A kids’ room that grows with them: planning for ages 3 to 10

Kids' rooms get redone more often than any other room, usually because the furniture was bought for a three-year-old and the child is now seven. The way out is to plan in two layers: a base of pieces that last from toddler to school age, and a top layer of colour, toys and decor that changes with them.

The base: buy these once

• A standard single bed (90 × 200 cm) instead of a toddler bed. With a guard rail it works from about three, and it lasts until the teenage years. Extendable beds are an alternative if the room is very small.
• A good mattress. It is the one place not to save money.
• Low, open storage with boxes or bins at their height. If they can reach it, they can tidy it.
• A wardrobe or chest of drawers in a plain finish. Anchor every tall or heavy piece to the wall: tipping furniture is a real risk with climbing children.
• A large rug for floor play, warmth and noise.

The top layer: change it as they grow

• Bedding, cushions and a canopy or tent carry the theme. They are cheap to swap when today's dinosaurs become tomorrow's football.
• Prints and posters in frames you keep, so only the paper changes.
• Toys on display on a shelf or picture ledge, rotated every few weeks so the room doesn't fill up.

Plan the room in zones

Even a small room works better with three clear zones:

1. Sleep: the bed away from the door, a reading lamp and a small shelf for books.
2. Play: the open floor and the rug, with storage on its edge.
3. Learn: from about six, a desk with a chair that adjusts in height. Before that, a small table for drawing is enough, and the desk can arrive later in the same spot.

Light for every age

• The ceiling light for tidying and playing.
• A reading lamp by the bed for bedtime stories, with warm light.
• A night light for the early years.
• A desk lamp once homework starts.

What it costs

Rough European ranges, buying from mid-range shops:

• Refresh (new bedding, rug, storage boxes, prints): about €200–500.
• Rework (adds a bed or new storage, lighting and a desk area): about €700–1,500.
• Full redo (all new furniture, paint and flooring): €2,000 and up.

If you would like a plan made for your own kids' room, with what to buy first and where it all goes, Gaudi plans it around your budget.