Pro Reveal: Secrets of 6 Great Kids' Storage Set-Ups
Kids and mess often go hand-in-hand, but not in these stylish and organised rooms – six experts share their secrets
Good storage is a must in a child’s room. Without it, shoes quickly get lost and floors become minefields of mess that are then left for mum or dad to clean up. Looking for smart-looking and practical storage ideas for your child’s room? Check out these six great set-ups and learn how the designers behind them did it.
2. Master joiner and commentator: Javier Favaro at iSpace Solutions
Location: Avalon, NSW
Set-up: A bedroom for a tweenage boy in a single-storey 1940s weatherboard beach house.
Size: Around 10.5 square metres
Favaro says: This is the smallest room in the house and we wanted to provide its occupant with space for storage, sleep and to hang out with friends.
This space-savvy built-in unit houses a singe bed up top, a daybed below, stairs with built-in drawers, under-bed drawers and bookshelves – all in a compact footprint. It also flows to a built-in desk.
The timber details add texture and warmth to this predominantly white room. The desk and shelves are made from the same material as the floor. The colour palette used here is carried through to the rest of the house.
Tip: If you’re specifying drawer-steps like these ones, make them deep enough so you can walk down them comfortably. It also means the drawers will be big enough to accommodate bulky items such as games and shoes.
Location: Avalon, NSW
Set-up: A bedroom for a tweenage boy in a single-storey 1940s weatherboard beach house.
Size: Around 10.5 square metres
Favaro says: This is the smallest room in the house and we wanted to provide its occupant with space for storage, sleep and to hang out with friends.
This space-savvy built-in unit houses a singe bed up top, a daybed below, stairs with built-in drawers, under-bed drawers and bookshelves – all in a compact footprint. It also flows to a built-in desk.
The timber details add texture and warmth to this predominantly white room. The desk and shelves are made from the same material as the floor. The colour palette used here is carried through to the rest of the house.
Tip: If you’re specifying drawer-steps like these ones, make them deep enough so you can walk down them comfortably. It also means the drawers will be big enough to accommodate bulky items such as games and shoes.
3. Architect and commentator: Tanya Hancock, principal at Hancock Architects
Interior designer: Denai Kulcsar Interiors
Location: Sydney, NSW
Set-up: A bedroom for an eight-year-old girl in a five-bedroom Federation house.
Size: Around 30 square metres
Hancock says: This built-in storage wall was designed to be versatile enough for the child to use it in different ways as she grows older – for example as a display shelf or bookshelf.
Having a mix of open and closed storage means that messy items can be hidden away behind closed doors.
The joinery and panelled doors were designed to tie in with the panelling elsewhere in the house, but in a simplified, child-friendly version.
The base of the unit is deeper to accomodate larger items and the shelves are shallower to accomodate books – this reduces bulk in the room.
Eager to spruce up your child’s bedroom? Find an interior designer on Houzz to help
Interior designer: Denai Kulcsar Interiors
Location: Sydney, NSW
Set-up: A bedroom for an eight-year-old girl in a five-bedroom Federation house.
Size: Around 30 square metres
Hancock says: This built-in storage wall was designed to be versatile enough for the child to use it in different ways as she grows older – for example as a display shelf or bookshelf.
Having a mix of open and closed storage means that messy items can be hidden away behind closed doors.
The joinery and panelled doors were designed to tie in with the panelling elsewhere in the house, but in a simplified, child-friendly version.
The base of the unit is deeper to accomodate larger items and the shelves are shallower to accomodate books – this reduces bulk in the room.
Eager to spruce up your child’s bedroom? Find an interior designer on Houzz to help
Image: Shannon McGrath
4. Architect and commentator: Mick Moloney, principal at Moloney Architects
Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Set-up: A bedroom for a primary school-aged child in a Federation brick home.
Size: Around 18 square metres
Moloney says: This reading nook/window seat has a built-in bookshelf that faces the seat, not the room, to encourage quiet reading time. The shelf is the same depth as a standard shelf (around 300 millimetres) and only as wide as the wardrobe (650 millimetres.
The window and joinery are designed to read together as one piece. The reading nook was designed to recall an open drawer that has slid out from the wardrobe; the books, seat and window are the items in the drawer. The matching panel on the right acts as the ‘drawer front’.
The room has very high ceilings (4.2 metres) so we floated the robe and window seat to make the composition look and feel more substantial.
