Essential elements

Desk: For 2020, a desk is the new must-have item in every child’s bedroom. With it, they need a table lamp or task light and a clock that keeps them on schedule during virtual school.

Seating: Chairs are in the same category as desks — an item that until this year was totally optional. Now, though, kids sometimes need their room as a quiet place to read or do schoolwork.

Bed and bedding: A good mattress and soft, warm bedding go a long way to getting a good night’s sleep. Boys and girls of all ages tend to like softer, fuzzier textures right now.

Dressers: Bigger closets in many new homes have built-in drawers, so a dresser may be an optional piece of furniture. That opens up floor space for a desk and chair or simply for more play space.

Shelving and storage: Good storage keeps toys and clutter off the floor. It’ll also teach even young children to be responsible for taking care of their own things.

Technology: Before the pandemic, many parents wouldn’t let their kids have computers in their rooms, but virtual school has changed that. Now, kids need their own charging stations and, possibly, USB or USC ports included in electrical outlets. If their school or homework station is in their room, you might want to include a surge protector.

Health and wellness: The biggest movement to come out of 2020 is a focus on healthy living. Paint kids’ rooms with low-VOC paints and clean up air quality with live plants or air purifiers. Big Ass Fans’ Haiku ceiling fan has a built-in air purifier. If you’ve got a chalkboard, use chalk markers to avoid chalk dust.