What is on each sheet
The three sheets and their furniture schedules are below, as printed on the drawings.
| Sheet | Overall size | What is drawn on it | Key dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-1 — 10 ft x 9 ft, one child | 10 ft x 9 ft | Single bed, study, wardrobe, play floor | Clear play floor 5 ft x 4 ft |
| K-2 — 11 ft x 10 ft, two children with bunks | 11 ft x 10 ft | Bunk bed, twin desks, shared wardrobe | Bunk clearance 3 ft above |
| K-3 — 12 ft x 11 ft, teenager | 12 ft x 11 ft | Double bed, full desk, wardrobe, seating | Desk 5 ft |
Schedule — K-1 — 10 ft x 9 ft, one child
- Single bed with a storage base, 3 ft 2 in x 6 ft 3 in — 3.2 ft × 6.2 ft
- Toy and book drawers under the window — 3.2 ft × 2.4 ft
- Wardrobe, 3 ft 9 in wide, with a loft — 3.8 ft × 4.5 ft
- Study desk, 3 ft 9 in — 3.8 ft × 2 ft
- Task chair — 1.6 ft × 1.6 ft
- Clear play area, 5 ft x 4 ft when the chair is pushed in — 2.4 ft × 2.4 ft
Schedule — K-2 — 11 ft x 10 ft, two children with bunks
- Bunk bed, 3 ft 4 in x 6 ft 6 in footprint — 3.4 ft × 6.6 ft
- Steps with integrated drawers — 3.4 ft × 2.8 ft
- Wardrobe, 4 ft, two bays — 4 ft × 4.5 ft
- Desk A, 3 ft 2 in — 3.2 ft × 2 ft
- Desk B, 3 ft 4 in — 3.4 ft × 2 ft
- Chair A — 1.6 ft × 1.6 ft
- Chair B — 1.6 ft × 1.6 ft
- Open shelving and display — 2.6 ft × 3.4 ft
Schedule — K-3 — 12 ft x 11 ft, teenager
- Double bed, 4 ft 6 in x 6 ft 6 in — 4.6 ft × 7.2 ft
- Bedside with a charging drawer — 2 ft × 3 ft
- Wardrobe, 4 ft, with a mirror shutter — 4 ft × 6 ft
- Desk, 5 ft — 5 ft × 2 ft
- Task chair — 1.8 ft × 1.8 ft
- Bean bag and floor seating zone — 3.8 ft × 3 ft
- Open shelving, 6 ft high — 2.8 ft × 2.4 ft
How to use them
- Measure your slab height before planning a bunk. Three feet of clear headroom above the top mattress is the safety minimum.
- Protect the clear floor. Draw it on the plan as a rectangle and refuse to furnish into it.
- Put the desk beside the window, facing into the room, never facing away from the door.
- Plan for a change of use in five years. Nothing in these plans is age-locked joinery.
Three safety and longevity rules
- Rounded corners and toughened glass below 4 ft in any room for a child under eight.
- Drawer stairs rather than a ladder. Safer at night and it recovers storage you were not going to get.
- Two desks side by side, not facing. Homework goes better without an audience across the table.
See storage ideas in storage solutions for small homes and price it on the interior design cost page.
Frequently asked questions
What ceiling height does a bunk bed need?+
Nine feet six inches slab to floor as a practical minimum, giving 3 ft of clear height above the top mattress once the false ceiling and the bunk frame are accounted for. In a 9 ft flat, use a single bed with a high storage base for the older child instead.
How much clear floor does a child need?+
At least 20 sq ft, and ideally 25 to 30 in a room for a child under ten. It is the area that gets sacrificed first when a wardrobe grows or a second desk arrives, and it is the reason a well-furnished kids room can be an unpleasant one to be a child in.
Should the room be designed for their current age?+
No. Design the joinery to be age-neutral and let paint, textiles and accessories carry the age. A themed wardrobe is expensive to change at eleven; a plain one with a repainted wall is not. Plan K-3 is the same room as K-1 with different loose items.
What storage does a kids room need?+
A wardrobe of 3 ft 6 in to 4 ft with a loft, a storage base under the bed, and low open storage for toys that a child can reach and put back. Toy storage above a child's shoulder height does not get used by the child, which defeats the purpose.
Two children in one room — bunk or two beds?+
Bunk if the room is under about 120 sq ft, because it returns 20 sq ft of floor. Two singles if the room allows and the children are close in age, because it avoids the nightly negotiation about who sleeps on top. Either way, separate wardrobes bays and separate desks.