Creative ideas for little ones

If you think the mess in a house increases in direct proportion to the number of children living in it, you need to get creative about reclaiming your home. Clothes littering floors, toys everywhere and offspring whingeing that they're bored? There are many ways to keep your kids happy in their own spaces without kiddy-fying your entire house.

Former pre-school teacher turned decorator (who is also a mother) Laura Gaskill advises that children's spaces should be approached from a kid's eye view.

''When designing children's rooms you should literally get down on their level," she says.

Pictures and art should be hung where your children can see them, and think about creating cosy nooks, too big for adults but perfect for diminutive bodies.

Give things away. Don't encourage your children to be hoarders. Rather convince them of the old adage: less is more. Only display selected, favourite objects and neatly store the rest in boxes under a shelf, or in hard-wearing metal buckets that are easy to access. Children become far more engaged when there is less to play with, advises Gaskill. Don't keep toys that are broken or have missing pieces - they aren't any fun to play with.

Using design elements like large world maps or globes look great and are educational. Have them laminated and your children can plan their future travels with wipe-off markers.

If you live in a built-up urban area with limited outdoor play space, you can move the outdoors in by incorporating some playground elements into your child's room.

''Buy a foldable gymnastics mat and tunnel," says Gaskill.

Or hang a swing and pull-up bars in your child's room if there's enough space. They'll never forget it and they'll be the toast of all their friends.

Assign one wall of their bedroom as drawing space. Let their imaginations run wild with water-colour paint, coloured crayons and markers.

When they've outgrown their drawings, paint over them. Children are naturally expressive - if you're not ready to sacrifice a wall, fix a huge blackboard to a wall and keep coloured chalk nearby for outbursts of creativity.

As much as they need an outlet for energy and excitement, kids also need a quiet spot to unwind. Put some comfortable bean bags in a corner, or make a dedicated place for homework and study if your child is of school-going age by putting a small table, lamp and chair in the corner of the room.

Putting up a white board, calendar or notice board will help your child be organised. Remember to make sure the area for reading and working is well lit.

Encourage kids to hang their own artwork, which will instantly make the space more personal. Suspended pigeonholes are a good design element and can be used to display favourite toys. Respect your child's creativity by including him or her in any design updates.

Avoid being too childish in the rendering of your ideas or you will replace everything in a few years' time. Have fun decorating with your child and their space will be a place in which they love to spend time. There's no rule that says it can't be fun and hip.