Design mistakes to avoid while designing bedroom for kids

Merino Laminates, March 3, 2025

Our home is a space that brings us tranquility and comfort and it is a place where all inhabitants can be at ease. Irrespective of the space we are designing, we have to consider multiple factors to ensure that it is user-friendly, comfortable and flexible to adapt to the growing needs of the users. 

This is especially crucial when you are designing a bedroom for kids as this is a space that has a great impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of the child. It is  a space that they are using to rest, relax, study and play and thus, the design of it can influence the personality of the individual in their formative years. Here are some design mistakes that we must avoid while designing a positive, pleasant and progressive space for a child: 

1. While the paints or wall finishes can be easily changed over a period of time, structural and design elements that are more permanent need to be carefully applied so as to ensure that the room and the space is adaptable to the changing needs of the child. You must ensure that the room must have ample ventilation, sturdy flooring that does not slip, good lighting, ample plug points etc. The placement of the wardrobes, sizes, etc have to be chosen to adapt to the changing needs of the child. One can go for movable partitions, long handles, lights inside storage units etc., to ensure that the fittings and the settings are suitable for children of all ages. Ample storage, desk space, plug points etc., must be provided to adapt to the growing child. 

2. Another mistake that people commonly make is prioritising looks over safety of the child. While the appearance of the space is very important, safety of the child takes precedence and one must ensure that the room and the home at large is child proof and safe. Balconies should have high grills, flooring must be anti-skid, windows should have grills, corners must be smooth or corner protectors must be added and similar things have to be borne in mind while designing for a child. 

3. Going for furniture/ fittings that are not ergonomic or child friendly is another common mistake that we see in many homes. While it is understandable that fittings cannot be changed frequently, the design can be chosen in such a way that it is suitable for all ages. Today, we can find many interesting furniture options that grow with a child and can be adapted to the growing needs of the child. 

4. One must also be careful while choosing the material for a child’s room. For instance, it is advised to go for easy to clean laminates, laminates that one can write on, scratch resistant surfaces etc. Merino Laminates offers the Gloss meister range that comes in a wide range of colours and is a great option for kids’  bedrooms. You should also go for upholstery that is easy to clean, does not cause irritation and is comfortable for the child to use. It is also important to go for safer alternatives like using blinds instead of curtains as children can pull, play and get themselves entangled in curtains, similarly stand alone furniture must be avoided and wall mounted options must be chosen as the free standing ones can fall on kids.

5. We often look at conventional colours like blues and pinks for specific genders, however, this is not only redundant but also does not always align with colour theory. While there is no harm in using those colours if the child loves them, restricting ourselves and not exploring other colours is a design mistake commonly made. The wrong colours can depress or overwhelm a child, and choosing the right colours can help create a relaxing, peaceful and neutral environment to help the child project his or her own personality through their art and crafts. We now see many parents go for soft beiges, greys. Light greens etc as these colours are great options for spaces for children that are conducive of imagination and creativity. 

6. Having too many designs, colours and objects that can overstimulate a child is a very common mistake that is seen in many homes. With the intention of making the space vibrant and cute, people often tend to make it overstimulating, leaving little space for the child to express his own imagination. Ideally, the colours, designs and products must support a child to express themselves and act as a canvas to explore and express themselves freely. 

7. In today’s context, space is a constraint, and we still do not see many homeowners not using the space they have to its fullest potential. Optimising space by creating multi level spaces for varied activities and storage can be a fun and interesting way to design a space for a child. 

8. If the room is being shared by two siblings, equal emphasis to the needs of both kids must be given and the aesthetic preferences of both the children must be considered while designing the space, rather than just mindlessly cluttering the room with too many things that are simply unnecessary for the children. Provision must also be made for them to operate both as individuals and as a team for a well balanced environment. 

We hope that these tips help you design a wholesome, beautiful and elegant bedroom for your kids. Being aware of your child’s preferences and offering them a space that is a blank canvas for them to paint on, is the key to a successful design. Design mistakes to avoid while designing bedroom for kids