Your toddler's personality is growing, and it's time to switch from a nursery to a toddler room. Now that your little one is more aware of their surroundings, you can have more fun with picking the things that go into the bedroom. Exploring toddler room ideas helps spark your imagination and create a space that's just right for your little one. For toddlers, it's all about making the room visually appealing and safe. Your little one is still learning what's safe and what's not, so you want to include lots of sturdy, secure furniture pieces and soft touches. Bean bags can even assist with early childhood development. Adding in functional areas where your toddler can play, create, look at books, and relax is also important. It makes the room special and encourages their growth. You also want to think about how the design can grow with your toddler into the childhood years. Picking furniture pieces that work as your child gets older is a good investment. Colours that work with different themes make it easier to redecorate when your child wants a different room design. Check out these tips and ideas for creating a toddler room your little one will love.
Pick a Theme
A theme adds a fun twist to your toddler's bedroom. It's an ideal way to work in some of your little one's favourite things and interests. Themes also help you choose all of the design elements for the bedroom. It's easier to choose coordinating bedding, window coverings, decorations, and other things to go into the bedroom when you have a theme. You can go with a classic kids' bedroom theme, such as zoo animals, woodland creatures, transportation, pirates, oceans, or fairy tales. Another option is to go with a more general theme, such as geometric shapes, stripes, or letters. You still have a central idea throughout the design, but it's not an over-the-top theme. The general theme approach also allows the room to grow with your child. It's easier to update the decor if you go with a general stripe or polka dot theme than it is if you completely stylize the design around an obvious theme.
Select a Colour Scheme
Now that you have a theme in mind, you can choose a colour scheme to go along with it. Some themes naturally lend themselves to certain colours. An ocean theme works well with blues and greens. A woodland theme fits well with brown, green, and other earthy tones. If you already have decorations to go along with the theme, pull colours from those pieces. You might choose a shade of green from the dinosaur bedding as an accent hue. Lighter colours make the space feel brighter and larger. Choosing a lighter neutral hue for the main colour gives the room a more versatile look. Incorporate brighter colours in the accents. You might choose furniture in a fun colour or add curtains in a vivid pattern. Stick to two or three colours in the room so it doesn't get too overwhelming. If your toddler is old enough to have a favourite colour, see if you can work it into the bedroom design to make it more appealing.
Decide on the Bed
Moving your toddler from the cot to a bed is one of the most exciting parts of the transition. Deciding when to make the move depends largely on your toddler's readiness. The move usually happens somewhere between 18 months and 3.5 years. But you can wait until your child is ready. You can still update the room to a more toddler-friendly design if you're still using the cot. Once your little one is ready for the transition, you can update that portion of the room. Picking a new bed for your toddler's room requires a mix of safety considerations and style. Many parents start with a smaller toddler bed, which uses a cot mattress. These beds are usually low to the ground so your tot can climb in and out safely. The smaller size makes toddlers feel cosier and safer during the transition. You can also move directly to a regular bed if you don't want to spend money on a toddler bed that won't get used very long. If you choose a larger bed, choose one that's low to the ground. Make sure your toddler can get into and out of the bed alone. Adding guardrails also provides security for your little one while sleeping.
Choose a Statement Bed
Pick a statement bed that creates a focal point in the room. One option is a themed bed that goes with the room theme. If you're designing a pirate room, you might pick a bed that's shaped like a pirate's ship. A bed designed to look like a house is another option. Think of it as a modified canopy bed with the top portion looking like the room of a house. Many kids' beds look like adult beds in a smaller version. You might find a canopy bed or a platform bed for kids. These options let you create a trendy look in your toddler's bedroom. It can fit in with the style in the rest of your rooms if you like a cohesive look throughout the home.
Add a Reading Nook
Your toddler's room can encourage learning based on the design elements you use. Educational design ideas help your little one develop skills and make connections about the world. One way to do that is with a reading nook. Reading with your child helps support brain development, especially in the early years. It also helps with language, emotions, imagination, and bonding. Setting up a dedicated spot for reading makes it easier for you to share a good book with your toddler. It also encourages your child to explore books for themselves. Start with book storage to keep an assortment of board books and picture books available. If you choose a freestanding bookshelf, anchor it to the wall to keep it from tipping over on top of your toddler. Include a spot to sit with your child to read together. A rocking chair or bean bag chair works well for this. Make sure the reading nook has plenty of natural or artificial light. Ample lighting lets you read without eye strain or headaches.
