The home of a large family is a place where everyone is trying to grab a square meter of free space. The “battle” for territory can be reduced to nothing by observing zoning rules. A married couple raising three children has a lot to think about. It’s much easier when kids of the same age grow up in the house. But what to do if there is a rebellious teenager and two preschoolers in the family, or if they are the same age but different gender?
The design of a modern children's room for three should be practical, compact and functional.
Furniture
The ideal children's furniture for a child from 1 to 3 years old is wooden, strong, safe, designed for the child's growth and without frills that complicate cleaning.
If the furniture in the children's bedroom has sharp corners/edges, then hide them using special plastic, rubber or silicone pads.
It is good if she is selected for growth, at least until she is 7-8 years old. A more affordable alternative to wood is MDF or chipboard with formaldehyde emission class E1.
Bed. Until about 3 years old, babies can sleep comfortably in their cribs. However, from about 2 years old, many children are quite ready to move into a single bed. What should it be like? The most important conditions: the bed frame must be low, have sides and a base for the mattress made of spring slats. It would be good if the bed had an upholstered headboard. And if you want to buy a bed to grow into, we advise you to take a closer look at models with a sliding frame. The mattress of a child under 3 years old should be hard (made of coconut coir or high-quality polyurethane foam) and have a thickness of at least 6 cm. The design of the baby’s first bed can be very childish and even toy-like - it will be easier for the child to get used to sleeping in a new place. True, be prepared to change your toy bed in just a couple of years. Do you want to buy a bed for a long time? Choose beds with traditional designs.
Sundvik sliding bed with sides from Ikea
Closet. Children's furniture for storing things should correspond to the child's height so that he learns to dress independently as soon as possible. Drawers and doors must have stoppers for smooth, silent and safe opening and closing, and the drawers should not be pulled out completely. It’s good if the children’s closet, chest of drawers and/or rack has a small depth - only 38-45 cm, then you can put things not in stacks, but in rectangles in a row, which is much more convenient and easier for the child. Also keep in mind that all large furniture should be secured to the wall to prevent the possibility of tipping over.
Modular furniture, for example, the Stuva series from Ikea, can be “expanded” as the child grows
Table and chair. Recommended dimensions: if your height is less than 90 cm, the height of the table top should be 40 cm, the height of the chair seat should be 20 cm; if the child’s height is more than 90 cm, you should buy a table with a height of 43-45 cm and a chair with a seat height of 23-25 cm. The table and chair for studying should be placed near the window.
In addition to the basic set of furniture, it is highly desirable to equip a child’s nursery from one to three years of age with a sleeping place for parents’ “night shifts” and reading fairy tales before bed. For example, it could be a sofa or couch, which during the day will play the role of a place for games, and in the future the baby’s friends will be able to spend the night on it.
Bunk bed for three children. What kind of beds are there for three or more children?
Placing three beds in one room is not so difficult. If the children's room is spacious, then of course you can place 3 single beds in a row. This will ensure equality between children. But then there may be no room left for a play and work area. This is where multifunctional furniture comes to the rescue, which will help you effectively use the space in the children's room. Below we will look at bed options that can be used to organize sleeping places for your children with the most efficient saving of living space.
Bunk bed for three children
Everyone is familiar with bunk beds. They allow you to organize sleeping places for two children in one area. Models with 3 or more beds have been on the market for a long time. As a rule, 2 beds are located on top and one below. One of the upper berths is located above the built-in wardrobe or work area.
The lower berth can be either built into the overall structure or be independent. Sometimes the bed below is equipped with wheels, which makes it easy to move.
There are varieties of bunk models of children's beds, when 2 sleeping places are located below. At the same time, the lower one combines two bunks and has a matryoshka design - one bed extends from under the other.
There are also multi-tiered models. As a rule, such models are made to order and have a built-in design. Yes, they help save space, but in practice they are not very convenient. So, in a three-tier bed, the lower berth will be practically on the floor, and the upper one will be almost under the ceiling. Also the distance between the beds is too small. Because of this, children do not feel very comfortable and the risk of injury increases.
Loft bed
A loft bed is a great option if you need to organize sleeping arrangements for triplets. They can have several sleeping places on top. Or, under a single structure you can place 2 beds or a pull-out matryoshka bed.
