Distributing a room into separate parts is called zoning. How to achieve this and why is it needed?
It is very important to keep order in a child’s room and it is best to do this in the most correct, comfortable conditions.
For children and adult children, it is important to know not only where their things should be, but also to clearly see these places and have some kind of logical connection.
If you zone a children's room, then the toys left on the bed will be strikingly obvious, thereby hinting that they do not belong there. It is much easier to maintain order in a room divided into functional zones. First of all, separate zones visually divide the room into several parts, which makes it much easier to organize children's activities. If he's in bed, it's bedtime and there are no distracting toys or sports equipment nearby, they're all in a different area.
One children's room can have areas for games, study, sleep and a sports corner. Each functionality has its own style and interior, and in addition to appearance, there are a number of advantages.
Why is zoning a children's room necessary:
- Convenience for concentrating the child’s attention;
- visual increase, structuring of space;
- the ability to differentiate between recreation and study areas.
Curtains
Curtains are the most economical and affordable option for mobile room zoning. They do not take up space and do not affect the layout. But they have their drawbacks - curtains with sound and light insulation have not yet been invented, so small residents will have to look for a compromise. Or you can supplement the curtain with a mobile partition.
For darker rooms, choose a material that allows light to pass through (such as tulle). If this is not a problem, pay attention to denser fabrics (taffeta and jacquard). Do you want to please both children? Use double curtains - we guarantee delight and gratitude.
Zoning a girl's room
It is believed that when choosing a room design for a girl, you can have a lot more fun. Partially, this is true. Unlike the boys' room, there is a much greater choice of decorations, textile decorations, and the color scheme is much wider and brighter.
For girls, the rules for zoning a room by age remain the same as for boys. There are differences in the choice of interior colors, furniture and decorations.
Zoning a children's room for girls:
- To create coziness in a room and a sense of privacy, textile decorations are often used: curtains, draperies, partitions made of fabric and decorations.
- Using separate play areas as a divider. For example, an area for tea drinking, a dollhouse, a kitchen, a dressing table, etc.
Psychologists say that in the process of development, girls need role-playing games more, and boys need active ones. It is important for girls to distribute space, tasks and functions of surrounding objects, therefore, the more secluded places and cabinets there are in the room, the more interesting the interior becomes for them.
Sleep zone
A common sleeping area has its advantages: children communicate more, learn to respect other people's interests and are not afraid to fall asleep without light. But there is a significant drawback - they can interfere with each other. To avoid this, equip each person with a separate storage space and a local light source.
Bunk beds, folding chairs or sofas, transformable beds and loft beds significantly save space. Today the market offers options for every taste. Before buying, consult with your kids - they should feel comfortable and calm in their new bed. Children appreciate when adults listen to their opinions.
Full beds have not been canceled either. For the passage between them, allocate at least 60 cm. The question immediately arises - what is the best way to arrange the beds? For two brothers or two sisters, a parallel arrangement and a head-to-head arrangement are suitable. If you have a boy and a girl, place the beds along the wall and build a partition between them. This solution is suitable for an elongated room.
Zoning a room into two zones: playroom and bedroom
For children who do not regularly do homework at home, having a workspace is not necessary. In this case, there is more space in the room, which allows you to zone the room into a bedroom and a nursery.
When choosing between a sleeping area and a play area, greater preference is given to the active area. Children move a lot and need constant development, both active and physical. Zoning the room in this case can be divided into 2 types:
- Spacious children's room. Here the beds with wardrobes and shelves are arranged so that they do not block the view of each other. The play area is then placed in the center of the room. This option is suitable for active children who need a lot of space.
- Closed zoning. In this case, the bed is placed in a privacy area, hidden from the central part of the room. The path to the bed is blocked, most often by bookshelves or an additional partition (soft screen).
Study area
The arrangement of the learning area depends on the age of the children. Folding, folding or coffee tables are suitable for preschoolers. They won't take up much space and will leave more space for games.
Choose furniture for schoolchildren responsibly. If funds and space allow, buy each child a table and chair with adjustable height. They cost more, but will last for many years. In Russia, it is better to make such models to order according to designers’ sketches or take a closer look at the options at IKEA. A more expensive option is German adjustable furniture. To avoid clutter and confusion, do not forget to think about a storage system for textbooks and notebooks.