Incorporate an Art Area
Another way to encourage creativity and learning is by adding an art area in your toddler's bedroom. A toddler-sized table makes a good base for the area. You can also set up a kid-sized easel for drawing and painting. The table can also work for other activities such as playing with toys or building with blocks. Be careful about leaving art supplies in the bedroom. They could become a choking hazard, or they may end up making a big mess when you're not around to supervise. Don't forget to include a place to hang up your toddler's artwork. Frames on the wall and a string with clothespins to clip up the art are options. Hang the artwork display high enough so your toddler can't reach it and pull down the display.
Set Up a Tent
Play tents add a magical feel to a child's bedroom. They give your little one a retreat for quiet time or for play. Tents are also great for inspiring imaginative play. Your child can pretend to go camping or playhouse with a tent. A similar option is to hang a canopy in the bedroom. Canopies hang from the ceiling and drape down with a dreamy look. A canopy is a fun addition to a reading nook or play area in the bedroom. Avoid putting it over a young toddler's bed, as young kids may be twisted up in the canopy as they sleep. Add an extra magical touch to the tent or canopy with fairy lights. Attach the fairy lights inside the tent to create a starry sky effect.
Offer Easily Accessible Storage
Your toddler is starting to explore more and play independently. Make that easier with storage that's low to the ground and easy for your little one to use. Low cube-style shelves that are anchored to the wall work well. You can stack large toys directly into the cubbies on the shelving. For smaller items, use soft cloth storage bins that fit into the cubby spaces. Your toddler can slide the bins out of the storage spaces to reach the toys. Hooks attached to the wall at a toddler-friendly height hold lots of items. Use them to hang up dress-up clothes so your child can get to them easily. Or hang bags of toys on the hooks so you can store them out of the way when your child isn't playing with them. If your toddler's bed is high enough, slip some baskets or tubs under the bed. This gives you more storage space and still leaves plenty of floor space available for your child to play. Soft-sided baskets work to add storage throughout the bedroom. You can fill them with stuffed animals, dress-up clothes, or other toys. When it's time to clean up the room, have your toddler help grab the toys and dump them into the baskets.
Include Comfortable Seating
Your little one needs a cosy spot to take a load off while relaxing in the bedroom. Kid-sized chairs and soft features on the floor are the perfect way to do that. Bean bag chairs for kids offer an ideal solution. They're soft and squishy so your little one can sink into them. Kids can cuddle up in bean bag chairs to read books, relax, or play. Since they conform to your body, they offer a comfortable spot for all types of activities. Bean bag chairs are also easy to move around to different areas. You can move it from the reading nook to the play area. Or you can carry it out to the living room for family movie night. Kid-sized bean bag chairs let your toddler settle in comfortably and safely. When you follow bean bag safety tips, you can use this seating option in your toddler's without worry. Floor pillows add even more comfort to the bean bag seating. Include a mix of soft floor seating options for your toddler.
Add a Rug
An area rug adds a decorative touch to your toddler's room. Choose one that fits the colour scheme and theme for the bedroom. You can also find kids' rugs that encourage play. An example is an area rug with roads printed on it. Your child can drive toy vehicles on the roads, making the rug a soft floor covering and a play option. A thick, shaggy rug is also an option for adding a softer touch to the floor. This is a good option if you have hardwood floors in your toddler's room. It offers some extra padding when your child wants to sit on the floor.
Incorporate Interactive Elements
Keep your toddler engaged and excited to spend time in the room by adding some interactive elements. One idea is to create a chalkboard wall in the room. Chalkboard paint is easy to apply to walls or to the back of a closet door. The wall then becomes a large canvas for chalkboard art. Always supervise your toddler with chalk. It's non-toxic, but it can be a choking hazard. Wooden activity tables are another option. The tables are toddler-height and often have different elements, such as beads that slide along paths. Encourage your child's cooking skills and imaginative play with a play kitchen. Include play food, but choose the pieces carefully. Make sure all of the pieces are large enough so that they don't cause a choking hazard.
Explore Toddler Room Ideas
With so many toddler room ideas, it's possible to find an option that fits your budget and style. Starting with a theme and picking toddler-friendly furnishings to fit the theme helps you create a space your child loves. Shop our kids' bean bags to find the perfect seating solutions for your toddler's room. With a range of colours, patterns, and styles, there's something to fit any toddler room decor.
