Cool kids' rooms

Create a stimulating and stylish space for your little one with these 10 tips.

1. Have some fun decorating the ceiling, suggests interior designer Christie Blizzard. "Be it wallpaper on the ceiling or white walls with a pink ceiling, it is far more fun than a feature wall and instantly tells people 'there are no rules'."

2. "Consider a bed with in-built storage options," * *Snooze's Adrian Galiazzo says. "A trundle bed is great for housing an additional mattress to use during sleepovers."

3. Tracie Ellis, founder and designer of bedding and homewares label Aura, says a bright rug is an easy way to add colour - "and will keep their bare feet warm in winter."

4. Enhance kids' mental stimulation and inspire their imagination by adding an element of colour to the room, suggests Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr - think striped, stencilled or painted feature walls as they can easily be updated.

5. "Follow your heart and budget," says Melanie Clarke, owner of local homewares retailer Remedy. "Kids gather a lot of gifts over time, so let it build up over time and they will appreciate what they have because it's not a room of things, it's a room of memories."

6. When it comes to choosing colours, involve your kids in the process, recommends Ms Lucena-Orr. "Give kids three schemes to choose from," she says. "There have been many instances where parents have had to repaint because the child was not consulted and didn't like the outcome. Popular colour trends for children's rooms include greens, blues and subtle metallic silvers for boys; purples, pinks, lemon and soft metallic golds for girls."

7. "Creating a purposeful homework area can make a big difference in how much work they can accomplish," Mr Galiazzo says. "Add some bright-coloured storage boxes, stationery and a pin board or whiteboard to really bring the area to life."

8. While bunk beds are still popular, Forty Winks' Wayne Borg says cabin beds are becoming increasingly popular as they are half the height of a traditional bunk and offer under-bed work stations and storage.

9. "The bedroom should be their sanctuary, so for me it's all about comfort and relaxation," Ms Ellis says. "Kids should be sleeping on natural breathable fibres (that are) warm in winter and cool in summer. Linen cotton is a beautiful blend and the fibres relax the more you wash the product."

10. Above all, be creative, Ms Blizzard says. "You are creating their sanctuary so fill it with love." Think outside the square by using artificial turf cut into a circle as a floor rug, Lego pieces or tennis ball halves used as cupboard handles, a skateboard used for shelving, and so on. And be wary of trends, she cautions: "Your kids may like Disney Princesses or One Direction. Decorate for their personality, not their current fad."