Planning A Fun Sleepover For Kids

A sleepover for an 8 to 12 year-old works best when friends feel welcome and parents feel at ease. A few simple pieces help children settle in, stay entertained and sleep well once the giggling finally stops.

Somewhere to put their things

Give visiting friends their own little corner for bags, jackets and shoes. A freestanding coat stand with a stool beside it takes up barely any floor space, which matters in a compact Maltese bedroom, and frees up the rest of the room for games. A simple hook or hanger works just as well if space is really tight. Some children like to prepare a small welcome kit for their guest too, with snacks, a soft blanket and a few toiletries tucked into a bag by the door.

A door that says hello

An erasable sticker on the bedroom door turns into a quiet, playful way for parents and children to leave each other notes during a sleepover, while still giving the kids their privacy. Shapes, doodles or little emoji faces all work. Hang a stretchy knit basket on the back of the door holding chalk and an eraser from IKEA's MÅLA range, so marks can be wiped away without any fuss and the door stays tidy once the sleepover winds down.

MÅLA easel, softwood, 66x48 cmMÅLA paper roll holder with storage, 50x13 cmMÅLA chalks, mixed colours, 9 packMÅLA whiteboard pen, mixed colours, 4 packMÅLA paint, mixed colours, 400 mlMÅLA portable drawing case, red, 35x27 cm

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Extra bedding that tucks away neatly

A rollable storage unit from IKEA's SLÄKT series gives children an easy way to manage their own guest bedding. It stores spare pillows, sheets and blankets out of sight under the bed, then rolls out smoothly when a friend stays over. Being lightweight, children can pull it out and push it back themselves without needing a parent's help, which makes the whole routine feel like part of the fun rather than a chore.

SLÄKT bed frame, white, 90x200 cmSLÄKT bed frame with underbed and storage, white, 90x200 cmSLÄKT bed frame with storage, white, 90x200 cmSLÄKT bed accessory, house shaped/grey, 95x107x35 cmSLÄKT bed frame, incl bed accessory/grey, 90x200 cmSLÄKT bed frame, incl headboard/Vissle beige, 90x200 cm

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A mattress that doubles as a fort

Lightweight mattresses from the SLÄKT range do double duty at a sleepover. By day they can be folded and stacked into a makeshift fort for games, and by night they flatten out into a comfortable guest bed. Using two together adds extra padding on tiled or terrazzo floors, which suits Maltese homes well. Once morning comes, the mattresses slide neatly back under the bed, leaving the room ready for whatever comes next.

INNERLIG spring mattress for extendable bed, 80x200 cmUNDERLIG foam mattress for junior bed, white, 70x160 cmPLUTTEN foam mattress for extendable bed, 80x200 cmNATTSMYG foam mattress for extendable bed, 80x200 cmÖMSINT pocket spring mattress for ext bed, 80x200 cmVIMSIG foam mattress for extendable bed, 80x200 cm

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Keeping the dark friendly

A little light goes a long way towards a calm night for young guests. Motion sensor lights stuck along the wall guide sleepy children safely to the bathroom without anyone needing to switch on the main light. Handheld or portable torches are another good option, useful for a late trip down the hallway and just as handy for shadow puppet shows once the lights are properly out and the real fun begins.

UPPLYST LED wall lamp, cloud white, 30x19x8 cmFUBBLA LED wall lamp, white, 10x15x20 cmAFTONSPARV LED table lamp, rocket/multicolour, 15.1 cmISNÅLEN LED work lamp, white/brass-colour, 13 cmPELARBOJ LED table lamp, multicolour, 10 cmUPPLYST LED wall lamp, heart pink, 27x27x8 cm

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These small touches turn an ordinary bedroom into a proper sleepover headquarters. Maltashopper brings pieces like these to homes across Malta and Gozo, ready for the next overnight adventure.

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