Another solution is to purchase one long table and two chairs. Here are a few conditions for making a wise choice:
- when the child sits, his feet reach the floor
- the distance between the knees and the tabletop is 10-15 cm
- the tabletop is at the level of the child’s solar plexus
- free space under the table - at least 50x50 cm
- the chair does not rock or rotate
Other useful tips in the article on workplace organization.
Furniture
The quality of the chosen furniture directly affects the health of children. It should be reliable and strong, made of hypoallergenic materials and preferably lightweight so that the baby can move it independently. No sharp or protruding parts! We also remember about protecting sockets and insulating wires.
A properly equipped nursery will help to quickly develop independence. Place switches and shelves at such a height that the child can reach them himself. At five years old it is approximately 130 cm, at 7 years old – 150 cm.
How to decorate an interior for children of different ages
Decorating the interior of a child's play area worries many mothers. Wanting to raise an aesthetic personality from the cradle, mothers and fathers arrange the child’s room in pastel colors, but in the first 3 years of life this is not entirely the right decision. Taste and aesthetic perception of the world, understanding of beauty appears in a child only after 3 years; before this period, active formation of vision occurs.
When preparing a play area for a child under 3 years old, it is better to opt for bright objects.
The color of the selected pieces of furniture and wallpaper should be even, monochromatic, from the primary colors of the spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet). By interacting with bright objects, the baby improves visual perception. Calm, pastel colors are best used in the sleeping area, diluting them with bright elements.
From 3 to 6 years old, it is recommended to decorate the interior of a child’s play area in a fairy-tale style. Using images of cartoon characters, animals, nature, create an atmosphere conducive to the development of imagination. Developing bright posters that depict various shapes, colors, and letters will also come in handy in the play corner.
After 6-7 years, it is better to discuss the interior of the children's corner with the child, giving him freedom of choice. Adults only need to help the child choose furniture that is suitable in size, and invite the child to create the design of his own play and learning space.
A child’s play corner is his little kingdom!
Nursery design for two boys
In a nursery for two boys, consider the ages and interests of both. Kids will surely love the design with themes of space, pirates, cars, travel, Legos, dinosaurs, and robots. For older people, high-tech, loft, country and Scandinavian styles are suitable. You can express the individuality of tomboys with the help of different bedding sets, posters with your favorite characters and nameplates.
Nursery design for two girls
To make a room for two girls look holistic and harmonious, decorate it in a single theme (fairies, princesses, mermaids) or style (Provence, country, classic, Scandinavian). Have doubts or disagreements about the base color? There are several exits. The first is to choose a color that both like, the second is to give preference to a neutral color. And the most interesting thing is to divide the room into two zones using your favorite colors. Just check first to see if they fit together well.
How to properly divide a children's room
The room needs to be divided so that the child has a relaxation area, the opportunity to learn lessons and a place to play. How to do it right:
| Area in the nursery | The furniture in it |
| Educational | Work, desk or computer desk, chair, furniture for storing things, textbooks. The most convenient are modular systems with a built-in table, drawers, shelves, and cabinets. If the square footage is small, you can choose transforming systems (pull the bed in and pull out the table). |
| Bedroom | Beds: multi-level, simple or corner, bunk (when arranging a children's room for two children). |
| Gaming | Racks with shelves, sports corner. |
The interior of the nursery is created taking into account the characteristics of the room and the needs of the baby. The boy will be satisfied with simple, even a little rough ways of delimiting space - partitions made of plasterboard or wood are often used in a children's room. Girls love a sophisticated interior more; all details should be soft, delicate, and pleasing to the eye.
When dividing a room for children into zones, it is also necessary to take into account sound insulation in the room. The best option would be a room located away from the kitchen or living room. To create additional sound insulation, shelving made of plasterboard or wood for toys and clothes is often installed around the entrance.
Lighting is also significant. It is better to place children in the western or eastern room - there will be more light there. Or choose the right artificial lighting.
Room zoning options
In the interior design of a room for children, three main zoning techniques are used:
- Parallel distinction. A place for studying, storing things, sleeping, and leisure is created for each inhabitant of the nursery. The space is divided into two parts using a partition element or color accents. So, in a narrow room with a window opposite the door, a bed and a work area for each child can be placed along the right and left walls.
