Kids’ rooms a welcome break
That Lego-strewn space can be transformed into a pleasant room to give your guests a good night’s sleep, finds Pattie Pegler.
Having family and friends to stay can often mean the kid’s room gets put into play as the guest room. But how can you transform that toy-ridden space into a welcoming room for your visitors?
Well, if you’re looking at a long-term plan then start with your colour palette. That means avoid painting pink unicorns or the team from Paw Patrol on the walls – clearly child-like themes really do limit what you can do with a room.
But that doesn’t mean your child has to be condemned to a life of white and beige.
‘‘Robin egg or duck egg blues look beautiful and sophisticated but still add colour,’’says Hawke’s Bay-based Dael Brady, one half of Bibby and Brady interior designers.
‘‘Get your base right for walls, floors and neutral curtains. We generally start with a calm palette like this, but it’s a colour.’’
This means you can then use this neutral canvas to put in some fun, child-appropriate touches – colourful bedding and cushions; soft toys; a shelf full of building block creations. But you can equally turn it into a grown-up space when visitors pitch up.
Brady frequently shifts her two daughters around to put guests up in one of their rooms. It’s a great solution, she says, and she is seeing an increasing number of interior design clients request children’s rooms and home offices that are versatile in this way.
But no amount of sophisticated colours will make a gorgeous guest room if the shelves are stacked with toy cars and pet rocks, and guests are impaling their feet on stray Lego. That’s why good storage options are amust, says Brady.
If possible, awell-planned, built-in wardrobe is ideal, with shelving and drawers where everything can be hidden away.
But there are also plenty of stylish storage solutions available that can provide a quick and easy fix – from cube storage shelves to laundrystyle baskets with lids, or even end-of-bed bench seats that incorporate storage and provide a handy spot for guests’ suitcases.
Of course, the bed is key in any guest room and Brady always recommends putting a queen-sized bed in children’s rooms if possible. It keeps the space more versatile and also future-proofs it, she says, as children tend to grow out of single beds quickly.
Depending on the room and whether children normally share it, you could also consider twin beds that could be pushed together to create a superking-sized bed, or even an additional bed that converts into a couch when not in use.
Bunk beds, while great for space saving in kids’ rooms, are probably the most limiting. It’s really tricky to make them look luxurious and not many adults want to climb a ladder to get to bed.
Whatever configuration you choose, dressing the bed is a key part of transforming the room.
Get that Frozen duvet and pillowcase set out of there and replace them with plain white linen for a more ‘‘luxury look’’, says Roz Scott, interior designer and founder of Wellington home staging company Tickadeeboo.
She also advises padding the bed for amore comfortable, softer feel and bringing out the square, plumped up Euro pillows.
If you prefer a bit of colour, stick with plain
rather than overly patterned – linen sheets in olive, navy blue or sometimes even blacks can work well for kids and grown-ups, says Scott.
If you want to add more pops of bright colour or patterns when your kids are there, go for fun cushions that can be quickly and easily swapped around and won’t blow the budget.
Likewise, artwork is a simple way to transform a room. Save the budget and swap out any children’s wall art with something from somewhere else in your house rather than buying new. If your child’s wall art is one of those bold decals that can’t be quickly moved, think about whether you might be able to cover it in some way.
And don’t forget those little extra touches, says Scott – a bedside table, a reading lamp, and perhaps a couple of magazines.
All these can add an air of sophistication to a child’s room. You could even put some tea and coffee-making items on a tray, or a jug of water and glasses. And Scott says ‘‘fresh flowers in a vase always look cool.’’
It’s amessage echoed by Brady. ‘‘Nice fresh linen, space for their suitcases, some home comforts,’’ she says. ‘‘Having guests is all about making them feel special, that you made an effort.’’
Get those basics right and your guests are bound to have a great stay – even if there is some stray Lego under the bed.