|
If you are a parent then you probably know that successful kids' bedrooms are all about clever furniture! Who wants to be tripping over toys or sorting through boxes full of mess in search of missing puzzle pieces? By providing your children with the right furniture solutions you will helping them keep their rooms tidy.
1. Discuss the room with your child. Take a pen and paper and sit down with your child and ask them what they like about their room. Ask them to draw a picture of how they would ideally like it to be, this will often give us a different perspective on what their world is like. Ask your child what they would like in their room to make it easier for them to play and pack away. If you listen carefully then there are bound to be some gems to help you understand where improvements can be made. You will understand what is most important to them and how they like to spend their time in their bedroom.
2. See the world through your child's eyes. If you get down on the floor with your child then you'll notice the world looks completely different from your child's perspective! Almost instantaneously you will be able to see that some high shelves are out of their reach, and that they don't ever look up except when lying in bed. High shelves are often very useful for storing complex toys or toys that should only be played with under supervision. Coat hooks at the right height will make it easy for kids to hang up their school bags and jackets when they get home form school. Mobiles or installations near the child's bed will make for interesting viewing as they drift off into dreamland. Kids need a place to draw, build puzzles and play, therefore there should be sufficient storage nearby for all the items used during these activities.
3. Make a list of what you need. The most important thing to do when choosing furniture for your kids' bedrooms is to make a list of their requirements and then carefully plan what you should pay attention to. Try not to settle for anything less or something that is not quite suitable or safe as it will end up costing you double when it needs to be replaced with the right thing.
4. Draw up a floor-plan. Measure the bedroom and draw up a scale model using graph paper. Be sure to indicate the windows and doors. It is much easier to draw up the items of furniture separately and cut them out than it is to keep redrawing the room and rubbing out when you want to make changes. By shuffling the various furniture items around the room you will quickly and easily be able to come up with a well designed layout. This will also stop you from purchasing pieces of furniture which you may not need and don't have space for. The secret is to make your furniture go farther by purchasing the right item and not by trying to make too many pieces of not quite right furniture fit into a small space together. This will only lead to frustration and more mess. The most important thing to remember when planning the layout of the room is to allocate sufficient floor-space as this is where children spend most of their time.
5. Allocate your budget. It's no use aiming high when the budget does not allow for it. Be realistic about your needs and be willing to spend what's necessary but try and find ways to combine budget items with some high end pieces which will last a life time. Think ahead about every item you purchase, how long will it last and can it be converted into being appropriate for the next phase of your child's development. Cots that convert into toddler beds for example are a clever solution to a piece of furniture that would otherwise only have lasted a year or two.
|
