• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
      • Get Your Free Ebook

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • after buffet landscapeUpcycling project: buffet gets a glow up with paint and handles
    • KitchenSerial renovators embark on 15th house and this one’s for keeps!
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • AFTER kitchenRun-down 1950’s house renovated with stylish farmhouse vibe
    • Brolga – James Hardie Shoot-5533Choosing the right builder: Neil Hipwell shares his top tips
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • IMG_2125Today’s tablescape is colourful and fun. We’re here for it!
    • Hali-Rugs-x-Jason-Grant-0374Recycled bottles feel so soft in new rugs by Hali & Jason Grant
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • AFTER kitchenRun-down 1950’s house renovated with stylish farmhouse vibe
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Screen Shot 2022-03-15 at 4.23.09 pmFoodie Friday: Mild chilli, avocado & goats cheese toast
    • Isla-MotelHip new motel renovation on NSW South Coast
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

A sensory-friendly kid’s space: 5 tips to create one

March 11, 2022 Leave a Comment

FacebookPinEmailTweet

By Sarah James

Every parent wants their child to have a beautiful bedroom. A kid’s bedroom should provide a safe sanctuary where they can retreat for quiet down time, independent play, and of course, much needed sleep! But it’s important to get the decor balance just right. Too much clutter can be overstimulating for your child, meaning they may not be able to emotionally regulate, wind down and fall asleep. However, not enough furnishings can make their bedroom feel stark and uninviting, meaning they’ll choose to spend less time in it!

Here are five expert tips to help make your child’s bedroom a sensory-friendly and calming space.

Use calming colours

Never underestimate the power of colour on one’s mood. When choosing wall colours and furnishings for their bedroom such as curtains, rugs and linens, choose colours that are calming on the senses. Did you know that blue and green are colours associated with peace and tranquillity? Blue is linked to the ocean which is a soothing colour that helps calm the nervous system and reduces anxiety. Green is connected to nature and is a symbol of rejuvenation. Neutral colours such as light browns, beige and white are also colours that promote a feeling of relaxation, calm and peace. Including these calming colours in your child’s bedroom can help relieve stress and prevent overstimulation. 

Grace and Maggie Playmats’ Retro Archie Playmat

Avoid clutter to get the right balance

Some children can be very sensitive to visual stimuli. Having too much “stuff” in their bedroom can provide too much stimulation. This can overwhelm their senses and can also impact their sleep. Aim to include enough toys and furniture to engage their interest, while not having too many things out at once. We suggest rotating the toys in their bedroom every few weeks. Too many brightly coloured posters and charts on the walls can also be visually overwhelming. Aim to include a good range of visuals on the walls while also being mindful of clutter.

Create a sensory chill out space in their bedroom

A sensory chill out space is an area where your child can go to have a break from stimuli in their environment, such as other people, loud noises or bright lights. A sensory chill out space gives children a quiet space to retreat to and calm down. An easy spot to put this is in the corner of their bedroom. The chill out space (or book corner) should have soft flooring, such as a padded playmat, rug or carpet, and sensory furnishings such as a beanbag, lounger chair or cushions. To further reduce stimulation, this area should not be too bright; consider including dim lighting such as a sleep lamp or a teepee tent. This area can also include a couple of quiet activities to do such as books to read or weighted soft toys to cuddle. 

Neptune Blanket’s Weighted Blanket II, Weighted Koala and Weighted Platypus.

Include calming images

Certain pictures of places, patterns, colors or textures can make us feel relaxed and happy. But these are different for everyone. Work out which pictures calm your child so you know which ones to include in their bedroom. Do this when they are in a relaxed mood. Try showing them a broad range of images, such as photos from family holidays, different places, people, animals and colours. Look closely at your child’s reactions while doing this and see which ones get a happy and relaxed response.

Incorporate soft, sensory furnishings

Soft, sensory fabrics and textiles can elicit a calming effect because touching them provides sensory input and put plainly, just feels nice! Think about including soft sensory furnishings in your child’s bedroom such as minky throw rugs and soft cuddly toys. Cushions, loungers or pillows with sensory textures such as faux fur, suede, vegan leather and satin provide lots of sensory input. Kids also love to jump and tumble around. Having soft floor coverings provides an added sense of comfort to their room while also providing safety. We love our Luxe Mellow Mat as it has 30mm of slow rebound memory and a faux fur carpet feel.

Henlee Co’s Henlee Lounger in tan

By creating a sensory-friendly bedroom, we are providing our children with their own space to feel safe, connected and happy.

Sarah James is owner of The Sensory Specialist, a registered NDIS provider based in Melbourne. She is a qualified psychology teacher and mum of two boys. Through her experiences, Sarah has developed lots of tips and tricks to help create sensory-friendly environments for children.

