Kids room design is actually a challenging task. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of candy pink or monster trucks. Kids have their interests, and if the child in question is old enough, he or she will tell you about all of their favorite things. These are just passing trends. If you’re able to design a kid’s room that encourages curiosity and creativity, that room will last longer than until the next hit animated kid’s movie comes out.

There are also other advantages to designing a creativity boosting kids’ room. You’ll be crafting an environment where children will feel encouraged to be productive by exploring their interests and developing their skills and talents. The right room can give a child a head start in life by helping them cultivate their personal inventory of interests. All you need to do is set the proper stage for the child to explore and grow.

The Organizational System

Children aren’t naturally organized creatures. They have a tendency to follow whims until they leave a mess from one end of the house to the other. That’s why the organization of a child’s space is so important. If your child has to spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up after a play session, that’s a waste of valuable time the child could have spent learning or creating.

Photo by Kyle Van Horn on Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

It’s important to create a functional organizational system that’s simple enough for a child to follow. Boxes, bins, and cubbies are straightforward and relatively inexpensive. Small labels or visual cues on simple storage systems can help children autonomously clean and sort their belongings, and may even assist them in developing an appreciation for organization.

If one mess is easy to clean up, the child can move on to different creative and exploratory messes (like paints, blocks, or puzzles) without all of the components becoming jumbled.

The Lighting

It’s sometimes difficult to convince children that reading is in their best interest. It’s a little more difficult when it’s hard for them to see what they’re reading. By utilizing a combination of natural light and task specific light, like adjustable desk lamps or bright string lights, tasks that pertain to reading or focusing on small details become a lot easier. You don’t want a child to feel as though he or she needs to work to learn – you want to cultivate curiosity as a natural instinct that is easy to satisfy at a moment’s notice.

Photo by www.mazzaliarmadi.it – Mazzali on Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]

The Stations

Divide the room up into areas. A traditional workstation that features an appropriately sized desk with a comfortable chair is a perfect space for students to explore their homework or review the information that they’re working on at school. While this is of the utmost importance, it’s not the only way a child can learn.

You’ll want to have an area for messy toys (paint, chalk, etc) that is separate from a neat area that can be used for clean toys. This will create natural cues that help a child transition from task to task, creating a boundary between structure and freedom that is easy to abide by.

Photo by amy gizienski on Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

These separate stations will allow a child to focus his or her efforts specifically to the task at hand, making most of the experience and promoting the freedom to explore tasks from multiple angles. It removes the distractions of other toys or activities from the one that’s being focused on in the moment. A child with a dollhouse near their homework might feel as though their attention is too divided to absorb the information.

The Ambiance

Colors can evoke different moods. You’ve probably noticed throughout your life that plain white walls are less than inspiring. Generic paintings and posters like the ones that hang framed in hotel rooms or doctor’s office waiting rooms probably don’t provoke a reaction in you that inspires you to achieve something great.

Photo by jinkazamah on Flickr [CC BY 2.0]

Don’t shy away from colors and textures in our child’s room. Even if a piece of art feels a little too mature at the moment, your child can grow to appreciate it from observing it. An antique map of the world might seem like something that belongs in the study of a distinguished historian, but a child can learn just as much from exploring it.

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The Equipment

A child’s room should be equal parts comfort and structure. Loft beds make room for workspaces below a sleeping area. Beds with drawer storage in the bottom make it easier to put clothing or stuffed animals away without taking up additional space. You want your child to have as much open space as possible for exploration and activities.

Photo by bedzine on Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0]

Choose furniture that is capable of efficiently multitasking. The less floor space you’re occupying, the better. Children need room to move around – it’s all a part of creativity and active play. If some of their toys can be moved into a separate area of the home, you can maximize that space even further.

Don’t forget to consult with the child before making any design choices – you want the child to feel as comfortable as possible in the space they’re living in, even if it means making a few compromises. The child’s room should feel like a safe and comfortable place, which will undoubtedly require some input.

Read more: Five Keys To Kid-Friendly Interior Design