Childhood is the loveliest time for a human being. It is the time of unending affection and care. A child is probably the most significant addition to the family. Therefore, without proper child-proofing and with no thought to the child, a home is worthless. In this generation, it is now more important than ever to ensure that your home has the designated space needed for a child to grow and thrive.

A child's room is a place of play, work and rest. For this reason, it should consist of a space that is cosy yet functional, lively yet relaxed, resistant yet comfortable, and endowed with plenty of storage space. This week, we offer some suggestions and tips on how to achieve all these characteristics when designing a child's play zone, in order to create a differentiated space within the home that reflects the personality of those for whom they are intended. Some pictures used here show the rooms for a wide range of ages-from newborn to adolescent-offering imaginative, colourful and attractive furniture solutions that take on classical, urban and contemporary styles.

Children's play is one of the most creative experiences in all of human culture -resulting in new languages, nursery rhymes, imaginary creatures both friend and foe, and entire fantastical universes. The wonder and creativity with which children explore their environment is immeasurable. As a designer, I have always preferred child psychology, education, and development. The idea is to design some of the most stimulating and interactive places in which today's children can grow and learn. That's why, both indoors and outdoors, play spaces should be designed through the careful consideration of each element.

Child beds, couches, caverns, chairs, pedestals, tables, play house are strategically located throughout the space. In our homes, space is limited, so children recreate their play spaces on a day-to-day basis through their own creativity with moveable furniture, musical instruments, garden spaces within which children can work, interactive amenities, climbing and rhythmic play apparatuses. As a designer, I always suggest some colourful and cute small furniture for a children's room. These colourful beds, tables, cabinets and chairs are always attractive objects for children and enhance their in-house experience.   

For child-friendly furniture use of scale is fundamental. As in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, different sizes of people and objects are interesting. A giant sofa becomes a climbing gym for the infants, while a table that is solely functional for adults becomes a secret cavern to the toddlers who play beneath it. Giant windows are contrasted with tiny windows, big light bulbs are paired with small light bulbs, and interior floorboards vary in size. These exotic furniture are ideal for children. 

Safety and comfort are also essential to these kid-focused spaces. Entrances are carefully oriented, often away from street traffic. Buildings are isolated from noise and vehicles that discharge fumes. Eco-friendly materials and kid-safe materials are prioritised. Unique ground coverings such as interior lawns are introduced to create a cushioned floor for younger children to play on. The social comfort, mobility, and engagement of children are also important design factors for educational facilities. These buildings' spatial organisation takes into account the need for separation versus interaction of different age groups at various times during the day, as well as the importance of children's ability to independently determine their level of privacy or social interaction with others during play times.

Within the spaces featured in play -indoor and outdoor- children have their first experiences with the world of education, recreation, and socialisation. They make their first friends, learn to count and recite the alphabet, learn sports, and explore and create their own fantastical worlds within carefully designed spaces. 

Nazneen Haque Mimi

Interior Consultant

JOURNEYMAN

E-mail: journeyman.interiors@gmail.com

Photo Credit:  Journeyman Achieve