Home idea with IKEA: a cozy room for a preschooler

Brit and Oskar got their Aegviidu home from Brit's grandparents, who built it to be their summer getaway. For now, it has been transformed beyond recognition, both inside and out. Every room has gotten a makeover – except for the third member of the family, five-year-old Nalu. His room still sports nothing but bare plywood walls. But Nalu knows exactly what it should look like in the future. And Brit and Oscar envision a neutral but cozy room that's perfect for sleeping, playing, and in the future, schoolwork.

Before: a tabula rasa with extra high ceilings

The room is empty and unfurnished. The multi-level ceiling and the niche with a slanted ceiling in one wall are certainly a challenge. The room also has an extremely high ceiling with one of the walls going up 4 meters. Luckily, our designer Sälli Preitof is never short on ideas, and she’s definitely not afraid of heights!

After: a neutral room with colorful details

What started as an empty space is now a calm and functional neutral-toned kids’ room, just as Brit and Oskar wanted. Bright textiles add playful pops of color. It’s a great space for playing, drawing or lounging in bed with a book. And there’s plenty of storage for clothes and toys!

A room that grows with the child

Under the full-size bed, there´s storage space that´s perfect for hiding both a storage box and a folding gym mat ready for some somersaults. The guard rail of the bed can be removed when Nalu grows taller. The desk’s height can also be adjusted as Nalu grows, and the organizers on top will keep his future school supplies organized. The bedside table/shelf unit, currently tucked under the desk, provides additional storage. Above the bed, there’s a wall shelf for storybooks.

Children‘s room

A wardrobe that fits just right

You might think that the triangular nook under the roof would be tricky to put to use, but Sälli came up with a custom wardrobe solution that fits like a glove. From the door color options, she chose blue and white that match the room’s walls, and added colorful handles. As Nalu grows, the handles can easily be moved up, but now they’re at the perfect height. Both the door panels and the handles can easily be swapped out if wanted.

SMÅSTAD storage

A place for every Lego and every Lego in its place

The star of this room is the play zone, where all Nalu’s Legos and toy cars have found a new home in pull-out storage boxes and on shelves and holders attached to a pegboard. Color-changing LED lights, hidden behind a plywood house, add a playful touch. And when playtime is over, everything can be quickly stored again in the boxes.

Toy storage

Tips and tricks to furnish similar rooms

For a room like this, I recommend adding a large light to visually bring the ceiling lower.
I suggest adding some fun to the kids' room with LED strips that you can even attach under the bed. It instantly makes the room cooler.
Many people are hesitant about rooms or closets under slanted ceilings, but you can easily add standalone cabinets that can be stacked. The wardrobe doesn’t have to go from floor to ceiling or wall to wall.

Previous makeovers