The Power of Calm Spaces for Children

As a parent, maker, and someone who was once a very opinionated 7-year-old with a strong view on furniture layouts, I’ve always believed that a bedroom is a sanctuary — a place to unwind, feel safe, and dream. When I was small, I had full control over my bedroom. I can still remember the countless hours spent pushing heavy furniture across the floor, determined to find just the right arrangement. Even then, I instinctively knew what felt good: calm, order, and a soft light to end the day.

That ethos hasn’t changed. Whether I’m designing for myself, my children, or for a customer’s nursery across the world, my focus remains the same: creating a gentle, nurturing space where calm can flourish.

What Makes a Space Feel Calm?

From my own experience (both personal and as a mother), calm doesn’t come from minimalism alone — it’s in the feeling. Soft lighting, gentle colours, and meaningful objects all work together to soothe the senses. Research shows that calming colours like blues, greens, and purples can reduce stress and promote sleep, but even yellows and oranges — like the ochre I painted on my own children’s ceilings — can be cosy and grounding if chosen with care.

I always lean into nature themes, too. Whether it’s woodland animals or underwater scenes, nature grounds us. But it’s important that it’s personal — a space shaped around what your child loves. For example, my youngest is fish-obsessed. While my own instinct leaned toward foxes and ferns, I followed his passion and designed his bedroom around the ocean — which led, quite naturally, to my Under the Sea lampshade. This lampshade will be launching for sale in a next week so watch this space!

Lighting also plays a huge part. Harsh overhead lights can be jarring, especially at bedtime. Instead, soft ambient lighting—like that from my handmade lampshades—creates a gentle glow that helps signal to a child’s body and brain that it’s time to wind down. Experts on child sleep often recommend dim lighting as part of a calming evening routine.

Designing for Calm — and Curiosity

When I design a lampshade, I’m thinking not just about the artwork, but the atmosphere it will help create. Soft glows at bedtime. Walls that feel inviting. Little moments of joy that a child can spot from their bed as they drift off.

In our home, we also followed a Montessori approach. Our children skipped the cot stage and went straight to a floor bed with a safety gate at the door. This meant their entire room had to be safe — and calm. No visual clutter. No objects they might want but couldn’t access, and no objects they could access but shouldn't have. The walls and ceiling became the canvas. The lighting became the magic.

That’s where pieces like my Swallow, Rock Pool, Under the Sea, Squirrel, and Heron Wetland Bird lampshades really shine. Each one is inspired by nature, by childhood wonder, and by the need for softness and warmth at the end of a busy day.

A Little Thought Goes a Long Way

It’s amazing what soft light, calming tones and familiar imagery can do for sleep, focus and happiness. If you’re designing a child’s room — or refreshing one — let them guide you. What animals do they love? What landscapes do they talk about? The more personal the space, the more magical the result.

Want more ideas for calming interiors and handmade design?

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