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" Lucy Crossfield
# Inspiration
27 Stylish Ways to Decorate your Children’s
Bedroom
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It is no surprise that children spend a lot of time in their bedroom. Used for sleeping, playing
and working, it follows that their space should be a reflection of their little personalities. Still, as
Yvadney Davis told The LuxPad last week, it is easy to get lost in the world of children’s interiors.
We asked 27 experts to showcase their favourite children’s bedroom and to help us recreate the
look at home. Stylish, practical, fun and comfortable – our selection of children’s bedroom
decorating ideas will keep the kids happy from toddler to teen and all ages in-between. Time to
release your inner child…
Nursery
Steph Withers – Founder and Editor, Chalk Kids
When it comes to children’s decor, my eye is always drawn to white, airy rooms with playful
details to add warmth and colour. Jenson’s gender neutral nursery is a perfect example of this,
with his sweet ladybug bedding and special wooden toys out on display. There’s space to let him
play unrestricted, with stylish storage boxes to tidy away any clutter afterwards. It’s also a room
that can easily grow with him for years to come. Whilst monochrome is the trend of the moment,
it can be surprisingly tricky to get right. The key is to find a balance and you can do this by adding
in more soft tones and textures such as wooden accents, a fun wallpaper or contrasting prints.
Not only does it make the space more interesting, but it doesn’t restrict you to one overly
coordinated look. Have fun with styling and sourcing your key pieces and it will shine through in
your child’s room! Image Credit: Holly Nicholls from Jenson & Beau
Emma Green – Interior Designer
I wanted this nursery to be a tranquil yet timeless space. The combination of subtle greys, soft
pinks and white furniture is timeless and effortlessly stylish and ensures longevity. Taking
inspiration from the vintage wallpaper tree art, I have accented this with brighter pinks and lime
greens to punctuate the scheme and add freshness. The cotton curtains, have a playful
embroidered band across the bottom featuring cats and birds, adding interest and fun to the
scheme and contrasting well with the brighter pink linen blind. There is a useful mix of both open
and closed storage. Contemporary pieces (such as the bunny nightlight and the grey acrylic
storage stool) are mixed with vintage finds (including the wallpaper used for the tree and the
antique children’s books) to create a unique room and one that complements the rest of the
home. A sweet sanctuary.
Nancy Straughan – Organic Fabrics and Eco Friendly Homeware
I love the calming and clean atmosphere this space has, which I think is really important for a
child’s room. As a Mid Century design geek I love the simple wooden mobile hanging above the
cot, the print of the wolf cub matches the earthy tones of the wood and cushion perfectly. I also
love the idea of having photography of baby animals in a kid’s room, its just the right amount of
cuteness whilst still feeling a little grown up. I’m a big fan of Middle eastern textiles and I really
like the slight juxtaposition of the candy coloured persian rug and monochrome block printed
throw. I chose this image as it has a great balance of mature style with cute elements and I think a
room like this could be easily adapted as the child grows up. Image Credit
Alex Gladwin – Blogger
I love so much about this baby/toddler room interior. The bunting across the blind really sets a
tone for the room and I love the lights hanging off of the ladder, they add a touch of warmth and
cosiness to the room – which is exactly how every baby or child’s room should feel. I love that the
floors and walls are bright. There’s a blue, white and grey theme which is fantastic because it suits
a young baby as well as being grown up enough for a toddler. We’re re-doing our boys’ rooms this
year and this image among others is where we’re taking inspiration from. I plan to use a light
laminate floor like here and opt for light walls too, contrasting it by using colourful accessories. I
think that when it comes to children’s interiors it’s fine to want to go modern, but it’s important to
make sure that the room both reflects your child’s personality and is fun and young at the same
time. Image Credit
Jen Littlebirdie – Interior Blogger
I adore a nursery that is simple, bright and happy – this space in Australia made me smile the
second I spotted it. From the clean white walls (that can be easily touched up when the toddler
years start!), bold illustrations on the walls, to the cosy chair with cool cushions for feeding or
cuddles, it’s my idea of a gorgeous room. I love that midcentury style cabinet with it’s display of
vintage toys and fun artwork. It also offers a useful storage solution for all those little things that
constantly need tidying away. If I was going to be decorating a baby’s room again, this is a look I
would be completely inspired by. It’s perfect for a girl or a boy and a space that they can grow into
too. The only thing I would be looking to add is something hanging from the ceiling. Babies love
to look up, so a mobile or a garland would be great above the cot. Image Credit
Kara Janelle – Interior Blogger
Personally I like a child’s room not to have a theme, instead adding decorative touches, so that
they can grow with the room. I tend to always steer towards bright pastels and pattern for
children, I think it brightens a room and makes them feel clean but cool at the same time. The
photo shows a beautiful bedroom for a little girl. I love how it is totally neutral whilst colourful –
this room could happily be for a girl or boy of any age. My top picks for a children’s room would
always be second-hand furniture painted in beautiful colours, bright simple bed linen, key
timeless decorative pieces that can be passed down, photos or artwork to reflect their
personalities and loads of storage. Image Credit
Child
Jacinda Malloy – Interior Stylist
When I began Benji’s room, it was all about getting to know him. Benji has a twin brother so I
wanted to make sure when designing their rooms that their different personalities were
expressed. I soon found out that Benji’s favourite color was blue, so blue was a must. I also found
out that Benji was interested in travel, the world, and had a very inquisitive mind. These two
details were then the theme for my design. I used a large blue rug so that blue was prominent in
his room but I didn’t want it to be dark and dreary so I chose a yellow to lift the blue and then
used accents of both blue and yellow around the room. To inspire his travel goals, I added a world
map on one wall and commissioned a small hand painted compass mural on another wall. I love
this space as it’s light, bright, stylish and still reflects Benji’s fun, adventurous personality
Ursula Wesslingh – Interior Designer
I wish I had designed this room – I love everything about it. The bleached natural pine floorboards
and tall white walls are a perfect canvas for those pretty vintage pieces and more colourful toys.
