Designing for Littles

I’m working on a handful of kids’ rooms right now and it has me thinking a lot about how I approach these spaces and what’s important to me both as a designer and a mom. I think it’s pretty common for people to worry about investing in their homes when they have little kids and I get it, kids are messy. But the truth is, with the right balance of quality furnishings and materials, we can create spaces that are really beautiful and livable at the same time. I love (and feel so blessed) that my kids have safe, comfortable, well organized rooms to fall asleep in every night and wake up to every morning. It improves their physical and mental well-being and mine (knowing everything has a place and will imperfectly evolve over time).

Some of the key things I consider when designing kids’ rooms:

• Wool rugs — natural, breathable and super cleanable (I was at a farm with my son recently and smiled a bit at how muddy the sheep were!)
• Safe/non-toxic mattresses (like Naturepedic, Avocado and Saatva), Greenguard certification (low/no VOC’s or chemical emissions) and GOTS organic cotton bedding and textiles — industry standards for selecting safer, healthier furniture and materials
• A timeless foundation — I always recommend investing in well-made furniture pieces (dressers, beds) and classic patterns (stripes, checks, florals) that will easily grow with them and stand the test of time
• Wood — creates connection to the outdoors and adds character and warmth
• Window treatments — usually a layered approach, combining something light filtering for privacy with another layer that has substantial lining (or black out) for sleep
• Thoughtful storage — I love adding built-ins whenever possible, along with baskets to corral books/stuffed animals/etc. and dual purpose upholstered storage benches to tuck away all the things
• Good lighting — so important in any space, but for kids’ rooms in particular I like to maximize natural light and add varying levels of light (ambient, task) for function
• Fun art — there is SO much cute original (and vintage) art out there and I love supporting small makers on Etsy, IG, etc. (also so easy to frame a child’s own artwork and incorporate it into their space in a creative way)

I’m also always trying to make it personal to each kid and what they’re interested in. A couple of ideas we’re working on right now:

• A large custom pinboard with a peg rail below (to hang medals, necklaces, etc.) and a ledge above for trophies and artwork
• A built-in bunk bed with a desk and extra drawers to maximize storage and functionality in a bedroom with a smaller footprint

Will try to add updates as we go via IG if you want to follow along! @lindseyhansondesign

A cute window seat with large storage drawers that we added to a little girls room in a past project. Photo by Sarah Winchester

*Linked info for the header image:
blue floral bed | desk | striped bed | scallop flushmount | I would pick you every time artwork