraction of the price they’d be in a shop!
This storage is made up of a plastic box, cheap material and some porch rail caps or door knobs. It’s so quick, easy, and practical. The best part is picking the material as you can choose any design you want.
This idea is so simple, but so brilliant. Do you have an old bookshelf lying around that you have no use for? Now you do. Turn it on its side and use it as a storage bench. This great idea is from Helping Kids Grow Up.
This IKEA draw is great to slide under a bed, no-one will know its even there. Store toys in and pull out when its playtime and simply push back under to put them away. Out of sight, out of mind. We found this IKEA idea from Grillo Designs.
Is your child obsessed with cars? Well, this storage hack is your solution. It could also work for barbies, crayons, or anything else that will fit. This creative DIY hack is from Foliver Blog.
This idea is perfect if you need to store lots of toys. Buy some cheap buckets, drill a few holes and tie them together in whatever shape of pattern you would like. It’s a creative idea that’s super practical.
What Colours are Best for a Child’s Bedroom?
When it comes to choosing a colour, a lot of parents go for their child’s favourite. However, if you really want to focus on relaxation and improving their sleep, there are a few things you should know.
For optimum relaxation, blue is your best bet. It has been shown to decrease anxiety and aggression by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. It has a soothing and calming effect on their subconscious.
Green has a similar effect. It has all of these wonderful effects on children and could also help to improve reading and literacy skills.
Yellow is positive, sunny and cheerful. It is often associated with happiness and can pass on this mood to your child. Although, avoid putting it everywhere as too much of it can trigger anger and aggression.
Colours to avoid include red, grey, brown and purple. These colours have been shown to have a negative effect on the mind and can reduce sleep according to this research.
The Finishing Touches
Once you have got the bulk of the decoration out of the way, it is easy to forget the little details. They can make all the difference to a bedroom but can be easily overlooked. Get these finishing touches right and it will pull the whole room together and make it complete.
Here’s a few things to remember when finishing a bedroom:
- Don’t neglect the walls – A fresh coat of paint isn’t the only way to decorate walls. Add some art or posters to fill the empty space.
- Photos – Make the bedroom feel like home with photos of friends and family.
- Decorations – This could be plant pots, a clock, ornaments, or whatever you like. Just remember to keep it safe and child-friendly.
- Lighting – When you are choosing bulbs for the main light in the bedroom, a warm white will make the room feel warm and cosy and is less harsh on the eyes. Don’t forget to include some desk lamps or night lights.
- Space – The most important thing to remember is to not clutter the room. Your children will want space to run around and play, so try not to fill the room too much.