My Room: How Scandi Style and Ikea Hacks Revived Our Kids’ Room
Stylist and blogger Tiffany Grant-Riley takes us on a tour of her children’s calm, fun, Scandi-style bedroom
Amanda Pollard
29 March 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
By keeping the design of their children’s bedroom simple, light and with just a touch of colour, interior stylist and blogger Tiffany Grant-Riley and her husband, Rob, managed to create a space that’s both stylish and serene, with plenty of room to play and relax.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here Stylist and blogger Tiffany Grant-Riley of Curate & Display, her husband, Rob, their two children, and their cat, Rafferty Moe
Location Chatham, Kent
Property An Edwardian terraced house with three bedrooms
Room dimensions Approx 4 x 4m
Photos by Tiffany Grant-Riley
“The kids’ room was the first space we tackled when we bought our house,” says Tiffany Grant-Riley. “We wanted them to feel as settled as possible.”
Tiffany’s style is calm and minimal, but in the children’s bedroom she was keen to inject some colour and fun. “We wanted to create a room that was warm and welcoming, but that was still in line with our own style,” she says.
It also had to accommodate both children, a boy and a girl. “They were sharing a room in our last place and liked it,” Tiffany explains. “There wasn’t enough space for two single beds, so we found a lovely, Scandi-style bunk bed instead.”
White and oak bunk bed, Nubie.
Who lives here Stylist and blogger Tiffany Grant-Riley of Curate & Display, her husband, Rob, their two children, and their cat, Rafferty Moe
Location Chatham, Kent
Property An Edwardian terraced house with three bedrooms
Room dimensions Approx 4 x 4m
Photos by Tiffany Grant-Riley
“The kids’ room was the first space we tackled when we bought our house,” says Tiffany Grant-Riley. “We wanted them to feel as settled as possible.”
Tiffany’s style is calm and minimal, but in the children’s bedroom she was keen to inject some colour and fun. “We wanted to create a room that was warm and welcoming, but that was still in line with our own style,” she says.
It also had to accommodate both children, a boy and a girl. “They were sharing a room in our last place and liked it,” Tiffany explains. “There wasn’t enough space for two single beds, so we found a lovely, Scandi-style bunk bed instead.”
White and oak bunk bed, Nubie.
“The room hadn’t been touched for quite some time,” says Tiffany. “The floor was covered with a threadbare carpet and the walls were papered. Underneath the paper, there was a lot of plaster damage, and at the top was some polystyrene coving.”
Tiffany and Rob could see the potential. “It’s a lovely room,” says Tiffany. “It’s southwest-facing, so there’s a lot of light.”
Tiffany and Rob could see the potential. “It’s a lovely room,” says Tiffany. “It’s southwest-facing, so there’s a lot of light.”
The couple set about stripping the walls and chiselling away at the polystyrene coving. When that was done, they hired a plasterer to create a smooth surface on the walls, which they then painted bright white. “It’s a paint that’s extra hard-wearing,” Tiffany explains. “Everything is pretty heavy-duty so the kids can play easily.”
They also took up the carpet to reveal floorboards that were in good condition and a lovely fireplace hearth plate.
“We sanded the floor with an industrial floor sander, which we hired,” says Tiffany. “We did the edges with a normal hand sander, but have since used a much easier professional one in another room.
“Before we painted the floor, we put knotting solution on all of the ‘eyes’ in the wood so they wouldn’t show as a dark stain through the paint,” she explains. “We used a floor primer to provide a good base and two coats of floor paint on top.
“The floor did get a little bit tricky, because we filled the gaps with sawdust mix, and over time it’s started to disappear and form gaps again,” Tiffany says. “I actually quite like the gaps, but Rob is keen to keep filling them.”
Floor painted in Wimborne White floor paint, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Ultra White, Dulux.
They also took up the carpet to reveal floorboards that were in good condition and a lovely fireplace hearth plate.
“We sanded the floor with an industrial floor sander, which we hired,” says Tiffany. “We did the edges with a normal hand sander, but have since used a much easier professional one in another room.
“Before we painted the floor, we put knotting solution on all of the ‘eyes’ in the wood so they wouldn’t show as a dark stain through the paint,” she explains. “We used a floor primer to provide a good base and two coats of floor paint on top.
“The floor did get a little bit tricky, because we filled the gaps with sawdust mix, and over time it’s started to disappear and form gaps again,” Tiffany says. “I actually quite like the gaps, but Rob is keen to keep filling them.”
Floor painted in Wimborne White floor paint, Farrow & Ball. Walls painted in Ultra White, Dulux.