A bunk bed and a loft bed are not the same thing. The difference between them is that the first necessarily have a sleeping place both below and above. While the latter have only the top.
Pull-out matryoshka bed for three children
The design of this type of bed is designed in such a way that one sleeping place is located under the other and extends out from under it. But it is worth considering that each subsequent bed will be smaller, the difference can reach 20 cm. Thus, if the length of the first bed is 160 cm, then the third will be 120 cm. Also, the disadvantages of pull-out beds for three children include the fact that the child, when going down from the upper tier will step over the sleeping person below.
Podium bed
There are several types of this type of structure. The podium is a functional elevation on which a play or work area, a dressing room, etc. can be located. Underneath are full beds that slide out in seconds and are ready for sleep. In addition, in addition to secret beds, storage systems in the form of drawers can be built into the podium. This way, during the daytime, children will be given all the free space in the room.
Wardrobe bed
Another good solution that will come to the aid of a large family is a wardrobe bed. At night it is a full-fledged bed, and during the day it leans back against the wall and turns into a closet. There are different ways to lay out this furniture: vertical and horizontal. Vertical systems will take up less space when assembled. In addition to the classic variation, there are also modifications that require the presence of a table or sofa. Thus, by installing 3 table-beds, you can organize for each child not only his own sleeping place, but also a work space. You can also use furniture of different configurations, for example, a folding bunk bed with a sofa and a transformer model with a table. This way you can organize the interior of your children’s room as efficiently as possible. Depending on your task and needs, furniture variations may vary.
Which interior style should you choose?
Choose a children's interior design for three children not from personal preferences, but after consulting with the younger generation. If, due to age, the baby cannot express wishes, then rely on your taste.
Furniture structures should be as stable as possible and have a small height.
Remember that the entire interior dances with the design style. Having decided on the direction, you will need to choose the right finish, appropriate lighting, furniture and decor. This way, you will convey the spirit and mood of the chosen design, drawing on its distinctive features.
Classic and neoclassical
An excellent choice for growth. This style is timeless and fashionable, it is always relevant and popular. This option is suitable for both boys and girls. Classics are easily recognized by their homely comfort, abundance of natural materials and warm color palette.
When finishing a nursery, natural materials are preferred, in the form of eco-friendly wood and natural textiles.
Cool shades have the right to life when the room is on the south side. To decorate the walls, use wallpaper with a traditional pattern (checks, stripes, floral and plant motifs), for the floor - parquet, cork, for the ceiling - stucco.
Carpet, parquet or laminate are suitable for covering the floor; the walls are ideally decorated with wallpaper, paint, decorative panels or plaster.
Scandinavian style
In a children's room for three children, the interior of which is made in Scandinavian style, there is always a lot of light and space. Both boys and girls will love this design. It is simple to implement, does not require unnecessary decoration and is relatively inexpensive. This style can be recognized by natural textures, white color interspersed with bright shades, ethnic patterns and translucent curtains.
Each design has its own accessories and decorative elements.
Modern
One of the most common options for decorating a nursery for three children. Combinations of “calm” shades are appropriate here:
- cream;
- beige;
- grey-pink;
- aquamarine.
Many parents prefer a themed design for their nursery. This decision is completely justified.
But at the same time, furniture and textile design allows the use of rich tones of red, orange, light green, ultramarine and violet. Modern is ideal for a children's room because it does not tolerate sharp corners and straight lines.
American
Eclectic and unpretentious design. This style allows you to unleash your creativity. Here the emphasis is on practicality and convenience. An American-style room is suitable for preschoolers and teenagers. A light palette prevails in the decoration of the room. Furniture and decorative elements should form a symmetrical ensemble.
When decorating a room, age characteristics are primarily taken into account.
Choosing furniture
How to furnish a nursery should not be a problem for you. After all, if you use cabinet furniture, there are a large number of different furnishing variations.
If you still want to make a room so that everything in it is the same for both, then you can use various methods from those proposed:
- Beds of two tiers.
- Pull-out or folding bed options.
- With built-in drawers, racks or shelves.
- Loft beds, in which the 1st floor serves as a workplace (for study).
- Chair-bed.
- A variety of shelving that can be used as partitions for zones.
Of course, if you have the means, you should not buy ready-made furniture products. Order the necessary options to order, then you can make it not only taking into account the dimensions of the room, but also taking into account the individual wishes of the children.
