Small Spaces: Children's Room

We recently moved back to our old place. A downsize as we wait for our new home to be ready in 18 months time. Although our time here is only temporary, we want to make it comfortable for all to live in. Besides, our bedrooms [the children especially] are the spaces we spend most of our time in. For my family at least. 

The rooms are empty and I had full reign to turn the children's room into anything I like it to be. The monochrome bedroom series seems to be the latest fad and parents are working hard on black and whites. I love those monochrome wall decals, bedspreads and decorative items too! They are clean, photogenic and Instagram-worthy. Yet, I decided to deviate from it because colours have the ability to inspire, excite and stimulate dreams. 

I turned to Ikea for the bulk of my design plan and added other popular brands to embellish their room. One valuable tip from me to you:

"Walk the entire Ikea because I did not put the children's room together bagging items from the children's department alone"

Our Ikea expenditure for the room is made up of 

1. S$9.90 Storage Boxes for His and Her Diapers

2. S$39.90 Book Display for Library Books

3. S$17.90 Knob Rack for Hanging Decoratives

4. S$7.90 Picture Ledge for Storybooks Display

5. S$69.00 Ladder Plant Stand for Hanging Clothes

6. S$9.90 Plant for Decor

7. S$5.90 Children's Clothes Hanger

8. S$14.90 Picture Frame for a Poster

9. S$9.90 Cushions for Bed

10. S$19.90 Cushion Covers

11. S$14.90 Bulldog and Porcupine Cushions for Bed

12. S$39.90 White Fitted Sheets for Mattresses

13. S$9.90 White Pillow Case

14. S$19.90 Firm Pillow

I found the yellow and cream FJÄLLA storage boxes most appropriate when it comes to matching them to my antique chest. I opted the blue and brown boxes out [they have blue and brown options in store], deciding to keep it light. The children are still on diapers and we used to chuck those blue diaper packaging in the corner of the room. It adds up to the messiness index of the bedroom and I decided a proper diaper storage box [His and Hers] will tidy things up a bit. It also made that part of the room aesthetically more appealing. 

The FLISAT series at Children IKEA appeals to me like bees to honey. I absolutely love this latest addition to the IKEA family designed by Sarah Fagar. It is made from pine wood and the smell lingered in the bedroom even after 24 hours. That fresh woody scent welcomed me every time I walked in which lifted my spirits a little each time. I hear that pine wood is a hardy wood that ages gracefully with time. I see no reason dumping them for new alternatives in the future because they are that durable!

We have a lot of problems with loaned books, either from the public library or the pre-school. They always end up getting mixed with our storybooks. The FLISAT Book Display makes a pretty stand-alone piece for the floor and we are making an effort to house all loaned books in there. No more searching for a needle in the haystack! Books in our case. 

I would have bought the entire FLISAT series if I had the space but succumbed only to just one more item. The Knob Rack. I liked the fun colours and inconsistent length of each knob, adding an eclectic feel to the wall. Cleverly designed, the knobs are coned-shaped so our hanging decoratives will never drop off. 

The children love a good read and they can never let a day go without at least one story. We visit the library often but I end up buying books as well. So many that our first sling bookshelf got filled rather quickly. I went on to purchase a second sling bookshelf but it did not solve our growing [book] population. Displaying storybooks on a thin wall ledge not only saves floor space, it makes them the highlight of the room as well. Not to mention, my pre-schoolers get to choose their stories by looking at its front cover rather than the spine of the book. 

#ikeahacks I found the MOSSLANDA Picture Ledge most appropriate for it. This ledge is designed for picture frames. It has a special groove to keep smaller frames in place but I saw its potential to make a beautiful book display. That groove will be perfect to sit smaller books instead! Daddy and Grandpa helped put the three Picture Ledges up while I took charge of the designing. Faye wanted in after observing her idols hard at work!

#ikeahacks I hadn't intended to pick anything up from the Gardening section at IKEA but this SATSUMAS Plant Stand caught my eye. It is new in store! I am not looking to grow a garden in the children's bedroom but it looked like the perfect accessory to hang their clothes! Besides, adding a [artificial] plant or two in their room could act as a de-stressor. It was really easy to setup and I could do it all by myself - the woman who doesn't like to read manuals. 

I prefer hanging the children's clothes over folding and their HÄNGA Children's Coat Hangers are perfect for a clean woody look in their wardrobe. Junior-sized hangers give little clothes a better fit shoulder-to-shoulder as opposed to adult-sized hangers. 

Add a quote poster in the room with a VIRSERUM Frame and make your space inspirational. With so many books already on the wall, I decided to leave the poster on the floor next to the "clothes ladder".

The children's bed sits on the other side of the room. I prefer clean white sheets [pillow cases and bedspreads] and pump up on colours from the extra cushions. I covered FJÄDRAR Cushions with the GLÖDANDE Cushion Cover series and added the THORINE Cushions [hedgehog and bulldog] for a playful finish. Surprisingly, there is a wide range of white bedsheets at the store and I'm sure glad they've put out samples for customers to touch. I chose the SÖMNIG Fitted Sheet, a lyocell and cotton blend which is soft to touch without any prickly texture [which the cheaper ones had] and it is cool to sleep on.

I didn't think the kids would have noticed the IKEA additions but Ewan came home and exclaimed, "Wow Mommy! How did you do this? When daddy come home later, he will say it is SO NICE! I love the bed!" and he climbed onto it immediately. 

To turn your bed into a daybed, simply re-arrange the order of the pillows and cushions. Instead of stacking them at the head of the bed, display them like I did in the pictures. A great space to lounge when the kids are at school too! 

Interior-designig my home is one of my favourite past-times to undertake. It relieves me from stress and brings out the creativity in me. It helps when I have half a day free with the children off at school as well!

This is a sponsored post by IKEA. However, all ideas and creativity are my own.

Read our articles on Small Spaces:

A Cardboard Playroom

2-Bedroom Apartment for 4
Our Children Invaded the House

A Tree-Free Christmas Tis' Year

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A stay at home mum, blogging to widen her social life. 
We want to echo the sound of love through our lives to inspire other mothers alike.