The couple added a touch of colour by painting the cupboard and skirting boards a fresh sky-blue. “It’s a wood paint, but it has a matt finish, which I really like,” Tiffany says.
Woodwork painted in Celestial Blue, Dulux.
Woodwork painted in Celestial Blue, Dulux.
“We added a contemporary touch with birch handles, which were custom-made by a friend,” says Tiffany. “They tie in really nicely with the Scandi-style bunk beds.”
Handles, Chocolate Creative.
Handles, Chocolate Creative.
The couple removed the shelves in the alcove, which wasn’t the simple job you’d imagine. “They were a nightmare to get out, because the screws had layers and layers of gloss paint on them,” Tiffany explains. “They also pulled the plaster off with them.”
In their place is a toy cooker, which Tiffany got from a neighbour. “Her daughter had outgrown it,” she says. “I took it apart, spray-painted it in a monochrome style and bought a few accessories from Ikea.
“We’ll probably put a desk in the alcove at some point,” she says. “We’re also looking at adding some shelving, so the children can start to organise their own space a little more as they grow.”
“We’ll probably put a desk in the alcove at some point,” she says. “We’re also looking at adding some shelving, so the children can start to organise their own space a little more as they grow.”
The fireplace is the original cast-iron one, which Tiffany loves. “We’ve done nothing to the fireplace,” she says. “My mum wants us to get it restored, but I like it how it is.”
Bison print, Greta Schwester.
Find more baby and children’s products in the Houzz Shop
Bison print, Greta Schwester.
Find more baby and children’s products in the Houzz Shop
The pretty ceiling light is attached to a black flex. “I like to mix and match the electrical hardware,” says Tiffany. “For example, I like this company’s contemporary update on vintage-style toggle switches.”
Lighting flex and other hardware, Dowsing & Reynolds. Paper Lotus light, Bungalow.
Lighting flex and other hardware, Dowsing & Reynolds. Paper Lotus light, Bungalow.
“We changed the radiator to match the age of the house, but also to one that’s more efficient,” says Tiffany.
The new, two-column radiator was budget-friendly, is powerful and has a vintage look.
Radiator, Wickes.
Radiator, Wickes.
The chest of drawers is an Ikea hack. “I did those in our last house, which was a rental, as a way of putting our own stamp on it,” Tiffany says. “I drew a design on first, then painted it with plain black emulsion.”
The two children each have a handy shelf next to their beds – another nifty hack. “These are Ikea spice racks, painted white,” she says. “They’re perfect for water bottles, books and anything else they might need at night.”
Rast chest of drawers; Bekvam spice racks, all Ikea. Porcelain wall hooks, Anne Black.
Could this new Scandi trend be the key to bedroom harmony?
The two children each have a handy shelf next to their beds – another nifty hack. “These are Ikea spice racks, painted white,” she says. “They’re perfect for water bottles, books and anything else they might need at night.”
Rast chest of drawers; Bekvam spice racks, all Ikea. Porcelain wall hooks, Anne Black.
Could this new Scandi trend be the key to bedroom harmony?
A stool is used as a side table to hold a lamp and any other knick-knacks. “The room has a nice, calming feel,” says Tiffany. “As I have a son and a daughter, I wanted it to reflect both of them.
“The kids absolutely love the room,” she adds, “and we hope it will grow with them.”
‘A’ Stool in White, ByAlex. Cohen table lamp, Made.com.
Visit Tiffany’s blog.
Tell us…
What do you like about the room Tiffany and Chris have created for their children? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“The kids absolutely love the room,” she adds, “and we hope it will grow with them.”
‘A’ Stool in White, ByAlex. Cohen table lamp, Made.com.
Visit Tiffany’s blog.
Tell us…
What do you like about the room Tiffany and Chris have created for their children? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Hi Margarita Dragon and Caroline Bennett. The bunk beds are from Nubie.
This is a beautiful room - so serene and calm, well done for that. And painting the skirting adds a nice touch of colour. My question is (as Lisa asks above) where are all the kids' things? As parent of two myself, and in spite of living in a house with a large play room, the kids' rooms contain many toys, things they have made - pottery cafe and craft stuff, things they've been given (shudder) and lots of books. Even though I love how it looks I can't help but feel this room champions form over function - there are no book shelves or under-bed storage, and the alcove could have a large bench seat doubling as a storage box + shelves above, for example, and still be stylish. Sorry for thinking practically but this wouldn't work too well for us without a lot of additional storage.
Lovely simple room but I think in no time you'll be wishing you'd left at least some of the book shelves. My grandchildren are 2 and 4 and keep all their books in their own room rather than downstairs.