ROOM TO GROW Stylish and practical updates to take a bedroom from toddler to tween and teen

Katie Turner.

Styling assistant and DIY projects

For all product details, see next page DREAM IT CHILDREN’S SPACES Room to grow

ONE ROOM, THREE WAYS, TAKES A CHILD FROM TODDLER TO TEEN

Photography SUE STUBBS Styling SAM POINTON

As they grow from chubby-cheeked tots to young adults, children have differing needs for their bedroom. The starting point for creating a room that grows with them is versatile storage. Here, we take one flatpack wardrobe unit, then add and update the storage around it to suit a child’s changing needs. 

TODDLER

Create a welcoming space with a priority on play and plenty of low storage, such as baskets and a toy chest, for little hands to access. 

ABOVE Northcote Pottery ‘Elephant’ 11cm pot in White, $10.48, I/N: 0263128. Northcote Pottery ‘Clara’ 23cm cylinder pot in White, $33.98, I/N: 0263155. Flexi Storage Kids ‘Cloud’ 58cm x 45cm x 28cm open toy chest in White, $60.49, I/N: 0191675. Bayliss ‘Cortina’ 225cm x 155cm wool rug, $292, I/N: 0045234. Toys (shown throughout) Adairs, Best & Less, bestandless.com.au, and Target, target.com. au. All other products, stylist’s own.

Keep in mind...

n Our rooms are set up for inspiration only. Always assess safety when planning your child’s room. n For example: secure storage units such as wardrobes to walls with appropriate fasteners to avoid the risk of them toppling over; position climbable objects or furniture away from windows; avoid floor length or reachable curtains in young children’s rooms and ensure blind and curtain cords are secured at least 1600mm above the floor. n Check house plants are not toxic to humans or pets and place out of the reach of small children. n For further information on child safety in and around the home, visit kidsafe.com.au. ABOVE Windoware 310cm x 33mm wooden curtain rod set in White, $72.10, I/N: 1280157, and ‘Hilton’ 2230mm x 1200mm eyelet blockout curtain in Taupe, $47, I/N: 0019253. Artiss ‘Casa’ timber house kids bed frame in White, $175.96*, I/N: 0338766. Inabox 19L modular storage containers in Desert Clay, $12 each, I/N: 0319500. Montgomery 1800mm x 800mm x 520mm, 2 door 2 drawer wardrobe in White, $169, I/N: 2584014. Lane 96mm square handles in Matt Brass, $8.18 each, I/N: 0135467. Flexi Storage Kids ‘Toy House’ shelf in White, $27.49, I/N: 0191681. Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ 1 x 4 storage unit in White, $64, I/N: 2583386, and fabric inserts in Earth, $4.50 each,

I/N: 0230921. This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered by a Bunnings Marketplace Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply.

Brilliant ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ 20cm DIY install batten fixture kids pendant light, $24.90, I/N: 0177685 (globe sold separately)‡ . Curtain rod set and curtain, as before. Bed frame, as before. Storage containers, as before. Wardrobe and handles, as before. Shelf, toy chest, storage unit and fabric inserts, as before. Pots and rug, as before. Floor Select 8mm water resistant laminate flooring in Palomino Oak, $26/sqm, $69.95/pack of 8 (2.69sqm), I/N: 0135646. Clothing, Cotton On Kids, cottonon. com.au. Hats, Billabong, billabong.com.au. Shoes, Kmart, kmart.com.au. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores but may be ordered.

Taubmans Kaleidoscope

MAKE IT

DIY DESK

TWEEN

Bring in a desk for homework and craft, plus higher storage – and more of it – for no-longer-little kids.

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE Mercator ‘Bree’ bamboo pendant light, $157.50, I/N: 0261992‡ . Nanoleaf ‘Essentials’ A60 E27 1100lm RGB and white 9W LED smart globe, I/N: 0266754. Curtain rod set and curtain, as before. (On windowsill) Elho ‘Vibes’ 16cm round recycled plastic pot in White, $16.98, I/N: 0265627. Storage unit, as before. Flexi Storage ‘Clever Cube’ canvas insert in Urban, $11, I/N: 2583440. Hills foldable bamboo laundry baskets, $31.95 each, I/N: 0217254. Flexi Storage Kids 270mm x 270mm x 140mm fabric inserts in Grey Clouds, $4.29 each, I/N: 0191665. Wardrobe and brass handles, as before. Desk, see right for DIY instructions. Tusk Living ‘Asta’ cafe chair in Charcoal, $69.98, I/N: 0019613. Flexi Storage 3 shelf 4 drawer built in wardrobe unit in White, $200, I/N: 2583991. Northcote Pottery ‘Clara’ 23cm cylinder pot in White, $33.98, I/N: 0263155. Laminate flooring and rug, as before. Paws & Claws ‘Lighthouse’ 80cm large walled foam cushion pet/ dog bed in Sand Speckle, $67*, I/N: 0289976. Bedlinen, Adairs. Hats, Surf Dive ‘n Ski, sds.com.au. Clothes, Cotton On Kids, cottonon.com. Shoes, Kmart. Ukulele, Target. Skateboard, Bobby Small, bobbysmall.com.au. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but can be ordered.

