When designing for children it is important to remember that they inhabit the whole house, not just the bedroom and play areas, and that most houses will have to accommodate their needs at some stage. A child-friendly house needs to feel safe and secure, light-filled and, by use of interrelated spaces, allow children to be monitored passively while they play and move about, rather than be closely supervised in the confines of a small room.

Make the space adapt

Specific spaces for children, such as bedrooms or even playrooms, should be as flexible as possible. The room is probably going to see them through babyhood, childhood, teens and even adulthood. With themed rooms you are buying into a commercial sense of what a child's room should be and childrens' infatuations with Toy Story, Barbie or Pokemon are usually very short-lived. Never design a room specifically for a small baby complete with built-in changing area because they are infants for such a short time. If you have a changing area make sure it can be easily converted into, say, a desk space later on. You should invest in a really good, full-sized bed and base the rest of the room on this.

Stimulate creativity . . .

I use colour, materials and textures in a far more daring way when designing for children to stimulate the senses and encourage creativity. You should be wary of over-designing a room, as it leaves little space for flexibility or change, and can suppress a child's imagination. Ideally, children could be brought in on the design, with a bit of guidance. Encourage them to choose interesting materials such as fur, leather, glass and mirror.

. . . create stimulation

Research has shown that external stimuli affect our health, well-being and even intellect, and this is magnified in children. Colour is a really important stimulant from the time a young baby recognises the contrast between black and white to the older child who enjoys the full colour spectrum. Apart from natural lighting, which is crucial in any habitable space, artificial lighting can be used to create or change the mood. Different types and levels of lighting within a room can indicate that study or play time should give way to sleep. Music is another stimulant, from womb sounds through nursery rhymes, Westlife and beyond.

Multi-purpose rooms

Because the housing boom has made it more difficult for people to move to bigger homes, a child's bedroom often becomes a multi-functioning space. Larger bedrooms can be designed to have several distinct areas with different furnishings and finishes to distinguish the study area from, say, the rest or sleep one. It is always a good idea to have a large clear space for free play. A room can be subdivided for two siblings by a less than full height screen, maintaining a sense of space while defining the children's own areas. The screen could incorporate lighting, storage, mirrors and chalkboards to become more than just a divider.

Storing it all up

The most important consideration in the design of a child's bedroom or playroom is lots of storage. The system you put in place needs to be efficient, workable and easy to use. Shelving, drawers and cupboards should be easily accessible with clear labelling using colour codes, different handles, words or letters that can be fun to use. Where adults usually have one hanging rail, children can have two or three, one stacked above the other, to increase capacity. Be ruthless with outgrown toys and clothes which should be quickly passed on to avoid clutter.

The stuff of greatness

MDF (medium density fibreboard) is often used by architects and designers because it is inexpensive and can be cut into many interesting forms from alphabet letters, pigeon holes and screens to toy boxes and beds. It takes paint really well so it can change easily when baby blues and yellows make way for black and psychedelic colours.

Safety first and last

This is common sense but watch out for safety issues when designing. The building regulations stipulate safety standards to meet when designing new houses but older homes contain many features, such as unprotected low-level window sills on upper floors, which are potentially dangerous with their wafer thin glass and sliding sashes. Other things to consider in older houses include low balustrades and steep staircases. Avoiding these and more contemporary hazards, such as unprotected electrical sockets and fittings, unmarked patio doors, and so on, should be considered at the outset if you're designing a new home.

Buy durability

Children's furniture can be quite flimsy and won't stand up to the daily stresses and spills inflicted on them by most kids so choosing good quality materials, design and detail is really important. Durable surfaces and finishes don't have to be shiny and hard.

And finally - the finish

There is a huge selection of finishes available, many eco-friendly. You can juxtapose floorings to designate specific areas in the room - for example, rubber or lino, perhaps with fabric-covered foam, can be used in the reading or rest area. Paint is ideal for children's rooms. Along with the enormous variety of colours, techniques and finishes, it is durable and easily and economically changed or repaired. Personalised height charts and stencilled logos can also be incorporated into the paintwork.