Tip 7. Use space under the bed and hanging shelves for storage
- If the guys' beds don't have built-in drawers under the mattress, then you can simply buy containers of suitable size with lids. It is convenient to store out-of-season clothes, bedding and toys this way.
- By hanging a couple of hanging shelves, say, above beds or tables, you can put books and favorite things of the owners of the room there. But you shouldn’t overdo it, because the more furniture there is in the bedroom, the less spacious it seems and the more difficult it is to clean it.
- The wardrobe and library can be shared.
- You can place one or three chests of drawers under the loft bed.
Decorating an open balcony in a child’s room
Balcony design is always a good idea, regardless of its size, because it is an extension of our living space. If you have children, it is worth remembering that they also like to spend warm days on the balcony. So, let's think about how you can easily and interestingly design a children's room with a balcony and turn it into a small playground so that it is a safe and favorite place for your children.
Safety
Of course, small children should play on the balcony under adult supervision, although a children's play area should be created for this
Naturally, fairly high railings are the standard for finishing a balcony, but you should pay attention to the size of the gaps between the crossbars in the railing. Therefore, if the fence on your balcony has large gaps, it is best to close it in an interesting way so that the child cannot stick his head through - with a cloth, a bamboo mat, etc.
Many parents are concerned about the safety of their children on the balcony or high terrace. Safety at railing level is important. Lacy barriers that allow children to see the world from a different perspective are a good solution, but they must be constructed in such a way that they cannot fall through. It is better to install gratings or strong nets in open areas.
There should also be an awning or umbrella on the balcony for protection from the sun. This is a very important issue, especially for children under 6 years of age, who should not be exposed to the sun for long periods of time.
Balustrade decoration
In addition to covering the railings, they can also be used to attach drawing and play boards for children. You can make this board yourself using special paint and turn the entire length of the railing into a creative space. You can also hang colorful strings of beads, ribbons, or small objects that can make sounds or spin when exposed to the wind.
Place to play
Naturally, a well-furnished balcony will become a small play area for children, so you can use elements that appear in children's play areas and give them a new form. These can be any gaming tables, for example, with sand and even, if space allows, swings.
The most important thing is to ensure perfect visibility of the playing field in order to be able to observe and control your child’s actions.
Most children, especially the youngest ones, play on the floor. Therefore, let's make sure that the surface of the balcony is covered with material that is pleasant for children. We also recommend purchasing or making pillows for your children to lie, sit or read on.
In children's room design, tents often appear as a place to sleep. This element is also perfect on the balcony. A hanging chair or hammock will be no less attractive for a child (nowadays you can even find special children's hammocks).
First little garden
For older children, it is worth setting up a small table with chairs and placing several shelves with flowers and herbs within the children's reach. On the balcony, children can grow their own little grass or flower garden and even plant vegetables. It is not only good fun and a way to spend time together, but also a fun way to learn, especially if we live in a big city in an apartment building or in an apartment building where the child cannot play in the garden.
Storage
It is also worth placing a box on the balcony in which our child can hide his treasures. This could be a multi-functional piece of furniture - a box on which you can put a seat cushion, sewn together with the child.
Implementation in dark color
Although we visualized such a rather “bulky” project in terms of the number of frame elements in white, the customer felt that white was not his style, and as a result the frame elements were made dark, to match the doors, window sills and window slopes. The steps of the wall bars and monkey bars, as well as the projectiles, were left light, so the complex was integrated into the design of the room. Well, more good and different complexes!
ProjectsMiddle room
Correct lighting
The right light is especially important for children's growing bodies. Moreover, kids are engaged in creativity, reading, studying, and doing homework. Therefore, you need to approach the organization of lighting no less carefully than choosing a bed or workplace.
Natural light
The best light is always natural. That is why the brightest room is traditionally chosen for children's rooms. Ideally, with windows facing east or southeast.
Sunlight affects the entire lifestyle of children, their emotional background, vigor and performance.
Even curtains for the nursery are recommended to be light, airy and transparent. And at night, if necessary, lower thick roller fabrics, like Roman blinds.
Artificial lighting
The current trend is multi-level lighting. This is especially valuable in a children's room.
