In modern apartments and houses, when choosing furniture, the emphasis is on its compactness and functionality, lightness and environmental friendliness. The times of bulky wardrobes, huge “walls” and cabinets have sunk into oblivion, and that’s great. Nowadays, light, eco-friendly, natural and simple furniture is relevant, which does not clutter up the space, while making it comfortable and modern.
A properly equipped rack will accommodate toys, books and even some things that do not fit in the closet
All of the above especially applies to the children's room. Regardless of its size, the nursery should be spacious and cozy, modern and functional. Therefore, for a children's room they often choose light and practical shelving instead of old-fashioned bulky cabinets and chests of drawers. We’ll talk about them in more detail in this article.
Pros and cons of shelving in a children's room
How does a shelving unit for a nursery differ from cabinets and shelves, and what is its feature? First of all, the rack is a lightweight floor-mounted structure without unnecessary details, with maximum functionality. This is a small, lightweight cabinet that can be used for a variety of purposes.
The rack does not take up much space, but has sufficient capacity
The advantage of shelving is its practicality and simplicity. They can be used as shelves for books and textbooks, to arrange toys, to store decor and even clothes. Another plus is that shelving comes in a variety of incredible shapes and sizes, and can be selected or ordered to suit the individual dimensions of the room.
Furniture manufacturers offer a wide variety of shelving options depending on purpose and configuration.
This furniture has no disadvantages: it is cheaper than cabinets, lighter, more practical, and looks more beautiful. What are the disadvantages here? Complete benefits. True, you should choose wisely: pay attention to the material, choose the shape and color wisely, and take into account all other nuances.
Shelves can be placed in various corners of the children's room
Designs with a step
In this model, the role of a step is played by the lower step extended forward, with the help of which the baby can easily rise up to take the necessary thing.
This design is quite high, so it is necessary to firmly fix it to the wall, ensuring complete immobility for safe use by the child.
Ways to zone space in a nursery using shelving
Did you know that modern children's wardrobes and shelving are ideal for zoning a room? Among all other existing types of zoning, this is the most competent and practical. If a second child is growing up in the family, then it’s time to turn one children’s room into two so that each child has his own personal space. And it doesn’t matter whether children are same-sex or different-sex, everyone needs personal space, even a tiny corner - but personal and closed.
The shelving allows you to easily divide the room into functional areas
So, you can build a wall from plasterboard - this is expensive and problematic. You can hang a curtain, but it is unreliable, looks poor and does not create a feeling of isolation and privacy in the room. Or you can use a rack!
The semi-open design will provide zoning of space, while slightly shading the far part of the room
For such purposes, you can choose a double-sided rack, you can even order individual production. This way, the “wall” will be functional on both sides, and each room will have a useful cabinet and shelves. Or you can use two shelves (necessarily with a back wall) and place them side by side. Place one in one room, the other in the next room. It is ideal if the shelving is high enough to maximize the feeling of enclosed space.
It is quite possible to curtain the upper space with a curtain or place large tall decor on top of the cabinets: soft toys, indoor plants.
Room zoning ability
A child's room with shelving can be used to easily divide the room into zones. A product of medium height can be used as a screen. For example, if you need to protect the play area from the study area, or the sleeping area from the work area.
For convenient operation, racks can be of different heights, double-row or multi-row. Corner or vertical racks are perfect for educational supplies, while larger ones are ideal for storing sports or creative equipment. In addition, corner models perfectly fill the empty space of the corner zone.
Shelving design ideas
If you are planning to put a bookcase in a children's room, carefully consider all the details of its appearance in advance. You need to take into account the shape, design, presence of doors and drawers.
A shelving unit with drawers is perfect for a child's room.
Boxes can be wooden, plastic, fabric or wicker. The main thing is that they are comfortable, easy to pull out and slide in
Most often, a bookcase for a children's room has an open appearance: in such a way that numerous open shelves are formed. You can make a mess in a closed drawer or cabinet - and oh well, no one sees it anyway. But this number won’t work here. What and how will be placed on the shelves is important not only from a functional, but also from a practical point of view.
The main thing is not to clutter, but at the same time not to leave the shelves empty, so that there is no feeling of emptiness and uninhabitedness. Place books and textbooks, arrange decor.
Arrange decorative little things evenly, and preferably without little things, so as not to dazzle the eyes. Place something tall and large on the top shelf: bright artificial or indoor flowers in a colorful vase or pot, or a large plush hare.
Open shelving shelves can be used to display books, especially in beautiful flights
Design with drawers or baskets
Very roomy and hides the contents. But the child is not always able to independently place the filled basket back into the cell. To avoid confusion about what is where, you can label the baskets or attach signed labels.
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Types of racks
Modern shelving for children's rooms has different configurations and features. Let's get to know them to make your choice easier.
The modular design rack provides the ability to assemble any configuration
Wardrobe rack
This is a great option if you are looking for a universal shelving unit for your children’s room - one that can store your child’s clothes, his backpack, textbooks, and toys. Moreover, it should all be beautiful! No problem.
A practical furniture set consisting of a double-door wardrobe and two additional shelving sections
The shelving cabinet can be low or elongated and high. It combines a wardrobe with closing or sliding doors, and open shelves for toys and books. The configurations of such cabinets are endless, as are the shapes, colors and materials.
Wardrobe-rack in a teenage boy’s room, decorated in a modern style
It is convenient when you have a large high compartment hanging clothes on hangers; nearby there are several closed shelves for folding clothes, and large open shelves for books, textbooks, decor and various beauty items. Convenient, beautiful, and things are always in order! And most importantly, there is no need to buy several cabinets and shelves for different purposes.
