Bedroom Psychology: How a Room Affects your Child

A child’s bedroom is their comfort and safe zone throughout their childhood and when they reach their teenage years it is their sanctuary. Rooms affect our moods, which is why we choose colours that lighten an interior space and make us feel happy and this is particularly important in a child’s bedroom, where light, colour, space and furnishings all come into play in creating the perfect, happy and calm environment.

Colour

Colour has always been associated with our moods and certain colours are linked to positive or negative feelings. Red can be a very dynamic colour in the home because it is linked to warmth, passion and even optimism, but if it is used in a child’s room it can be overpowering and will not promote a calm atmosphere for sleeping. Certain tones of pink can be quite restful but be careful of hot pinks in your child’s room because this will have connotations of energy and fun and in younger children may have an adverse reaction to the one you want at bedtime.

Lilac, on the other hand, is associated with spiritualism and is known to be quite a successful choice for the bedroom, providing an environment that is stress free for your child.

Colour therapy is often used to treat children with behavioural or psychological problems, as they will react differently to different shades and tones, with each person being unique in how they view colour.  Different tones represent energy to each individual and by understanding colour in this way you can practice your own colour therapy at home. Colour therapists themselves will recommend introducing the colours that work for your child into the home, thus creating a harmonious environment for all the family.

A Room to Play or Sleep in?           

Your child’s bedroom should be associated with sleep. Many parents, however, also create a playroom in the bedroom, filled with fun toys and activities. What inevitably happens, when the child goes to bed, is that they enter a room they associate with fun and play and their brains naturally begin to wake up again, making it harder for them to fall asleep. Child experts advise keeping noisy toys tucked away out of sight at bedtime to avoid temptation and this applies to both very young and older children. A sleep-deprived child is a challenge for the calmest of families and so the best rule of thumb is to promote good sleep above all else.

When children grow older, they may want computers or televisions in their bedrooms, as their needs change, and you have to weigh up the pros and cons of introducing technology into the bedroom.

Your child will have homework needs but will also want to chat to friends as they grow older or have gaming get-togethers. Their bedrooms can be designed to encompass new technology and to keep them happy, but the NHS warn parents to beware of ‘junk sleep’ that can arise from too much technology being available for children.

Flexibility

There are many tips for creating the perfect bedroom but perhaps the best one is to think of how flexible the space can be. Think of storage room; if their possessions can be put away easily this leads to a neat and tidy environment, which, in turn, leads to a happier child. A bedroom full of chaos tends to have a negative impact on youngsters. Themes will change as your child grows, so these should be interpreted loosely, with a degree of flexibility, as they do change their minds quite often.

 Furniture will be a dominant feature of any child’s bedroom and their needs will change as they enter their teen years, so consider compact sofas that double as sleepers for when they have friends over, making your child’s room adaptable to different situations. Above all, it will remain a space they will love and will want to retreat to for comfort and relaxation. If a bedroom offers your child these things, it is guaranteed to make them feel secure and positive about the world.

By considering how to create a peaceful space for your child, with colours that enhance their positive moods and furniture that offers flexibility, you will be able to offer them a sleep zone, a retreat and a sanctuary all within those four walls. A child’s bedroom is their special place and it should be designed with that in mind.

We can help you design your child’s bedroom. Send us an email now info@mkkidsinteriors.com or call 0203 287 3722.