Few things bring as much joy as a new addition to the family, and preparing a special place for a newborn or toddler is one of the most exciting parts of the parenthood journey. However, beyond the cute décor and soft toys, designing a kid-friendly bedroom is also about ensuring that the environment is a safe, functional and nurturing one that contributes positively to the child’s growth and development. In this post, we explore some of the ways that you can ensure your bedroom design is conducive for the newborn or toddler in your household.
Safety First
When it comes to ensuring that a space is kid-friendly, safety is one of the most important things to take care of. Some of the steps that you can take to ensure that the bedroom is safe for newborns and toddlers include baby proofing any sharp edges or corners of furniture, securing heavy items like shelves to the wall to prevent tipping and using outlet covers to keep kids’ fingers safe. At the same time, you should also consider installing cordless window blinds or curtains to eliminate a potential choking hazard for curious kids.
For newborns especially, creating a safe sleep environment is crucial and this involves choosing a firm mattress, avoiding pillows and loose blankets, and ensuring that the crib is safe. As your newborn grows up, you can then make changes and adjustments to the space to accommodate them, such as adding soft rugs for cushioning.
Furniture Choices
Beyond ensuring the safety of your newborn or toddler, choosing the right furniture can also greatly improve the overall functionality and comfort of the room for both you and your child. You can consider investing in furniture pieces that serve multiple roles, such as multi-functional cribs that can convert into toddler beds or dressers that can also be used as changing tables. When choosing furniture, ensure that you also opt for pieces that have rounded edges and non-toxic finishes.
Soft and Stimulating Design
To provide an optimal environment for your child to grow up in, opt for soft and stimulating design choices that balance comfort with sensory engagement. The bedroom should be a safe space for your child to explore as they grow up and stimulating elements such as tactile surfaces and child-friendly wall art can help to encourage cognitive development and foster curiosity in children.
Design a Child-Friendly Home with Australian Heritage Homes
Beyond the bedroom, extending child-friendly design principles to the rest of your home can also help you to create an environment that can best support your child’s growth and development in the long term. Australian Heritage Homes are leading custom home builders in Melbourne, and we have been helping local homeowners design and build their homes for generations. If you are looking to design a child-friendly bedroom or home, we can help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to find out more about the services we offer!