I am so excited to feature my second guest blogger today, to help you tackle designing your child’s bedroom. Kelly Wissinger is the owner and lead designer of Changing Spaces Jax.

Designing your child’s bedroom can be such a challenge. You want it to look aesthetically pleasing (uhhh or is that just me??) AS WELL as being functional. You want them to have everything they need in their room, but not SO much that it gets messy really easily and is too hard to maintain.

Kelly to the rescue! She has some amazing tips on how to design, style and organize your child’s room. The best thing about her advise is that it can really grow along side your child. For example, you can replace the small table and chairs with a desk, once your children are in school and have nightly homework.

Functional, yet fun!

Are you struggling to make your child’s room aesthetically pleasing and functional at the same time? It can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out how to keep an organized, yet relaxing, comfortable space for your child, as well as trying to encourage teachable moments. As a former child care giver come designer, and proud mother, I have a few ideas to help you out…

The space needs to be inviting; somewhere the child enjoys to be whether by themselves, or with friends. If the child is old enough let them help with some decisions such as their favorite colors or theme; involving them in the process helps motivate them in maintaining their space. Functionality plays a huge part in a child’s room. If things aren’t structured and organized it can be overwhelming for a child; they may feel restless and distracted.

• For the largest piece in the space, typically the bed, a daybed is my go-to. It’s a great option especially when it comes to utilizing space. It is a little more versatile than bunkbeds as you are not limited to a specific wall. A trundle can then be added when those sleepover days arrive.

• Open floor space with a rug allows time for the child to let out energy and develop large motor skills, and prevents the space from feeling too cluttered. Using baskets provides opportunities to keep things organized. Carpet tiles are another fun option; they’re washable, come in many different colors and patterns, and a single tile can be replaced without having to change out the whole rug.

• A cozy corner makes the space inviting; a comfy chair or beanbag, in a washable fabric, and reading books on low shelves promotes quiet time.

• Child sized table and chairs, preferably made of wood for its durability, along with fine motor activities like puzzles or activity books encourages focus time.

• Providing shelves and cubbies nearby with pictured or written labels allows a child to feel grown up and reinforce independence.

When it comes to designing a child’s room for aesthetics, using coordinating colors from the rug or the bedding and decorative bins is a great place to start. Curtains help soften a space and provide another opportunity to bring in coordinating colors and patterns. Having a variety of light sources including an overhead chandelier for play time, a reading lamp for quiet time, and sconces or night-lights for nap time help set the mood. For the walls, a mural or wallpaper on the upper half relating to the theme keeps everything consistent. Painting board and batten with semi-gloss paint on the lower half adds texture and is easy to clean.

In short: Coordinate colors and theme for a cohesive look, section areas out to help with structure and flow, and have plenty of shelves and bins to inspire organizational skills.

Happy decorating!
xo, Kelly