My, How Fast They Grow!
Kids grow up fast. And every stage calls for different needs. Babies need the security of cribs. Toddlers need hooks and shelves at their level. Pre-teens need plenty of storage for books and toys. And teens need freedom to make a room their own — and bigger everything. If your child keeps the same bedroom through every stage, there will be many changes along the way. Here are some ideas for making it work.
Your child's first bed. Most new parents buy a crib with the expectation of trading it for a new bed after a few years. But if you're in the market for a crib, consider one that will last a lifetime. LEKSVIK ($169.00) and MINNEN ($149.00) children's beds are expandable all the way to twin size, so they can literally grow with your child. And that will give you room to stretch your wallet for other things.
From layette to long graduation robes. Young children certainly have as many clothes as older ones, but the space needs are different. Wardrobes are a practical combination of drawers, shelves and hanging space for clothes, and IKEA wardrobes come with pegs at about the level of a parent's knee, so your child can start picking up and hanging his or her own clothes at an early age. And as your child grows, you'll find that the wardrobes are deep enough to accommodate adult-size hangers.
Laundry, toys and books — oh my! One of the biggest surprises that many new parents have is the sheer volume of things that the smallest person in the home requires. Today, you need a place for diapers and blankets. Before you know it, you'll need a place for shirts, teddy bears, blocks and books. TROFAST storage systems grow with your child. Simple wooden frames (either vertical or horizontal) fit anywhere, and you can add more units and create whole new arrangements as your needs change. You can start using TROFAST early with an eight-drawer unit with a changing table on top. Plastic drawers, boxes and doors come in bright colors, so your growing child won't think these units are "babyish."
Trading the toy chest for a student's desk. When the blocks, dolls and toy trucks are put away for the last time, your child will need different furniture, such as a desk, computer station and bookshelves. And your child will probably want to choose these items rather than simply accept what you pick out for him or her. The IKEA catalog, brochures and stores offer a complete range of furniture in styles and colors that will satisfy everyone in the family. And you'll find the same flexibility that you found in the children's furniture. For instance, with the EXPEDIT series, you can add or redesign storage units, installing a computer desk in the bookshelves or adding drawers as your child's needs change.
Simple but dramatic changes. Letting your child have a choice in decorating his or her room will help the child develop an independent sense of style. One of the quickest and easiest ways to make a room very different (and very personal) is to introduce new textiles. A bright new bedspread or a boldly striped rug can change the whole look and feel of a room. Helping your child create his or her own "most important place in the world" is another opportunity for both of you to grow. For older kids, let them use IKEA Space Maker to unleash their creativity and design their own bedroom.