With a restrained colour palette like this, a child’s room always look stylish, no matter how messy
it is. I love kids’ rooms that aren’t filled with matching furniture sets from children’s ranges.
Finding meaningful, beautiful pieces gives kids’ rooms personality – it takes time, but this is how
the best interiors develop, organically. Quirky details such as the hat collection add fun, whilst the
unexpectedly small and contrasting orange pendant adds punch to this calm monochrome
scheme. Image Credit
Michaela Mildenhall – Interior Blogger
I love the Scandi simplicity of this girl’s bedroom. Loft rooms are like a dream for most children –
they are cosy, snug and a bit different. With this lovely white backdrop you can create a calm and
uncluttered space – the mixture of white, pink and blue accessories make the room so modern.
Current trends for girls’ bedrooms are veering away from the pink saturation approach of latter
years, and moving towards something more creative and meaningful. You can decorate a room
like this with slightly more nursery-like accessories to begin with and then up-style when your girl
grows older. This can see your child through from baby, towards secondary school age – saving a
fortune in decorating costs. On a final note, what’s not to love about the wonderful crepe lanterns
and the cute lamb wall art?! Image Credit
Sarah Hayford – Interior Blogger
Kids are a great joy of family life, but one thing that can be difficult is decorating a bedroom of
someone that grows so quickly before your eyes! I’m really big on gender neutral design and
looking at this room, you wouldn’t be able to tell whether or not it belonged to a girl or a boy. It’s
so bright and natural with bits of contemporary and Scandinavian design. Little elements like the
blackboard, bean bags and lights are used to give the room a warm feeling even though the
design is really simple. I love where the bed is placed in the corner by a large window too. My top
tip for decorating kids bedrooms is to maximise storage and to keep things simple, kids change
their mind and get bored of a lot of things very quickly, we’ve all been there! Image Credit
Mandy Colliss – Interior Designer
Shoe horning three children into one bedroom is no mean feat and to pull it off this stylishly is
quite a challenge. Three boys inhabit this small room; each has his own super cool platform bed
suspended from ropes at differing levels, an individual wall light and artworks adorning their
space. A colour palette of earthy grey looks wonderful teamed with natural wood and uplifting
warm yellow. Every bed is identically dressed in crisp white linen and highlighted with a textural
grey blanket and accented yellow cushion. Each child has an equal portion of the room so sharing
should be a joy and not a trial. In fact, I can quite imagine these boys enjoying bed swapping
every night! My top tips would be that when furnishing a small room, limit your palette of colours
and materials – using too many will visually clutter a room and make it feel much smaller. The
adage “less is more” is so true! Also, wall mounting furniture makes a room feel bigger – it’s all
about being able to see under and around things that tricks the eye into thinking a space is bigger
than it really is. Image Credit
Geraldine Tan – Interior Blogger
This is a photo of my 8 year old son’s room, styled and photographed by myself. It’s a modern
Breton themed bedroom. I styled this bedroom in the autumn to bring a fresh, bright and happy
feel to the room. I made sure that a cosy feel is maintained, with the soft throw on the bed for
bedtime tucking in and the cushion for casual lounging. Everything is positioned conveniently,
such as the comforting bedside light, an accessible bedside table for his drink and storage below
his table for toys. Next to his bed is a laundry bag which encourages tidiness. To the right of his
bed is a large shelf of favourite books, recently converted to his workspace. To the left of his bed is
an empty area for running around with friends. Image Credit
Danielle Parisi – Interior Blogger
This girl’s bedroom designed by Petite Vintage Interiors features some must-haves for ultimate
fun and style for little ones. Pastel colours are great in children’s bedrooms, mixing pastel colours
makes it really easy to achieve a scheme that is soothing and still loads of fun. I love the pink and
mint features that stand out in this bedroom! Next, the wall stickers are a great addition. They are
easier, quicker and cheaper to use than wallpaper. Little dots, triangles or clouds are just some of
the many choices available. Making storage fun is also important by using cleverly shaped side
tables and shelves. The house-shaped shelf used as a side table here is a great example. And
you’ll score highly on the fun factor! Image Credit
Gaby Davies – Interior Blogger
We are in the process of transforming our little one’s nursery into her big girl’s room. I’m going for
a Scandinavian style with a touch of colour just like the one in this picture. The ingredients to
achieve the perfect kids’s Nordic style room should include geometric patterns – you can use
them in items of bedding or storage like boxes and bags. Cool prints to hang on the wall using
washi tape. Picture Shelves are great for displaying art, books or small toys/decorative
accessories. Adopt a minimal colour palette: black, white and one or two pastel colours. Finally,
introduce a Charles Ray Eames table and chairs and an old fashioned looking white metal bed. A
must to achieve the perfect Scandinavian look! Image Credit
Lara Jarvis – Lifestyle Blogger
When it was time for our toddler to upgrade to his “Big Boy Bedroom” I knew I wanted to design
something which would be able to grow with him over the years. The basis of the room is classic
stars and stripes, which means we can mix up the accessories as his tastes change. Taking
inspiration from our travels around America and their comic book stores we used bright red as an
accent colour against greys and whites. Comic covers from our special dates; birthdays,
anniversaries etc. hang on the walls next to handmade comic book bunting, framed posters and
Superhero silhouettes, with lighting and canopies creating a cosy feel. Super storage solutions
hide all manner of clutter and provide a great display area for favourite toys and books.
