A child’s bedroom is much more than just a place to sleep after a long day of school and play. It’s a place where imaginations grow. It’s a place to do homework, slay dragons, and dress teddy bears. It’s where games are played, sleepovers are hosted, and books are read. It’s a child’s own little haven in a grown-up world. So it goes without saying that making this space as awesome as possible for the mini-me in your life is pretty important. But where to start? Here are some tips and ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Remain Somewhat Neutral
Just like we did when we were kids, your child will go through phases. Right now, your daughter may be a giant fan of One Direction, or your son might be a race car aficionado, but those preferences may change at the drop of a hat, so when planning your child’s bedroom, try to keep the bones as neutral as possible.
Rather than painting a lifesize portrait of Harry Styles on your daughter’s bedroom wall or a racetrack on your son’s wall, stick to a solid hue that is one of their favourites, and bring in bright accents and accessories like blankets, cushions, and pictures that speak to their personal tastes. As for furniture, keep it simple and in a basic colour so it can grow with him or her.
Optimize Space
You don’t need to live in a palace to give your child a room with ample space – just look for furniture that capitalizes on vertical space to free up precious room on the floor. Bunk beds have been around forever and are ideal if your kids are sharing a room, or if they tend to have a lot of sleepovers. But rather than sticking with the old school bed on top of bed design, opt for one that also incorporates storage or a desk. The SouthShore collection of bedroom furniture available at Best Buy is component based, so you can customize it to your child’s unique needs and add to it (or remove from it) as those needs change.
If bunk beds aren’t your style, a bed frame with drawer storage is a fantastic choice for any child’s bedroom. The drawers can be used to store bedding, clothing, school books, or anything else that you (or your child) want’s to keep hidden away. And you don’t need to worry about vacuuming underneath the bed!
Another great option for optimizing space is a headboard that serves double duty as a bookshelf. Not only does this eliminate the need for multiple shelving units that take up floor space, but bookcase headboards are ideal for keeping things in their place. Your child can read a book before bed, and without even needing to move, can place that same book back where it came from – genius, really. These are also great for essentials like nightlights, and favourite toys or treasures.
Create a Dedicated Study Space
Every kid’s bedroom should have dedicated spaces for sleep and play, and as they grow older, for study as well. As sleek as a desk without drawers may be, they do little insofar as organization is concerned, so equip your girl or boy’s bedroom with a desk that has at least one drawer in which they can stash their school supplies when not in use. Depending on the amount of room your child’s bedroom may have, you can opt for a larger L-shaped desk that will suit them straight through to university graduation.
Keep it Light 
Whether playing, reading, or studying, decent lighting is a must for any child’s bedroom, but you don’t need to go overboard. No one wants to walk into a room and feel like they are six feet from the sun. In addition to an ceiling light, a desk lamp and a bedside lamp are should suffice to give your child the lighting they need. And the great thing about lamps is that for a relatively low cost, you can have some fun with them. Why not channel your girl’s inner diva with a Parisian inspired acrylic lamp, or your boy’s inner artist with a unique paint-spill lamp from LumiSource.
Have Fun!
A child’s bedroom should not only be a place to sleep, play, and study, but should also be a reflection of who they are, so try to bring in elements that speak to what they love. This can be done easily with things like themed bedding, decorative pillows, and wall art, which can be fun, educational, or inspirational … and the best part, these can all be changed as your child’s preferences change.