4. Architect and commentator: Mick Moloney, principal at Moloney Architects
Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Set-up: A bedroom for a primary school-aged child in a Federation brick home.
Size: Around 18 square metres
Moloney says: This reading nook/window seat has a built-in bookshelf that faces the seat, not the room, to encourage quiet reading time. The shelf is the same depth as a standard shelf (around 300 millimetres) and only as wide as the wardrobe (650 millimetres.
The window and joinery are designed to read together as one piece. The reading nook was designed to recall an open drawer that has slid out from the wardrobe; the books, seat and window are the items in the drawer. The matching panel on the right acts as the ‘drawer front’.
The room has very high ceilings (4.2 metres) so we floated the robe and window seat to make the composition look and feel more substantial.
5. Designer and commentator: Donna Guyler, design director at Donna Guyler Design
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Set-up: A multipurpose room for three kids to do their homework, relax and watch TV in a ’90s beachfront home.
Size: Around 30 square metres
Guyler says: Our client wanted a multi-use space that incorporated a desk/dedicated workspace for their kids to do their homework and a relaxed space for them to watch TV.
Storage was important – we added three deep drawers below the bench seat for bulky toys, open shelving and overhead cabinets with lift-up doors so the children can access them easily.
The bench seat is directly opposite a wall-mounted TV, so it was an opportunity to provide enough space and seating for the three children so they could spread out across this room – maybe two on the floor and one on the bench seat – no arguments!
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Set-up: A multipurpose room for three kids to do their homework, relax and watch TV in a ’90s beachfront home.
Size: Around 30 square metres
Guyler says: Our client wanted a multi-use space that incorporated a desk/dedicated workspace for their kids to do their homework and a relaxed space for them to watch TV.
Storage was important – we added three deep drawers below the bench seat for bulky toys, open shelving and overhead cabinets with lift-up doors so the children can access them easily.
The bench seat is directly opposite a wall-mounted TV, so it was an opportunity to provide enough space and seating for the three children so they could spread out across this room – maybe two on the floor and one on the bench seat – no arguments!
6. Builder and commentator: Joel Carr at Fido Projects
Architect and interior designer: Clare Cousins
Location: Albert Park, Victoria
Set-up: A shared bedroom for two young siblings in a Swedish-Australian family living in a renovated Victorian terrace.
Size: Around 15 square metres
Carr says: Moveable pegs beside the bed make a handy spot for the kids to hang their toys – and add a touch of fun.
Deep drawers below the bunks provide storage for toys and books while the panelling above the bunks conceals cupboards for less-regularly used items.
The panelling and cabinetry was colour-matched to the whitewashed wood floors to keep with the renovated home’s Scandi feel.
Architect and interior designer: Clare Cousins
Location: Albert Park, Victoria
Set-up: A shared bedroom for two young siblings in a Swedish-Australian family living in a renovated Victorian terrace.
Size: Around 15 square metres
Carr says: Moveable pegs beside the bed make a handy spot for the kids to hang their toys – and add a touch of fun.
Deep drawers below the bunks provide storage for toys and books while the panelling above the bunks conceals cupboards for less-regularly used items.
The panelling and cabinetry was colour-matched to the whitewashed wood floors to keep with the renovated home’s Scandi feel.
Your turn
Which of these storage set-ups would your child love? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more ideas for kids’ rooms? Be sure to read How to Sneak In a Kids’ Study Zone Without Creating Clutter
Which of these storage set-ups would your child love? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more ideas for kids’ rooms? Be sure to read How to Sneak In a Kids’ Study Zone Without Creating Clutter
Location: Newmarket, Queensland
Set-up: An open-plan library area used by five children between the ages of two and 14 on the third level of their ’90s family home.
Size: Around 12 square metres
Reinhardt says: All five kids in the family use this area as a place to hang out, read books and play. It’s also a storage area for books.
This project was a collaboration between architect Emily Prior, the builder and I. The daybed tucked into the alcove makes a relaxing reading spot. It’s a single-bed size so it can provide an extra sleeping spot when friends or family stay.
Built-in bookshelves create a cleaner and less-cluttered look than freestanding ones.
Open shelves add colour and personality, and make items easily accessible for the younger children. Taking the shelves from floor to ceiling allows you to maximise storage in the space you’ve got.
Contrasting light-oak shelf edging adds warmth and ties in with the timber used elsewhere in the home.