5 tips for planning small children’s bedrooms

A child’s bedroom can serve several purposes throughout childhood, evolving alongside changes in their routine and needs. As well as providing a comfortable place to sleep, it must offer room for play, study and organising everyday belongings while remaining practical. As rooms become increasingly compact, planning should address not only what will fit, but also how furniture and different zones can be used as the child grows.

According to Priscilla Hatsue Kawagoe, Head of Creation and Product Design at MadeiraMadeira, accounting for these changes from the outset helps prevent the room from quickly becoming unsuitable for the child’s routine. “The bedroom needs to keep pace with the different stages of childhood. Considering flexible solutions makes it possible to adapt the space over time and make better use of the available room,” she says.

Below, the specialist shares five tips to support this planning.

1. Choose furniture that combines several functions

In smaller bedrooms, allocating a separate item of furniture to every need can restrict movement and reduce the free area. One option is to prioritise multifunctional pieces, such as trundle beds that also include a wardrobe, cubbyholes or drawers. This allows sleeping and storage to occupy the same part of the room.

2. Plan the bedroom for the next stages

Children’s needs change quickly as they grow. A room initially intended for playing, for instance, may need to accommodate a study area a few years later. Before choosing furniture, it is therefore important to consider which pieces can grow with the child and which may need to take on new roles as their routine changes.

“When furniture can be adapted, the bedroom’s use can be transformed without having to replace the entire set-up at every new stage,” explains Priscilla Hatsue Kawagoe.

3. Look beyond the floor area

The height of the room can also be put to use, particularly where only a few square metres are available. Raised beds, for example, free up the space underneath for various purposes, including storage, play or a desk. In this way, one area can fulfil more than one role.

4. Prioritise flexible configurations

A bedroom does not have to retain the same layout over the years. Modular furniture and pieces that can be added or replaced make it possible to reorganise the room as new needs arise, without requiring a complete overhaul. This flexibility also makes it easier to plan the space in stages, adapting its arrangement to the routine and functions the bedroom comes to serve.

5. Consider safety and functionality in the details

Space optimisation should not be the only consideration. In a child’s room, it is important to look at features that support everyday use, such as rounded corners, which help reduce the risk of bumps, and soft-close hinges, which ensure doors close gently.

Drawers, doors and other components must also be designed to withstand frequent opening, closing, movement and use. “Smart use of space needs to be combined with day-to-day functionality,” concludes Priscilla Hatsue Kawagoe.

By Mariana Kovelis