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6 Excellent Ways to Make a Creative Space for Kids
Want to build in some space where your child’s imagination can run free? Try these ideas
When reconfiguring or renovating your home, there are plenty of ways to build in some space where children can enjoy imaginative play, crafting, music, writing or art. Design such areas in your home with longevity in mind and they’ll enjoy them for years to come.
2. Slot within cabinetry
For musical families, it can be a challenge to create room for a piano. Even when there’s physical space, the instrument can dominate visually, which may not be ideal in a multifunctional room.
In this scheme designed by Zulufish, the piano and its stool feel more prominent than dominant, largely because the shelving and cabinetry around them, along with the large mirror above, have the effect of integrating them into the room. The piano becomes another piece of furniture and feels part of the scheme as a whole.
Note, too, how the table is light enough to push up to the wall if more floor space is needed for a family jam.
For musical families, it can be a challenge to create room for a piano. Even when there’s physical space, the instrument can dominate visually, which may not be ideal in a multifunctional room.
In this scheme designed by Zulufish, the piano and its stool feel more prominent than dominant, largely because the shelving and cabinetry around them, along with the large mirror above, have the effect of integrating them into the room. The piano becomes another piece of furniture and feels part of the scheme as a whole.
Note, too, how the table is light enough to push up to the wall if more floor space is needed for a family jam.
3. Light it up
If you’re considering a bespoke piece of joinery for children to use for years to come, don’t forget task and ambient lighting, which can create an attractive focal point as well as a practical space for creation.
This bespoke cabinetry, with its tongue-and-groove panelling and decorative mouldings, was designed by Willow & Bert Interiors and fits perfectly into a house with period features. Yet it’s also very modern, with built-in wall lights and LED strips illuminating each shelving nook.
Drawers are perfect for tidying away craft supplies, while the upper nooks are ideal for creating inspiring displays, especially with the backlighting.
The whole design is eminently futureproof – it’s classic and flexible enough to suit exam-studying teens as much as younger children.
More: When Does it Make Sense to Build in Bespoke Storage?
If you’re considering a bespoke piece of joinery for children to use for years to come, don’t forget task and ambient lighting, which can create an attractive focal point as well as a practical space for creation.
This bespoke cabinetry, with its tongue-and-groove panelling and decorative mouldings, was designed by Willow & Bert Interiors and fits perfectly into a house with period features. Yet it’s also very modern, with built-in wall lights and LED strips illuminating each shelving nook.
Drawers are perfect for tidying away craft supplies, while the upper nooks are ideal for creating inspiring displays, especially with the backlighting.
The whole design is eminently futureproof – it’s classic and flexible enough to suit exam-studying teens as much as younger children.
More: When Does it Make Sense to Build in Bespoke Storage?
4. Play with paint
Try a paint finish that allows children to muck about on the walls – with no lasting damage.
Did you know, for example, you can get white – and indeed other colours – chalkboard paint, whiteboard paint and magnetic finishes? They’re all worth considering for encouraging creative endeavour, since children can make new artworks as often as they like on a large scale.
This Ellie Mroz design is an interesting twist on the classic blackboard wall, and perfect for homes with a pale aesthetic or spaces that you want to keep light and airy without stifling inspiration.
Try a paint finish that allows children to muck about on the walls – with no lasting damage.
Did you know, for example, you can get white – and indeed other colours – chalkboard paint, whiteboard paint and magnetic finishes? They’re all worth considering for encouraging creative endeavour, since children can make new artworks as often as they like on a large scale.
This Ellie Mroz design is an interesting twist on the classic blackboard wall, and perfect for homes with a pale aesthetic or spaces that you want to keep light and airy without stifling inspiration.
5. Zone a bedroom
A dedicated corner in the house or a separate playroom is not always an option, but this sweet and future-flexible design by Black & Milk shows one idea for incorporating a craft space into a child’s bedroom.
The circular rug zones off the part of the room dedicated to this purpose, and a round table, echoing the rug, provides work space. The large lamp makes for a soft task light that will come into its own on wintery afternoons.
The cubbyhole wall shelf and peg unit is currently filled with decorative plants, but would make a great spot for hanging attractive baskets filled with pencil cases and crafty bits and pieces. Small pots of pens and crayons could sit inside the cubbyholes, while finished artworks could be added to the top shelf.
A dedicated corner in the house or a separate playroom is not always an option, but this sweet and future-flexible design by Black & Milk shows one idea for incorporating a craft space into a child’s bedroom.
The circular rug zones off the part of the room dedicated to this purpose, and a round table, echoing the rug, provides work space. The large lamp makes for a soft task light that will come into its own on wintery afternoons.
The cubbyhole wall shelf and peg unit is currently filled with decorative plants, but would make a great spot for hanging attractive baskets filled with pencil cases and crafty bits and pieces. Small pots of pens and crayons could sit inside the cubbyholes, while finished artworks could be added to the top shelf.
6. Make use of low eaves
While low ceilings may be awkward for grown-ups, they can create cosy spots for children to use.
Here, in a design by Copper Sky Design + Remodel, one end of an attic room has been given over to imaginative play, with a cute camping set in situ. You can also imagine a play kitchen, café or ice-cream shop fitting the space sweetly, or perhaps a dressing-up changing room.
Keep any furniture on a small scale and low to the ground. Ceiling spots like these are also practical where head height is minimal, while LED fairy lights are not only fun, but also provide a softening additional layer of light. Be sure to keep dangling wires away from smaller children, though.
As they grow, this could easily morph into a reading space or – with a couple of floor mattresses – a lounging area or even a spare bed.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would the children in your life most love? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
While low ceilings may be awkward for grown-ups, they can create cosy spots for children to use.
Here, in a design by Copper Sky Design + Remodel, one end of an attic room has been given over to imaginative play, with a cute camping set in situ. You can also imagine a play kitchen, café or ice-cream shop fitting the space sweetly, or perhaps a dressing-up changing room.
Keep any furniture on a small scale and low to the ground. Ceiling spots like these are also practical where head height is minimal, while LED fairy lights are not only fun, but also provide a softening additional layer of light. Be sure to keep dangling wires away from smaller children, though.
As they grow, this could easily morph into a reading space or – with a couple of floor mattresses – a lounging area or even a spare bed.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would the children in your life most love? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Having a space where children’s creativity can run riot, but that won’t take over your whole living space, is a tricky balance to achieve.
This idea from Studio Fabbri provides a stylish solution. Essentially, it’s a wall of storage, but with a few smart touches that turn it into the perfect place for creative play – and allow it to be tucked away behind closed doors when not in use.
The vibrant yellow is a cheery colour and clearly signals the unit’s daytime use. A series of pocket doors mean it’s economical with space and, on the left, the slide-in bench and fold-up desk are an ingenious design.
Above these there’s plenty of storage for paint, pens, crayons, colouring books and paper. The other side of the unit adds some future-proofing, too – extra shelves could be added when the play kitchen is passed on.
Tempted to build something similar? Find a reviewed carpenter or joiner near you.