6 Ideas for Designing Rooms with Kids in Mind

These days, kids’ rooms – whether bedrooms, play rooms, or study spaces, to name just a few – are top of mind for our clients. They want rooms designed for their children to be as thoughtful, inspired, useful, and beautiful as any other room in the house. Most of our clients want their homes to welcome their kids’ friends – and all the activity, joy, and laughter that happen in spaces that are geared toward kid-friendly fun. Want your house to be everyone’s favorite hang-out? Consider one of these ideas:

1. Build a bunk room

At Morgante Wilson Architects, we never tire of sharing our love for bunk rooms. Nothing makes it easier to welcome guests overnight. Whether that means hosting the whole team, slumber parties, out-of-town cousins, or just a few best friends, bunk rooms take all the stress out of having company overnight. They’re typically separate from the rest of the house, always at the ready, big enough for some high-jinks, and allow the kids to be together even as they sleep. What more could any kid want?

2. Think big

Imagine the thrill of receiving an invitation to play basketball at the house down the street – even on the snowiest day of the year. If you’ve got the room and your budget allows, building a basketball court into your home is a sure-fire way to make yours the house everyone wants to come to after school. In fact, we can’t think of a single kid we know who wouldn’t love being able to shoot hoops at home with their friends. (We can’t think of too many grown-ups who wouldn’t love that, either!)

3. Screen time

Of course, there are other ways to draw your kids’ friends into your home, and some of them are just as life-enhancing for the rest of the family. We’re talking about home theaters – a truly luxurious amenity the whole family will appreciate and enjoy. Whether watching Netflix or Star Wars, movie night will never be the same in your own home theater. (Popcorn is optional, but highly recommended!)

4. Have a Seat

You may not think of a breakfast room table as being a draw for kids, but trust me – any table that’s big enough to seat a crowd, comfortable enough to hang out at all evening, and laden with food (sorry, that’s one thing MWA can’t provide for you!) is going to attract your kids, their friends, and their friends’ friends. Food, as we all know, goes straight to a kids’ heart – and if you can serve it someplace as cozy and welcoming as this restaurant-style nook, yours is bound to be the house that sees all the action. (Having raised three kids of my own I can attest to this first-hand – there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that makes kids want to come over like some good food. Or salty snacks. Or frosted cupcakes. You get the idea.)

5. Dive in

An indoor swimming pool – or an outdoor swimming pool, for that matter! - is one of those amenities that allows you to offer your kids unique experiences without ever leaving the house. It’s not for everyone but again, if you have the space, the budget, and the desire, a swimming pool will enable you to create memories unlike any others.

6. Study hall

Remote learning aside, designing a dedicated study space for your kids will give them a quiet place to focus, alone or with their siblings. Maybe it’s in or near your kitchen. Maybe it’s tucked into an upstairs hall. Maybe it’s a room of its own. Wherever it is, it can encourage good habits and organizational skills. Add a super comfy upholstered chair with a reading lamp alongside and it might even feel like your own version of a library.

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