— A bright overhead light is suitable for the play area. It is better to place the central chandelier above it. If this area is located in a corner, two-tier plasterboard ceilings with built-in spotlights will solve the problem.
— The middle level is shifted diffused light above the sofa, computer desk, or near the TV.
— The third level is working lighting. These are tabletops and swivel sconces above the desktop
It is important to think through this area so that children do not interfere with each other
— Don't forget about the light above the bed. Choose soft, adjustable lamps for this. Especially when there are two children in the room. This way, one of them can, for example, read a book in bed without disturbing the other.
Power and brightness
Calculate the power of the lamps based on the following considerations: 10-15 Watts per square for the entire room, 50-60 Watts per square for the work and play areas.
Don't forget about color temperature. There are two types of light bulbs used for living rooms:
- At 3000-4000K. This is a warm yellowish light for chandeliers and wall lights in living rooms; - At 4000-5000K. This is a neutral background for functional rooms. It is used instead of daytime.
Lamps up to 3000K produce warm orange light. It's cozy for evening gatherings, but not suitable for everyday activities. Temperatures above 5000K are bluish white lamps, as in museums, hospitals, laboratories, and shops.
Nuances of planning a children's room
Children grow up quickly, this point must be taken into account when planning. The interior of the room should be multifunctional, so that it is possible to make changes to it as the child grows. To create maximum comfort in a children's room, simple room zoning techniques are used. For kids, this is usually a division into an area for games and comfortable sleep. The play area has a cozy rug and small shelves for storing numerous children's toys.
They need to be placed in such a way that the child can independently put them in place. The design of the play area for children is carried out taking into account the age and gender of the child.
Setting up a play area in a children's room
A schoolchild must have a separate work area, where a compact study desk, a computer desk, and durable shelves for textbooks will be located.
It is important to have good daylight for the working desk; it is advisable to place the desk to the right of the window. The principles for creating a comfortable relaxation area are as follows: it is important that the bed matches the child’s age or is a little larger in size
For a baby, a closed crib with reliable sides is suitable, for an older child a compact sofa is suitable, for a schoolchild the best option would be a standard teenage bed. A child's bed should not serve as an obstacle to access to the room and should not be placed near a working radiator. The recreation area can be easily defined with a place for communication; the child will be happy to invite his classmates into his room. Today, such cozy bean bags that are convenient to move around the room are in great demand; this is the best option for rational use of free space. Having a spacious closet for storing children's things is a must; the main thing is that they are compact; their size should not affect a small child's room.
For a small children's room, it is important that its layout is ergonomic. With a spacious room, things are much simpler - it can be equipped in any style you like
Accessories for children's rooms
For kids, any educational toys, swings and play mats are suitable, for elementary school students - a selection of photo collages, for high school students - photo frames, posters of idols, sports equipment.
The design of a room for girls should have a unique finish, well-chosen colors and be especially practical.
How to choose and select beds
For small rooms where same-sex children will live, it is allowed to select one 1.5 or 2-bed bed. Also, for small rooms with limited free space, two separate transformable beds are ideal. In their free time from sleep, they move into a small podium or hide in a niche on the wall. So there's still plenty of room to play.
Despite the compactness of a bunk bed and a bed with a pull-out extra bed, it is better to abandon them and purchase two full-fledged single or 1.5-bed beds. Since sleeping on the second floor of the bed is quite hot and children very often fall out of habit. And the retractable bottom also causes a lot of inconvenience, because, without properly waking up at night, one child can step on another.
There are several options for placing beds. It all depends on the amount of free space and the layout of the room.
- The beds are opposite each other.
- The beds are located next to each other in one line.
- The beds are placed at an angle close to each other or separated by a bedside table.
Each child should have their own personal space. Therefore, ideally, you need to visually separate the beds a little from each other.
Zoning
Children spend most of their free time in their room
Therefore, it is important, even in a small area, to successfully combine a comfortable sleeping area, a play area, and a workspace for studying.
A separate room for each child is a unique world in which he should feel calm and truly comfortable. Proper lighting, as well as room zoning, have a big impact on the daily mood of children. To visually delimit rooms, there are the following techniques:
- by color;
- using furniture;
- stationary partition.
