Arranging a small nursery is a completely standard and not so difficult task. But if it is also narrow or has an elongated rectangular shape, then parents need to rack their brains. How to arrange the playing area? Which layout should you choose? What if you need to arrange a room for two children? Where to store toys, clothes and books? Our tips and a selection of 50 photos will help you deal with these and other questions about the renovation and design of a narrow children's room.
Tip 1. The best decoration for a narrow room is light walls and floors
Light decoration in a narrow and even more so long room is almost the only possible option, but it is very effective. A children's room decorated in white, light gray, light beige, pastel colors will seem more spacious, lighter and tidier.
- If you want to decorate the walls with wallpaper, then let it be wallpaper with an unobtrusive pattern. In a narrow nursery, only one wall can be decorated with bright coatings.
Correct placement of furniture in a children's room
Depends on the number of children living in the room and their age. A mandatory element of the interior for schoolchildren will be a table installed by the window. If you have two children, purchase a paired model with one tabletop. The bed is installed along one of the walls; it can be a bunk model for two, two beds with curtains, or a small ottoman for one child.
A bunk bed will be the best solution when placing two children in a room
A corner wardrobe will fit perfectly into the corner by the door, while the wall remains free, on which you can hang shelves for small items and books, and create a cozy corner with a mirror for girls. In a narrow space, furniture with round and oval shapes will look better.
A two-row layout is acceptable if there is a passage of at least 1 meter wide between the rows of furniture
When installing a sofa for sleeping, give preference to corner models that will occupy one corner of the room and leave enough free space for games and entertainment.
You can fill empty corners in a narrow bedroom with built-in structures - cabinets for storing things or open shelves for books and decorations
All furniture in a small room should be multifunctional; manufacturers offer many models of this type, and you can easily choose the appropriate option that will be convenient and comfortable for children.
Long planes can be decorated with paintings, mirrors or drawings - decorating the walls in the center makes the room wider
When creating the interior of a nursery, pay attention to what your child loves. What colors, cartoons and fairy tales he prefers, first of all, are based on his wishes. Then you will rarely see your child in the living room; he will spend the day and night in his room.
Tip 5. Soft and uniform lighting is the key to comfort
When planning the design of a narrow nursery, you should not limit yourself to just one central ceiling chandelier - it will create sharp shadows and thereby reduce the space. To visually expand it, you need to arrange the light sources as evenly as possible. For example, these could be inconspicuous spots along the entire perimeter of the ceiling and/or local lamps in different places - on the chest of drawers, above the closet, on the table, above the bed, etc. Then the lighting will be soft, diffused and cozy.
- The lamps themselves should not be bulky or too elegant.
Children's layout
Children want to create the best, but how to do this in a standard apartment with small rooms? A successful nursery layout can be easily implemented even in a small space. For harmonious development, the baby also needs personal space, but the size is not so critical, since he spends most of his time with his parents in the common area, living room or kitchen.
The layout of a children's room can be complicated due to the fact that the room is intended both for sleeping, and as a study corner, and as a play area. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly select the color palette and correctly delimit the space. The sleeping area should remain quiet and comfortable, and the study area should focus on studying.
Even if the child has just started kindergarten, it is better to buy a single bed right away - the purchase will pay off in the future, because children grow quickly. If your baby feels uncomfortable, it’s easy enough to reduce the space by placing decorative pillows that girls love so much, or bolsters for boys, placing them on both sides of the bed.
It is also worth buying full-sized cabinets and shelving and choosing suitable locations for their location. On shelves fixed in an area accessible to the child, his personal belongings such as clothes, toys, crafts and books should be placed.
But the desktop must be suitable for the baby’s age, otherwise it can harm his health. The workplace requirements for a 5-year-old child differ from the needs of a schoolchild. However, a wide range of “growing” furniture is now offered, in which the tabletop rises as it grows older.
Tip 6. Transverse stripes are the secret to “expanding” a narrow room
Striped carpets, wallpaper, curtains, floors laid with “boards” across rather than along the room will create an optical illusion of expanding space. Do not underestimate this old design technique, because it really affects the overall perception of the interior.
Striped carpets in the interior
Striped accent wall and plank flooring across the room
Striped ceiling and wallpaper in the interior
How to make a room safe
It is important to ensure that the child in the room does not get hurt in any way. To do this, it is necessary to limit the number of glass, metal or sharp objects that could cause the baby to harm himself or others. It is better to use furniture made from natural and safe materials.
Safety is the basis for arranging furniture in a nursery.