Corner shelving
A very convenient option for a small room. A corner shelving unit will fit perfectly into the interior and decorate it, make the room cozy and beautiful, and smooth out the corners. A corner bookcase is suitable for a small children's room. It is compact, elongated, beautiful.
A corner shelving unit will enhance an empty corner and add coziness to the room.
On the corner shelves you can stack not only books, but also all kinds of decor. And fill the top shelves with indoor plants.
The choice of rack sizes depends on the age of the child and the availability of free space
Horizontal shelving
If the space of the room allows, it is very convenient to use a horizontal shelving unit for a nursery: voluminous furniture that gives the interior a special charm and comfort. You can put a variety of things on it - books and toys, watches, decor, electronics, even a TV or computer. And inside you can store whatever your heart desires. Horizontal racks can combine open shelves and closed compartments for clothes, which is very convenient.
Horizontal shelving is usually chosen for the youngest children
A combination of horizontal and pencil case rack can be placed around the window opening
And other options
The pencil case rack is tall, elongated and straight, suitable for a small room. It can be completely closed, completely open or combined, with open shelves and doors. The pencil case is very convenient for storing books and school supplies, toys and child's clothes.
To enhance stability, the structure must be securely fastened to the wall and floor.
A beautiful house or a shelf in the shape of a car, or even an animal - these are original options for a children's room that children really like. Such toy racks look very cute, but when the child grows up and becomes a teenager, he is unlikely to be delighted with the idea of storing books and personal belongings in an overly childish cabinet.
Modern models of shelving are constructors consisting of a frame with cells and various additions to them in the form of containers, baskets or boxes
There are also universal models, for example, a shelving unit combined with a table in a children's room. Quite convenient: there is a workspace for the child and storage space. For a small-sized nursery - an ideal solution.
An interesting idea for combining a rack with a ladder to the second tier of children's furniture
How to do it yourself
No one forbids making a rack with your own hands, especially since it is not difficult to do: you will need the necessary materials, tools and the ability to handle them.
The best option would be to build a frame from wood, furniture panels or laminated chipboard (connecting longitudinal and transverse boards) and supplement it with bright store-bought drawers and baskets.
Bulky and massive cabinets have been replaced by lightweight shelving structures, which, among other things, are compact and portable. Shelving can add style, brightness and organization to a room, especially if you experiment with shapes, colors and designs.
Choosing a color palette for shelving
As for color, there is plenty to roam around here. Modern manufacturers offer cabinets and shelves in a variety of colors, regardless of the material. It can be plastic, natural wood with painting or coating, and so on.
The color of furniture is important, especially when decorating a girl's room.
Bright shades are good if you have a bright room. You can and should select the color of the cabinet to match the overall scheme of the room, but not “color to color”, but with a slight difference. For example, if the whole room is made in yellow, then the cabinet should be made yellow, but a little darker than the walls.
The bright color palette can decorate any interior of a children's room, providing the child with a great mood.
The second option is to match it with other furniture, say a sofa. And here you just need to get the color exactly right, then you will create a harmonious ensemble. Example: if you have pale blue walls and a purple sofa in your nursery, then choose the same purple shelving unit. And if the curtains have stripes or a pattern of the same shade, then the result will be very stylish and correct in terms of color design.
The purple shelving looks good against the background of light wall decoration
Natural shades are also good. But in this case, the rack must be exactly the same material as the child’s desk. And if there are also cabinets, cabinets or shelves in the room, then they should also be made of the same material, the same color. It can be light or dark wood, it will look very good. The main thing is that there is no “discord”.
Wooden racks are the most environmentally friendly and safe for children’s health
White shelving in the nursery interior
Why not? White color looks fresh and gives the room a light, clean and airy feeling. A white shelving unit is suitable for a room made in soft, light colors. Especially for a girl’s room, where there are a lot of pastel shades. It is advisable that the table or other piece of furniture be white: so that the white cabinet is not the only bright spot in the room.
White wicker boxes in open shelving
A white cabinet will also look good in contrast with dark walls, for example blue. If this is a boy's room, then you can decorate the walls in blue, the curtains in blue and white stripes, and the shelving in white. Nautical theme and very stylish!
Materials used in the production of children's furniture must be certified and have a supporting document
Use your imagination and remember that harmony, simplicity and lack of frills are the best assistants for a beginning interior designer and anyone who independently designs their cozy home!
To finally choose the perfect idea and get inspired, look at the numerous photographs. They show what modern children's shelves are like, how they fit into the interior of a children's room and how best to decorate them.
Toy rack design and construction
The main requirement for children's furniture is its safety. The rack, regardless of whether it was purchased at Ikea or made by yourself, must be securely attached to the wall with self-tapping screws.
Before installing the rack, you should determine the material of the wall; if plaster or sand spills out of it, then the screws may also fall out under the weight of the structure. To avoid a traumatic situation, a flimsy wall should be re-plastered.
If the size of the room allows, the rack can be made corner
Fabric boxes with a frame are safer than wooden or plastic ones and are best placed on the top shelves.
Drawers should be located on the lower levels:
- firstly, it is safer because it will help avoid heavy structures falling from a height;
- secondly, in this case it is simply more convenient to get things out of them.
In order not to waste time constantly wiping off dust, the shelves can be equipped with glass or plastic doors, or closed boxes can be placed on them.
The lower level of the rack can be left without partitions, put blankets and pillows inside, and hang soft fabric on the front with a drawstring - you will get your own nook for the child. You can even install lighting in such a “cave”.