By color. There are many options here. For example, delimit a room by wallpapering or painting the walls in different colors. Each child gets his own corner and it’s immediately obvious. There is also the option of zoning by color of decorative elements. Blanket covers, pictures above the bed, different colors of cabinets, etc. With the help of furniture. The height of the partition should increase in direct proportion to the difference in the ages of the children. Therefore, if a small child and a teenager will live in the room, it is better to provide a high shelving to the ceiling between the beds. It is better to make furniture to order, this will make it easier to choose the size and color and it will fit more harmoniously into the space of the room. If children are about the same age, but still sometimes prefer to spend time “in different corners,” then it is enough to separate the beds with a small wardrobe or bedside table. Stationary partition
It is made of plasterboard or any other lightweight material. It is important to listen to all the wishes and preferences of the future residents of the nursery before starting the planning stage. In this way, many alterations will be avoided and each child will be comfortable together, even in a small room.
Look at these room zoning options
How to decorate a room for children of different sexes?
A nursery for three kids, one of whom is of a different gender, should reflect their inner world. A mixed-sex interior is a puzzle with an asterisk. You won't be able to please everyone, but it's worth trying to find a compromise. For the design concept, take the cartoon characters that all children love. But if in your case this is an extremely difficult task, then stick to neutral tones.
The design should use a gender-neutral color scheme with universal patterns and prints.
Pastel colors and cream shades, Scandinavian style and neoclassicism are an excellent solution in which little hooligans and growing princesses will get along. To maintain neutrality and play up gender differences, you need to place easily replaceable decorative items.
The convenience and comfort of the interior of a nursery for three depends entirely on a well-designed plan.
Contrasting shades of pink and blue are a popular type of interior design. Conflicts of interest are unlikely to be avoided, so it is necessary to find common ground. To convey the integrity of the overall style, use spot color mixing. This technique is compared to the ancient Chinese Yin-Yang symbol. Just as the colors of two opposites echo in the sign, so in the room you can use the points of the boys’ interior on the girls’ territory. For example, place blue pillows on a pink sofa.
If there is a balcony in the room, it can be combined with the living area and converted into a work area or dressing room.
How to fit a crib into the overall style?
If the children are same-sex, then, as a rule, it is easier to decide on the style of the room. Boys prefer adventures, cars, robots, for them it is enough to choose simple and functional models, and everyone’s individual preferences are reflected in the design of the sleeping place itself: for a fan of Spider-Man, cover it with a blanket with the image of an idol, and for someone who is crazy about space, it will suit bed linen with a star map. If all three have similar interests, then decorating the room of such unanimous young people will not be difficult for parents.
Girls (especially if they don't have a big age difference) respond very well to castle beds. A room where three little princesses live will be perfectly complemented by this model. If, due to the space of the room, it is not possible to install such a bed, you can support the style of the castle with textiles - bed linen, pillows, bedspreads, curtains.
If children are of different sexes, it will be more difficult for them to agree on what their shared bed will be like. It may make sense to think about independent sleeping places for everyone, and if this is not possible, make the crib neutral, allowing the children to decorate it themselves in accordance with their hobbies and interests.
Each child should not be deprived of personal space, even if they are in the same room. Perhaps the best way out of this situation would be to zone the room, if its area allows it. A section of the room for each of the children, separated by furniture or partitions, or simply painted in different colors or shades of the same color, will help create personal space even in not the most spacious place.
Room for three boys of different ages: room zoning
If we are talking about arranging a room for boys of different ages, you should think about dividing the room into several parts. Each period of a child’s growing up has its own interests and needs, so finding a compromise in this case will be difficult. When dividing a room, this problem disappears on its own: everyone will be able to design the corner allocated to them at their own discretion.
In order for a room to be comfortable for boys, it is necessary to properly zone the free space.
There are several zoning techniques:
- Visual (separation using color, light and hanging structures);
- Physical (installation of partitions, screens, fabric curtains).
Visual methods only allow you to indicate the boundaries of the parts of the room. This option is more suitable for a children’s room for boys of the same age, which only requires the allocation of areas for sleep, games and study.
Dividing the room using partitions allows you to create the most comfortable personal space for each of the children. Installing additional walls is necessary if the boys lead different lifestyles. For example, if the time of going to bed or waking up does not match.
Arranging a study corner
If two schoolgirls will live in a room, you need to provide two workplaces where the girls can study
It is important to organize everything correctly so that the child has a desire to learn, and also so that he is comfortable in his place for learning
There are several recommendations that are worth adopting to make the study corner truly comfortable and safe.
