Creating the dream kids' room can be great fun for you and your children. That's not to say the process is all play, though. It entails some work but is worth it in the end. Here are five things you need to create that dream room.

1. Your Kids' Input

This is perhaps the most critical aspect. Your child or children are sleeping, playing, studying, and reading in the bedroom, so it should be more their "dream" room than yours. Whatever decor or design schemes you like, the kids must be on board. Depending on their ages and preferences, they could even take the lead quite a bit.

Don't be afraid to explore the ideas your kids come up with, even if they seem outlandish. The theme is where kids' input comes into play. Some kids would love a cabin-type theme, while others would prefer something treehouse-like or aquatic.

2. Zones

Your kids do more than sleep and dress in their bedrooms. For example, they might read, study, play, and create art, depending on available space and their preferences. As you plan the dream bedroom, keep zones, which are distinct spaces for each activity, in mind. Some examples of activities you would use zones for:

Sleeping

The bed goes in this zone, but what kind of bed? A twin, full, or queen, a bunk bed, a bed with another bed underneath, or something else? You have a lot of choices! 

A trundle bed is a low bed on wheels stored underneath a larger bed. It could work well if space is at a premium and multiple children share the bedroom. Ditto if your child has a lot of sleepovers or if you sometimes end up sleeping in your child's room. Alternatively, you could use the lower compartment to store toys and supplies instead of a mattress. Some parents prefer trundle beds to bunk beds due to the fall risk.

Dressing

Focus on accessibility in this zone. Keep drawers, hanging clothes, and the like child-accessible and at a height friendly to children. Opt for bins or low racks to keep shoes off the floor.

Playing

Storage is the name of the game in the play zone. Open bins make it more likely that children will put up their toys instead of leaving them out. Choose soft and durable area rugs, knowing they will likely get stained. Don't go too plush or deep, though, or you risk small items and food getting trapped.

Studying/Crafting

The focal point of this zone is your child's table or desk. Include task lighting and adequate storage for school supplies. Since this area may double as a crafting area, ensure the desk or table surface is versatile enough to withstand glue, paint, markers, and the like. Keep crafting supplies nearby.

Reading

A reading nook with a comfy chair, side table, and an accessible bookshelf could fit the bill nicely if you have space. Teepees also make for cute reading nooks. Otherwise, if your child has a loft bed, you could put the reading zone underneath it. As always, include good lighting.

3. Multipurpose Furniture Pieces

Multipurpose furniture pieces do wonders to save space and get the most out of your child's bedroom. We mentioned using a bed with a bed underneath (a trundle bed). That's one way to save space. Others are daybeds, playhouse loft beds, or bunk beds if your children are older and you feel they are safe in a bunk bed.

A bed with built-in drawers is a space saver and great for organization.

Other options: Storage beds with built-in drawers, transformative activity tables that serve as both a desk and coffee table, shelf floor lamps, hutch desks, nesting furniture for children of different ages, bunk bed-desk combinations, bunk bed-reading nook combinations, and a multipurpose desk/table for eating, homework, crafting, and more.

For closets/organization, try wide hanging canvas organizers, shoe organizers, ottomans with removable tops and storage space inside, floating bookshelves, and tables and seating with integrated storage. You can even buy decor that serves as wall art during the day and a nightlight at night.

Use wall decals to cultivate atmosphere for a kids' dream room.

4. Accessories

Accessories are what can take a dream room to the next level. Many parents choose a light-colored or neutral palette for the walls and most of the furniture. They use accessories to express the dream, to inject color and splash to the palette.

Accessories and other items to consider include bedding, rugs, pillows, lamps, wall art, stickers or decals, bins, cozy chairs, bean bags, bookshelves, neon lights, posters, hanging organizers, mounted racks, and maps (wall stickers or rugs). We want to emphasize that wall stickers (decals) can go a long way to express a particular look or vibe while being inexpensive and easy to remove. Stickers of the moon, dragons, whales, flowers, trees, hot air balloons, and more are available.

5. Flexibility

Maybe as you go along, you realize some ideas are not going to work, the space is tighter than you thought, or your child is not too keen on the theme you agreed on. It's unlikely that the process of creating a dream room will go like, well, a dream. Expect some bumps.

It helps if you remain flexible. Listen to your kids' ideas and input throughout. When drawing up a budget for the bedroom, add wiggle space and give yourself plenty of time to create the room. A rushed process can make for results no one likes.

Get Ideas From Gallery Furniture

Check the Gallery Furniture’s selection of kids’ furniture HERE to turn your child’s bedroom into their dream room!