Furnishing a Small Children's Room: 7 Tricks for More Space

Not every Swiss apartment offers a spacious children's room. Many families furnish rooms measuring 8 to 12 square meters – and wonder how everything will fit. The good news: with the right tricks, even a small room can feel spacious, tidy, and child-friendly.

Trick 1: Place the bed against the wall

A bed placed against the wall only needs space on one side for getting in and out. This saves valuable square meters in the middle of the room – which you can use for play space. Make sure the accessible side has a bed guard.

Trick 2: Think vertically – shelves up to the ceiling

Small rooms often have little floor space but a lot of wall space. Use the height: shelves up to the ceiling create an enormous amount of storage space without cluttering the floor. The bottom shelves are accessible to your child, the top ones for things you need yourself.

Trick 3: Choose multi-functional furniture

Every piece of furniture in a small room should serve multiple functions. A bed with a drawer underneath saves a separate wardrobe. A stool with storage space replaces a toy box. A folding table on the wall serves as a desk and disappears when not in use.

Trick 4: Open shelves instead of cupboards

Closed cupboards often appear overwhelming in small rooms. Open shelves are airier, make the room seem larger – and help your child find and put away their things independently.

Trick 5: Uniform colours and few patterns

Many different colours and patterns make small rooms appear even smaller. A calm basic colour for walls and large furniture – and accents through textiles and decor – creates visual calm and allows the room to breathe.

Trick 6: Keep the floor clear

Play space is more important for toddlers than furniture. The more floor space is clear, the larger the room appears – and the more space your child has to play, crawl, and romp. Storage belongs on the walls, not on the floor.

Trick 7: Rotate toys

Not all toys need to be in the room at the same time. Rotate toys: store some in another cupboard and bring them out again after a few weeks. Your child will be happy about the "new" toys – and the room will remain tidy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Small Children's Rooms

How much play space does a toddler need at a minimum?

Experts recommend at least 3 to 4 square meters of free floor space for a toddler. This corresponds to an area of about 2 x 2 meters.

Is a bunk bed worthwhile in a small room?

Bunk beds are not recommended for children under 6 years of age. Mid-sleeper beds from 4 years old can be a good solution – the space underneath can be used as a play area or storage space.

How do I prevent chaos in a small children's room?

Clear storage systems at child height, regular decluttering, and toy rotation help. And: involve your child in tidying up – the earlier, the better.

The Most Important Things at a Glance

A small children's room becomes large through clever furniture choices, vertical storage, and clear floor space. Less is more – both with furniture and toys. With the right tricks, even an 8-square-meter room feels like a proper children's room.

Sources: Association of Swiss Interior Architects (VSID); Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU); famigros.ch.