Children’s days are all go, go, go, so a comfortable bed that helps them rest and rejuvenate is essential. Elizabeth Wilson surveys the options.

When you're a little person, your bed is not merely a bed; it often assumes a larger-than-life role in your universe, morphing into a fortress, mountain or cave inhabited by supermen and princesses. But, when darkness descends, and superheroes resume their ordinary lives, the bed becomes an island of comfort.

So, what should you look for in a bed? "Firstly, the child needs to like it," says Ashling Punnett, Creative Director at Lilly & Lolly. "The second consideration is aesthetic: is it going to achieve the overall look that you want for the room? The bed has to suit the room's dimensions. Beds with high ends in small rooms can make the space seem even smaller."

Think about practicality and longevity, too, Punnett says. For boys, she suggests a darker timber finish because it's durable and it doesn't show scuffing as much as a white-painted finish.

"Also, you should choose a design that will be suitable for years to come. Ideally, you want a bed that the child will still like when they are 10 or 12 years old."

Think big

Another easy way to inject fun into a child's room is to play with scale, says interior designer Jacinta Preston. "One beautiful, over-size piece of furniture, even in a tiny room, can make it an interesting space," Preston says. "A large 'grown-up', deliciously comfy armchair or a glamorous full-height mirror can add a theatrical or 'designer' element to the space. And using regular-size, rather than children's, furniture will allow the space to grow and evolve with the child or the household - which helps both the household budget and the planet!"

Preston suggests looking around the house for items you already own that can find a new use: a lovely old sideboard can make a great change table, for example.

Colour play

A child's room should be a fun space, so don't be afraid to bring colour into it, says interior designer Carmel Siciliano of Adelaide's Stile Interiors. "Colour will enhance their mood and make the room a place they can call their own," she says. "But you don't have to go overboard. Start with the neutrals you would find in the rest of the home and add colour with accessories or artwork. Aim for playfulness."

Siciliano says wallpapers are a great way to add a colour accent, citing the whimsical designs of the Bholu wallpaper collection, available from Porter's Paints, as her current favourite.
Stile Interiors; (08) 8443 6602.