Small Space Living: Helping Kids Help Themselves

In a compact apartment or maisonette, children thrive when belongings have a proper place. A few clever storage pieces turn a small bedroom or playroom into a space where little ones can find, use and tidy away their own things.

A tidy corner for drawing and making

A creative streak needs somewhere to land, and that starts with sorting supplies sensibly. A TROFAST frame fitted with TROFAST mesh storage boxes keeps art materials visible and easy to pull out, while a MÅLA drawing paper roll gives children endless space to create without worrying about the walls or table. MÅLA felt-tip pens can live in their own box, ready to grab.

For smaller treasures and odds and ends, a MOPPE mini chest of drawers works well on a desk or shelf, and a HYLLIS shelving unit offers extra room for books, models or seasonal bits that would otherwise clutter a small room. Everything has a home, which makes tidying up far less of a battle.

TROFAST frame, light white stained pine, 44x91 cmMÅLA drawing paper roll, 30 mTROFAST mesh storage box, grey-blue, 42x30x23 cmMOPPE mini chest of drawers, birch plywood, 42x18x32 cmMÅLA felt-tip pen, mixed colours, 12 packNOJIG organiser, plastic/beige, 10x10x5 cm

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Storage your child can reach and move

Children manage best when storage is within their own reach, not stacked somewhere only an adult can get to. Fitting RILL castors to the bottom of a KNAGGLIG box means it can be wheeled from the bedroom to the living area and back without any lifting, which suits flats and maisonettes where play space often has to double up as something else.

Low-level solutions help too. A BISSA shoe cabinet with 3 compartments keeps footwear tidy by the front door, a MULIG clothes bar hung at child height lets them pick their own outfit, and BUMERANG hangers are light enough for small hands to manage. A PERJOHAN stool with storage adds a seat and a hideaway for small items in one.

KNAGGLIG box, pine, 46x31x25 cmRILL castor, grey, 50 mm, 4 packFRÖSET easy chair, white stained oak veneer, 59x74x57 cmPERJOHAN stool with storage, pine, 49x45x28 cmBISSA shoe cabinet with 3 compartments, white, 49x28x135 cmMULIG clothes bar, white, 60-90 cm

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A quiet spot of their own

Shared rooms and open-plan living are common in Maltese homes, which makes a small private nook all the more valuable. A corner with an ÖRFJÄLL children's desk chair tucked in, softened with an ODDNY cushion cover, gives a child somewhere to sit quietly with a book or simply take a break from the rest of the household.

During Malta's long, hot summers, a cool, shaded corner like this becomes a favourite retreat, and in the milder winter months it works just as well as a reading spot. Building in storage underneath the seating area means the nook stays functional rather than becoming another spot for mess to gather.

ODDNY cushion cover, off-white/dot pattern black, 50x50 cmÖRFJÄLL children's desk chair, white/Vissle light grey, 53 cmÖRFJÄLL children's desk chair, white/Vissle pink, 53 cmÖRFJÄLL children's desk chair, white/Vissle light green, 53 cmLOBERGET / SIBBEN children's desk chair, white, 56 cmVIMUND children's desk chair, light pink, 62 cm

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Pull the whole look together

To bring this kind of organised, child-friendly room to life, a few key pieces do most of the work. A PERJOHAN stool with storage gives seating with a hidden compartment, TROFAST mesh storage boxes keep toys and supplies sorted by type, and an ODDNY cushion cover adds a soft, homely touch to a reading chair or bed.

Together these pieces suit both bedrooms and shared living spaces, fitting neatly into the smaller footprints typical of Maltese apartments and townhouses without feeling cramped. They are easy to rearrange as a child grows, so the same basics can be adapted for new routines and interests over time.

ODDNY cushion cover, off-white/dot pattern black, 50x50 cmPERJOHAN stool with storage, pine, 49x45x28 cmTROFAST mesh storage box, grey-blue, 42x30x23 cmLACK wall shelf, white, 30x26 cmGLADOM tray table, black, 45x53 cmVIKHAMMER bedside table, black, 40x39 cm

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Maltashopper brings these IKEA pieces to homes across Malta and Gozo, making it simple to build a room your child can manage on their own terms.

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