- Diagonal zoning of a children's room. A stylish solution for a large square room. The space is divided using accessories, color, and interior items.
- Creation of common areas. This is an ergonomic method of dividing a children's area of 10-15 m2. You can install a bed on two tiers for sleeping and a work desk, shelves for textbooks and personal belongings for each child. The sports area can also be shared.
There are several methods for demarcating a nursery - from erecting additional partitions to dividing into zones using color. Considering the layout of modern apartments, several methods are usually used simultaneously.
Functional zoning
You can functionally divide the room of a child or two children to create personal space for each using a partition. It happens:
| Partition type | Varieties | Materials | Use Cases |
| Stationary | Solid and sliding, up to the ceiling and separating the space ½ or ¾ from the floor. | Plasterboard, wood, building block, chipboard. | In children's rooms, plasterboard and wood are more often used. These eco-friendly materials allow you not only to divide the room into zones, but also to create a fancy interior using complex structures. A favorite design feature is built-in cabinets and shelving that frame the bed or desk. |
| Mobile | Screens. | Wood, fabric, metal. | Relevant in small rooms where it is difficult to install a stationary partition. It can be painted with bright patterns, decorated with appliqués, or made using the decoupage technique. It is important for girls to dress comfortably - boys are rarely so shy. |
| Fabric | Curtains, canopies, roller blinds. | All types of textiles. | They allow you to create an atmosphere of comfort in the room, preserving the individual space of each of its residents. An excellent option would be a ceiling screen made from different types of textiles. The room of two children of opposite sexes can be divided into two parts with curtains like a stage curtain. |
Dividing a room for children can also be done by rearranging the furniture. Delimiters can be: bookcases, pianos, racks with toys. A winning option for zoning a room is dividing it with low furniture. Then the nursery will be sufficiently illuminated during daylight hours.
In rooms with high ceilings, the option of organizing a two-tier space deserves attention. Boys and girls love “tree houses” and will happily sleep on a bed raised several meters from the floor.
The main task in implementing such an idea is to think through safety measures so that the child can easily get down and into his “house”.
Under the bed there is a study area, a dressing room, and a sports corner. Designs with several levels look unusual in a children's room: when one part of the room is raised above the floor level onto a podium. If it is high, toy boxes are mounted inside. Low podiums provide a platform for floor lighting.
Nursery design for brother and sister
Most often, boys and girls have different interests, so organize separate private areas for your brother and sister, where the kids can relax from each other, dream and calmly go about their business. Curtains, screens, mobile partitions or pieces of furniture are suitable for such purposes.
For decoration, choose a neutral color scheme that will suit both children, or divide the room into zones using color. For a boy - blue, green, brown, turquoise, gray, burgundy. For girls - yellow, orange, coral, lilac, cream. Based on the children’s temperament: calmer ones will benefit from saturated colors that can stimulate them, and for those who are very active, muted colors will suit them.
There may be two brothers, two sisters, a brother and a sister growing up in a family; they may be the same age or have a big age difference, have a passion for literature or be interested in completely different things. In any case, it is in your power to create a comfortable space for both. The main thing is to listen to the needs and desires of children. We will help you with the rest!
What types of room zoning are there?
There are various options for zoning children's rooms, ranging from small details to extravagant finishing works. The division of zones can occur with the help of individual pieces of furniture or interior features.
Of all the variations, the main methods are distinguished:
- Delineation of zones with furniture (cabinet, rack, shelves, screen, partition).
- Separate decorative items and fittings (carpet, lamp, floor decoration, living plants).
- Zoning using a multi-level floor, ceiling, finishing surfaces with different materials, using different colors.
Before choosing your own zoning method, it is advisable to take into account the interests and needs of the child. Each method has its own advantages, such as zoning using the interior, which is more suitable for adult children. At the age of 7 years and older, it is easier to distinguish zones by color and decoration, and for young children, object-based furnishings are suitable - fencing zones with cabinets and soft partitions.
Zoning a nursery using a partition
It is worth noting that a multi-level ceiling is more of a decorative way of zoning, and for a child this distinction is hardly noticeable. It is advisable to install an additional floor level under such a ceiling. Since the rise will be higher than the rest of the floor, it is best to install a bed or a place to rest there, reducing the risk of falling during active games.
Multi-level floor in the nursery
