Platform Bed Transforms Tween Bedroom
A 12-year-old boy in Nottingham, England, had become embarrassed by his childhood bedroom, prompting his parents to call interior designer Hannah Pemberton of Studio Wanda to makeover the space. The boy’s new room needed to see him through his teenage years and be a place to study, hang out, and host sleepovers.
The room, which is approximately 130 square feet, required a double-bed, plus enough space to stash padel gear, books, and clothes. According to Pemberton, storage is a top priority for most families, and custom millwork was the solution to this problem.
A Platform Bed with Integrated Storage
Pemberton designed a raised platform bed with integrated storage, including a chest of drawers on one side for clothes, cupboards at the foot of the mattress, and two sets of shelves for displaying books and objects. The bed also houses a spare mattress and linens underneath its slats, perfectly sized to lay out in front of the wardrobe.
The bed’s design was finalized with rounded edges to prevent injuries and make the room more fun. Pemberton continued this element around the desk and built-in corner unit to offset the geometry of the shelves and closet.
A Smooth Solution to a Small Space
The windowsill height was perfect for squeezing in an extra seat with storage underneath, which holds Pokémon cards, football annuals, and sticker books. The UPVC window was updated with a simple spray paint job to harmonize with the baseboards.
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The first piece Pemberton bought for the project was a chrome, Sputnik-style ceiling light at auction, which adds a sculptural element to the room. She also used color on the ceiling, choosing Acorn by Little Greene to offset the blues in the room.
The family’s taste skews modern, so they opted for a rubber floor covering, which is hardwearing and easy to clean.
For the boy, the new room has been a success, with sleepovers becoming a regular occurrence. As Pemberton notes, “It gets used all the time. They can’t get his friends out of the house apparently, which is proof that it’s worked!”
Friends aren’t the only ones who love to post up here—the bench seat is now the family cat’s favorite spot to curl up.
It is a space.
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