You need to choose the right place; it should be quiet, located away from sources of noise and distracting objects. For example, it is not recommended to install a study table close to the gaming area or TV.
It is important to properly zone the room so that the work area is separated as much as possible from other parts of the room; this creates discipline and helps maintain order. For example, it is a very bad idea to combine a play corner and a study area.
For younger children, it is better to set up a small study area away from the play area, so that the child is under the supervision of an older sister or parents.
It is advisable to install a study table away from the bed so that the child does not associate this corner with rest.
For two schoolgirls, you can install a single desktop on the entire wall, but divide it with a border of shelves or a rack so that the sisters do not distract each other during the learning process.
It is better to choose a table with a cabinet and drawers that the child can use to store notebooks, textbooks and stationery.
The width of the working surface of the table should be at least 90-100 cm so that the child can use his place for learning without discomfort. If there is a computer on the table, you will need to provide a place for it.
If there is not enough space, you can use transformable furniture, a folding or pull-out table.
You need to choose a table of the correct height - when the child is sitting, the tabletop should be approximately 3-4 cm above the level of his elbows.
The study chair should also be of the correct height; an adjustable seat is ideal. It is advisable to give preference to models that meet orthopedic safety requirements.
It is advisable to place your workplace near a window. In the event that the window faces the sunny side. It is necessary to purchase a high-quality curtain or blinds with a day-night system to regulate the light intensity.
Tip 3. Keep the interior in the same style or theme
Decorating a nursery for three children of different sexes is a triple-difficulty task, especially if you want to choose classic styles like shabby chic, Provence or palace style. After all, these areas require you to follow many rules, attention to detail, an abundance of decor and expensive materials, and on the part of children - a thrifty attitude towards things. In this sense, modern styles, for example, Scandinavian, are more suitable for designing a common nursery for three children of different genders and ages.
- If there are kids of about the same age living in the room, then you can create a themed interior design by choosing a theme that everyone likes. For example, this could be the theme of a children’s favorite cartoon or book, a circus or zoo theme, a travel theme, or, say, music.
Decorating the children's room
Pay attention to the selection of quality materials. The child's health depends on it
It is better to focus on materials that are resistant to mechanical damage.
The color palette of the finishing is selected based on the style direction and size of the room
Ceiling finishing
The ceiling requires the least amount of planning time. The layout of a small nursery can include a variety of materials. For the ceiling it is recommended to use:
- Painting. Allows you to select different colors. Very easy to apply.
- Wallpaper. There are many non-standard options: space, clouds.
- Decorative plaster. Suitable for those rooms where there are non-standard architectural inserts.
- Whitewash. Cheap option, durable in application. Maintains the height of the room and is a fireproof building material.
When choosing wallpaper for the ceiling of a children's room, preference should be given to light shades with unobtrusive patterns.
A suspended ceiling will allow you to place built-in lamps for comfortable lighting of the room space
Floor finishing
There are several options for materials that are relevant to use when creating a children's room plan:
- laminate;
- PVC tiles;
- soft floor;
- cork;
- parquet board.
Cork is a soft, warm, environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic material
In a small child's room, a carpet should be laid on the floor
Wall decoration
The decor on the walls should be neutral, which does not cause visual irritation. The materials used are environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic. An interesting idea is to arrange a slate wall. The child will be able to draw on the walls without damaging the wallpaper.
A slate wall will eliminate the need to constantly change wallpaper
Another interesting solution is wallpaper on which you can draw
Minimalism is characterized by painted plain walls. But you can add the baby’s original drawings. Also on the market you can find a large selection of wallpapers that will help you achieve the desired style.
Plain painted walls are a suitable solution for a nursery in a minimalist style
Decoration Materials
When choosing finishing materials, the main criteria should be wear resistance, environmental safety and ease of maintenance. Surely the floor, walls and ceiling will be subject to serious stress: playing with a ball, racing on chairs, drawing, etc.
Instead of washable wallpaper, it is better to consider non-woven options. The floor covering should not collect dust and prevent pronounced slipping. A safe choice would be cork, board or quality linoleum. Regarding paints and varnishes, many designers recommend choosing unpretentious semi-gloss paint.
