bLOOM aS yOU aRE
A dreamy big kid room that’s made for sleepovers!
the Location
the Kiddo
Toronto, Canada
3yo
Features we love
Canopy bed that converts into a loft bed
Trundle bed for sleepovers
Montessori self-care station
Reading nook
Toy hub
Open and closed storage
Stuffie storage
“i love it! the girls are having their first sleepover now. everything was a big hit!”
the tricky space
My client’s 3yo was ready to transition from crib to big kid bed. AND they were expecting to host her 4yo cousin for a weeklong sleepover in just a few weeks and wondered if we could transform the room in time for that!
When a kiddo is ready to make this transition, this calls for a reimagining of the whole room layout.
Nursery furniture like cribs, gliders and change tables take up valuable floor space. And when I work with families to design spaces that last from big kid through to tween/teen years, these nursery pieces don’t end up in the new layout.
The room is on the smaller side so I had to be extra thoughtful about optimizing the functionality and flow of the space. Traditional bed and nightstand combinations wouldn’t work as they would close off access to the closet doors.
The room also had a dark navy carpet that the family wanted to keep, but they were unsure how it can be integrated beautifully into a children’s bedroom design, especially with a softer color palette.
There was also a built-in shelf in the room that was functional but some areas added visual clutter to a room that’s intended for calm and rest.
the “Yes” Space
I ended up choosing a similar bed orientation as the crib to keep the floor space open. My client wanted a beautiful CANOPY BED WITH TRUNDLE that will last for years and can be converted into a loft bed in the tween years. We landed on the Perch Nest Bed by Oeuf which was stunning and had smart space-saving designs.
To soften the visual transition from dark navy carpet to the sleeping area, I added a WHIMSICAL FLOWER RUG that had irregular edges in the shape of the petals and leaves. Not only does the room look more harmonious, but the bed now looks like it’s sitting on a bed of flowers. How sweet!
I always look for ways to support kids’ autonomy and independence. When things are too high up, kids miss out on opportunities to be their own capable selves: such as getting themselves dressed for the day (MONTESSORI SELF-CARE STATION at their level) or choosing a book to curl up with (low & accessible READING NOOK).
I also added some simple BASKETS that helped contain the visual clutter of some open areas of the built-in shelf, and one large floor basket for stuffies.
Lastly, the bedroom is for resting. Quiet activities are great to incorporate into a kid's bedroom design. We kept two low and open shelves into a TOY HUB for puzzles, blocks and pretend play.
Install happened while the family was away on a trip, and the little girl and her cousin came home to the new room, ready for their weeklong sleepover! Now that’s what I call a Reveal Day!
transitioning from the crib?
design a big kid room that’ll last!