FacebookPinEmailTweet

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Serial renovators embark on 15th house and this one’s for keeps!
  • Australian kitchen dimensions: standard sizes for every last detail
  • Palette Cam 15 apps to help you build your dream home
  • Hard to sell house transformed into forever home
  • Klopper Davis Architects A unique Perth coastal home on a steep, sloping block

Follow us on Instagram

Seeing double Seeing double
Dream breakfast right there!🥑 Featuring my fav Dream breakfast right there!🥑

Featuring my favourite @thewholefoodsrefillery product EVER, mild chilli nut butter. Get the recipe and your code for 20% off your first order with them, on the homepage now, via link in bio.

#notsponjustmyfriendsanddeliciousqualityfood #iafoodiefriday #avotoastagram #nutbutters #avocadoporn
When interior designer @sarah_yarrow was renovatin When interior designer @sarah_yarrow was renovating her 50s home to sell she was determined to move away from the cookie cutter flip to sell look and went for something warmer, paying homage to its roots.

"People are much more likely to connect with something that feels warm and friendly and that doesn’t feel like the home up the street, or the one that their friend has just bought. And once they connect, they usually pay more,” she said. Sarah believes people usually crave a homely feel but don’t know how to create it themselves

See the whole home before and after on the homepage now via link in bio.

Pic: @the.palm.co 

#beforeandafterrenovation #beforeandafterremodel #homelyhome #vjwalls #wallpaneling #bedheads #headboards #bedroomlighting #modernfarmhousedesign
This is the pits. Geddit?! 😆 This is the pits. Geddit?! 😆
This family home is next level. Literally! A stee This family home is next level. Literally!

A steeply sloping block isn't a typical prerequisite when building a new home. But it was for Perth architect Sam Klopper and his family who desired an elevated balcony (hello roof terrace!) AND a back yard that was accessed from the living area. And wow, they sure made the best of it!

Take the tour on the homepage now. Via link in bio.

#roofterrace #roofgardens #slopingblock #architectshome #perthhome #wahomes 

Project: @klopper_davis_architects
Photos by @dionrobeson
Before & after goodness alert ⚠️ Head on ove Before & after goodness alert ⚠️ 

Head on over to the blog this morning to meet serial flippers @renowayoflife Back in Australia after more than a decade renovating for profit and living debt and mortgage free in the UK and USA, they're onto their 15th house, a Queenslander, and this one they plan to actually keep and live in with their 3 kids!

It's an inspiring tale and we're sharing before and afters of 3 of their previous projects. Looking forward to sharing the progress of their current house in the coming weeks and months too 🤗

Via link in bio💛

#queenslanderrenovation #houseflippers #serialrenovator #renowayoflife #queenslanderhome
How's that for a pool?! This Noosa riverfront ab How's that for a pool?! 

This Noosa riverfront abode just won Home of the Year in the 2022 HIA-CSR Australian Housing Awards. 

Take the tour and find out why. On the homepage now via linknin bio.

#poolsofinstagram #poolhome #swimmingpooldesign #houseoftheyear #riverfronthomes 

@jwconstructions @shaunlockyer @christopherfrederickjones
(WIN!) It's not the weather to have damp washing e (WIN!) It's not the weather to have damp washing everywhere!

Let's make your life easier with this amazing laundry prize from @hillshomeliving 

One lucky winner will get a bamboo concertina, a bamboo sorting centre and 3 bamboo foldable baskets worth almost $250.

For your chance of winning follow us and @hillshomeliving and tag a friend below by midnight Sydney time next Friday 27 May. One entry per person.

The concertina and sorting centre are available at Big W and the baskets at Bunnings.

Open to Australian residents only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram.

#laundryinspo #laundryideas #laundryday
We've entered an exciting phase in our home: non-s We've entered an exciting phase in our home: non-synthetic rug land!

With two young boys, I've always advocated for the synthetic and easily scrub-cleanable rug! Now they're a bit older and observing the shoes-off and no-food-in-the-living-room rules, I thought it was time! And I'm in love with our bold new @castleryau Lorenzo Wool Rug.

You can't beat the luxurious look and feel of wool and I've also stepped outside my comfort zone with a design that stands out rather than blends in. Get me!

Can someone remind the kids about the keep-the-toys-in-the-playroom rule though?!

Would you be brave enough to go for a cream wool rug in your house?!

This rug is on display at Castlery's popup at Moore Park SupaCenta until October. 

#athomewithcastlery #rug #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #statementrug #gifted
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: What Made The Biggest Impact in Jen's Own Reno.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Avatar

About Guest Poster

If you have high quality, original, relevant content to share, we might be interested in publishing your guest post on Interiors Addict. Please email [email protected] with your submissions.

More from Kids Rooms

My DIY polkadot wall in the boys’ bedroom

Castle & Things

Where to buy Australian kids’ bed linen online

Linen House launch gender-neutral kids collection parents will love

Latest children’s bedding: Flower Fairies and Star Wars feature

Incy celebrates 10th birthday with re-launch of the Spindle collection

Boori bunk

Stylish bunk beds: The best options for kids’ rooms

Kip & Co’s new Spring/Summer ’21 collection an explosion of blooms

Step inside Shelley Craft’s new Byron Bay forever home

Table playhouse

Attractive indoor toys to keep young kids entertained in lockdown

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2022 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!