The most economic and practical child’s room is one that will grow with your child or children, taking them from birth to primary school and beyond. By following a few simple rules you can create a room that your children will love at every stage of their development.

Firstly, keep the fundamentals of the room neutral. Paint the walls or cover in a simple, patterned, timeless wallpaper and opt for a plain carpet or wooden flooring. And, whilst nursery furniture looks cute, children will soon outgrow it, needing more space to hang their clothes and despising the ‘babyish’ look and feel of it all. Instead choose contemporary-style full-size furniture that won’t date.

For the window dressings go for a brightly-coloured patterned fabric, such as gingham or stripes, that has a young feel, but isn’t specifically designed for children. 

You can then fill this neutral backdrop with accessories to personalise the room to your child’s age. 

When baby starts to get a mind of his or her own around about three you might find she wants a Peppa Pig themed bedroom. But if you give into her desire for Peppa Pig duvet, wallpaper and blinds you may find yourself being nagged to redecorate in a year’s time when they’ve out grown this character. Let them put their mark on their room, but in a more subtle way. If they want a Sponge Bob character theme, for example, get them a rug, beanbag, light and clock with him on. 

Once your child has outgrown their cot, you can start moving the room onto its next stage. The playmat can be replaced with a little table and chairs and the rocking chair can make way for larger toys such as a train-set and dolls house.

As the teenage years loom, the room’s inhabitant will benefit from a dedicated desk area where they can study and a place in their room where they can ‘chill out’. If space is limited look at mid-sleeper or cabin beds, which have furniture such as a desk, wardrobe and shelving underneath. 

Do your children share a room? Read our guide to making it work here