HOW TO PLAN YOUR CHILD'S ROOM

DECORATING AND PLANNING YOUR CHILD’S BEDROOM: BABIES AND TODDLERS

Give Them Space: You may be paying the mortgage, but a bedroom is so much more to a child than just a place to sleep, so consider giving them the largest bedroom. They won't use it much when they're a baby, but they'll soon be toddlers and before long you'll be deluged with toys and stuff. It'll be worth giving them the larger room if they manage to keep most of their toys in there and not everywhere else in the house. Lucky enough to have a playroom? You might just get away with keeping the larger bedroom...

Choose Furniture To Last: Okay, so a cot is only going to last a couple of years, and you have to have it. But there's no reason why, chosen carefully, other furniture bought now couldn't last until you send them off to college. For major bits of furniture, like beds and wardrobes, steer clear of teeny versions they will outgrow in a couple of years. Go for a classic style, and buy sturdy, quality items that have some hope of withstanding the frankly improper use your children will subject them to.

Put In Bunks: Even if the room is for one child, think about putting in bunks anyway once they're out of a cot. They will be really useful in the case of another child or for friends to sleep over or if you want to stick a sibling in their room when Granny comes to stay, but they also make excellent dens and adventure playgrounds for young kids.

Invest In Hidden Storage: If you go for a single bed, think about a practical cabin type (with space underneath for a desk) or invest in an under-bed truckle for sleepovers.

Fit Practical Flooring: Flooring is key in a kid's pad. You want something hard-wearing and stain proof, and when they've got their mates round and they're all hyped up on Jelly Tots, you'll also appreciate some sound absorption. Rubber Flooring is great for softness, toughness and insulation (try Rubber Flooring Company or Dalsouple, or go for wooden flooring with a jolly (washable) rug).

Make It Kid-Proof: At toddler age, children are basically monkeys - chairs are for leaping off, beds are for bouncing on or camping under and anything high is ripe for swinging on. Watch your children playing to get inspiration for making their room fun. Think bed with drapes to make a den, fit a plain wall with foot and hand holds to make rock face, sling a hammock across a corner to transform the room into a pirate ship.

Be Safe: Don't forget - safety first. Fit window locks, remove locks on doors, avoid large lockable trunks, put covers on electrical sockets, avoid trailing electrical leads, and screw heavy furniture to the wall.

Keep Them Asleep: Children of this age group are still prone to the 'get up at dawn' routine, so get a serious blackout solution at the window if you value your sleep. A blackout roller blind in a neutral shade will see them through to adulthood, and you can add different drapes to pretty it up as the décor changes.

Get Them In The Mood For Bed: A dimmer switch is a good idea for getting the mood right for the bedtime routine and providing a soft nightlight if they need it.

5 Golden Rules For Children's Rooms

Plan Ahead: Plan at least three years in advance - hard to imagine now, but in a couple of years their great long legs will be dangling over the end of that cute little toddler bed.

Don't Theme It: Don't go all out on a dominant theme - it may look fabulous, but you cannot throw away every present they are given that doesn't match.

Make Them Think It's What They Want: Listen to what they (toddlers, that is, not babies) want but interpret it loosely - kids, especially small ones, change their minds in a heartbeat.

Storage, Storage, Storage: You cannot have too much storage. The room might be too clustered so you can have the 6 open cabinet or the storage bins well fitted under their beds (if there is an opening).

Be Realistic: Keep it flexible - they want to share, they don't want to share, it's your son's room, it's your daughter's room, it's the spare room - remember modern living is all about flux before you commit to that fitted daisy carpet.