This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered by a Bunnings Marketplace Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply.

What could be cooler than coloured lights that ‘dance’ to your kids’ music? Open shelves are great for tweens to store favourite books and display personal items that reflect their passions

DIY DESK

Desk made using Flexi Storage Home Solutions 900mm x 350mm x 16mm shelf in White, $16.75, I/N: 2583627

To make, position storage units 900mm apart. Measure 700mm up from the floor and use a level to pencil a straight line around the units and wall. Secure two 200 x 150mm stayed brackets with the appropriate fasteners for your wall studs or masonry wall, then secure another bracket into each unit with 15mm button screws. Drop in a 900mm x 350mm shelf and secure from underneath with the small screws. Tip: Adjust the height of the desk to suit your tween and their chair. To adjust the width of the desk to suit a different shelf, ensure it’s supported against the wall at least every 400mm. 

For ordered and clutter-free shelves, choose fabric baskets to suit your decor and use to group similar items. Lower the height of clothes rails to suit smaller children

LEFT Nanoleaf Shapes ‘Hexagons’ LED light panel starter kit, $339/pack of 9 panels, I/N: 0285548‡

Keep in mind...

n Before drilling into walls, use a studfinder to check for wiring and pipework, and turn off the power while working. n This DIY desk is not suitable for standing on.

British Paints Good To Go

TEEN

This almost-adult room has personality plus, but includes a serious study set-up and maximum storage to minimise clutter.

DIY PROJECTS

Painted desk lamp made using

Verve Design ‘Chloe’ desk lamp in White, $47.50, I/N: 0271540‡, painted in Dulux ‘Duramax’ chalk finish spray paint in Pink Splendour, $16.50/340g, I/N: 0073684

Remove lampshade. Use painter’s tape to cover all chrome parts of the lamp. Following directions on the can, spray-paint the base of the lamp and the shade. Leave to dry then reassemble.

Hexagon pinboard tiles made using

305mm x 305mm x 6mm cork tiles in Natural, $16.98/ pack of 6, I/N: 6690244, and 3M ‘Command’ narrow adhesive picture hanging strips in White, $16.98, pack of 12, I/N: 0180142

Use a ruler and pencil to draw a hexagon shape onto each tile. Carefully cut out the shape using a Stanley knife. Attach to wall in your desired pattern with adhesive strips.

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE Brilliant ‘Harbour’ DIY plug in pendant in Rattan, $157, I/N: 0089054‡ . Smart globe, as before. Curtain rod set and curtain, as before. (On windowsill) Northcote Pottery ‘Benji’ 15cm chaff pot, $5.48, I/N: 0263710. Northcote Pottery ‘Isabel’ 23cm pot in White, $33.98, I/N: 0263161. Wardrobe, as before. Artiss office/ student computer desk with corner shelf, $116.95*, I/N: 0247014. Flexi Storage Kids large rectangle storage basket in Grey Stars, $5.49, I/N: 0191659. Amazon ‘Echo Dot 3rd Gen’ smart speaker with Alexa in Charcoal, I/N: 0116369. Northcote Pottery 14cm cork pot, $15.98, I/N: 0263240. Cork pinboard and pink lamp, see above for DIY instructions. Storage unit, as before, and canvas insert in Urban, $11, I/N: 2583440. Ezy Storage ‘Brickor’ deep lidded baskets in Green, $9 each, I/N: 0279846. Bayliss ‘Lema’ 230cm x 160cm polypropylene rug in Cream, $249, I/N: 0045238. Laminate flooring, as before. Pawfect Pals ‘Snuggle Bud’ dog bed in Sunshine On My Mind, $95*, I/N: 0292368. Chair, Officeworks, officeworks. com.au. Bedlinen and palm tree, Adairs. Basketball and rollerskates, Surf Dive ‘n Ski. Skateboard, Bobby Small. Ukulele, Target. All other products, stylist’s own. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered by a Bunnings Marketplace Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply. Tailor the accessories to suit the style of your teen

MAKE IT

CORK TILE PINBOARD

MAKE IT

SPRAY- PAINTED LAMP

Keep in mind...

n If painting a lamp, make sure it’s not plugged into the power, avoid getting paint on any electrical parts and allow to dry thoroughly before use. n When spray-painting, wear a mask and gloves and work outside or in a well ventilated area, covering surrounding areas with a drop cloth to avoid overspray.