The colors and correct placement of furniture in the room are of no small importance. It should be borne in mind that some colors have a beneficial effect on sleep and promote good rest and mood. The nursery is the personal territory of children, so it is necessary to take into account all their needs and wishes. This will allow them to develop and rest properly.
Tip 7. Finishing touches - the right decor and curtains
- As for the decor, in a narrow room it is better not to overdo it, but since we are still talking about the design of a children's room, you cannot do without decorations at all. You can hang a garland of flags or pompoms (preferably across the room as in the previous right photo) and hang a few paintings - this will be quite enough, because an abundance of bright toys, books and other things will help to dilute the calm interior.
- What should curtains be like? Of course, light, bright and laconic. Suitable styles are Roman, roller, classic and panel curtains.
- And finally, we’ll share with you a great idea on how you can make a child’s space more interesting without taking up a single extra centimeter - just hang chalk wallpaper on the door or part of the wall as shown in the photo.
(Rate the material! Already voted: 39 average rating: 4.36 out of 5) Support the project - share the material with your friends on social networks:
Zoning options for a narrow children's room
For a comfortable stay, any room needs zoning, especially if two children live in it. The design of a children's room that is narrow and long in this case creates certain difficulties, but with the use of small tricks, they are completely solvable.
Contrasting decor on the end wall helps change the awkward geometry of an elongated space
Proper division of space:
- Zoning a narrow long children's room. A thin plasterboard partition with open shelves for books and toys will help divide the room. Pay attention to the transparent plexiglass partitions, which are unbreakable and safe for a child’s room. They will visually divide the room without shading it. You can divide the room into two triangular zones using the difference in tones of finishing materials. Installation of a small screen diagonally on which you can hang a magnetic board for learning letters and numbers, drawing or putting together a puzzle.
- Zoning a rectangular children's room. Zoning methods depend on the area of the room and the number of children living in it. A rectangular children's room can be easily zoned if it is intended for one child by installing a partition between the work desk and the sleeping area. But if it’s a narrow children’s room for two, you need to think through everything.
The modular designs of a bunk bed with shelving and cabinets bordering it will help organize a sleeping area and separate it from the play and activity area. A bed on a podium will visually divide the room and create additional storage space. Consider podium options with pull-out beds that can be moved in during the daytime and do not interfere with children's play.
Podium with pull-out beds in the boys' room
Folding beds are another practical solution for small spaces
When installing two beds at the same time, purchase ceiling sliding screens; they will create a small corner of personal space for children.
During the zoning process, it is necessary to ensure that partitions or shelving do not prevent natural light from entering the room
Tips for furniture placement
- A children's room should be safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.
- When arranging any nursery, take into account the height of the ceilings, their size, and the condition of the floor and walls.
- If the room is spacious and has a rectangular or square shape, you can divide it with a closet or partition and give space to each child.
- Cribs should be placed against opposite walls if the room is wide. The study area will be near the window. If the room is narrow, place a transformable bed or folding sofa there. Bunk beds are ideal for cramped rooms. For such rooms, a furniture corner set is suitable, which includes a bed, table, and wardrobe.
- When equipping a room in the shape of a rectangle, consider its ergonomics. Here it is necessary to arrange the furniture so that the minimum area is used with maximum comfort.
- If the room is square-shaped, using the following two options will be great space savers. The first is to place the cribs against opposite walls. The second is “head to head” at an angle. Using the first option, the personal territory of each child is emphasized, and the second option is very good for a brother and sister who dote on each other.
- If the nursery is narrow and elongated, place the crib along one line. Divide the headboard with a piece of furniture, such as a chest of drawers or a nightstand, so that children of different sexes feel their own personal territory.
Rule No. 6. Having a multifunctional storage system
Having a convenient and spacious closet or other storage system is a must in a children's room. If a preschooler's room has enough of a chest of drawers for clothes and a toy box, then a schoolchild and teenager need space for school and sports uniforms, other clothes, shoes, books and textbooks, games, accessories and many other items.
Wardrobe for clothes and shoes
The best option is a universal wardrobe. To save space, you can use a corner cabinet. An important condition is that the child can easily and safely get the thing he needs. It is best to place the closet near the door. This way it won't seem too bulky. Another option for placing the closet is on the side opposite the bed.
Examples of cabinet layout in a children's room
Rack for books and stationery
As previously mentioned, for office supplies, equip a storage system next to your desk.
Examples of a multifunctional work area
Toy boxes
For toys, you can provide separate drawers in the play area.
Options for drawers and shelves for storing books and toys
To save space, you can use hanging shelves. The main thing is not to place them above the bed.