Rosie Kinsella – Interior Designer & Director
The key to successful children’s bedroom design is clever storage. Make storage practical,
accessible and easy to use, so that children have a place where everything goes. Encourage
children to have an input into the colour scheme or theme, if they buy into the idea of the room
from the start and have a hand in how it is planned and arranged, then they are more likely to
take pride in keeping it organised and tidy. Baskets, trays, cupboards with doors and drawers are
all good options. If you have the luxury of space then try to keep storage to the outer edges of the
room so that children have a clearly identifiable place in which to play. Room to play in a free and
unstructured way allows children to be more imaginative in their learning. Image Credit
Jenny Taylor – Lifestyle Blogger
I absolutely adore decorating my children’s bedrooms from their nursery start to their teenage
finish, as each stage requires something different. We are in the school-boy phase at the moment
with my son so we wanted to create a bedroom for him that showcased his personality as much
as his age. We chose a daybed here with underneath drawer storage for his clothes and a pull out
bed to turn it into a double bed, if he had a sleepover. I like to choose a theme that won’t overpower a room and one that can grow with him too. We went for a red and navy theme with a
London twist. I like to keep the bedrooms neutral and when it’s time to change the theme you
don’t also have to change the wallpaper and furniture too. Kids enjoy space to roam free so I
don’t like it to be cluttered too much with more furniture. My son doesn’t have a dresser as we
have plenty of space in these drawers under his bed and in his wardrobe. This leaves more space
for his toys and room to play. I think the best thing to do is think of how you can make the space
functional for your little one that screams his/her personality but in a way they can love it and
grow with it over the years with minimal changes.
Lorinda Mamo – Interior Blogger
A dash of vintage, a sprinkle of whimsy and a drop of contemporary all seamlessly intertwined
into this gorgeous kid’s room styled by Petite Vintage. The easy to reach storage space makes it
easy to tidy up and keep things in their place. Plenty of floor space allows for freedom to move,
play and imagine, and the bed frame creates a creative space within a space where dreams are
made. The colours used are striking and pleasant and the warmth of the light enhance the
colours and soften the geometric lines of the bed frame and the carpet. My tips for decorating a
children’s bedroom would be to remember that fairy lights are not just for Christmas – use them
in a child’s room to create a dreamy atmosphere and to not be afraid to mix vintage and
contemporary styles. Image Credit
Jessica Soothill – Lifestyle and Interior
Blogger
I have chosen this image because, as a Mum
of 3-year-old boy and girl twins, this is such a
great example of how to style a shared
bedroom. Not only do the colours
complement each other so well, but the room
looks matched, even though it is for both
sexes. The shelving is perfect for storing toys
and books, and they can accessorize it with
their own items. I am drawn to the simplicity
of the design, and contemporary style
especially as we now live in a modern new
build home. My tips for styling a twins’ shared
room is to keep it simple, use colour schemes
that complement each other and involve the
children in the process – as they usually like to
have a say in what they prefer! Image Credit
Lauren Gilberthorpe – Interior Designer
Children’s bedrooms should be fun, bold and
playful. As a designer, I love to let my
imagination run wild when working with
children’s bedrooms. With a little
inventiveness you can create the most
wonderful spaces with unusual paint effects
and bespoke joinery. Use MDF to create a built
in bed in the shape of a house or teepee,
section off a corner for a reading area in the
shape of a castle or make the most of a tall
ceiling with a mezzanine, as in the image
above. Children love to have their own special
space and creating a reading nook or hiding
space allows them to escape into their own
magical world. In the past I have designed
rooms with tented ceilings, trampoline floors
and a bed made from silver birch branches
decorated with fairy lights. Go on – have some
fun! Image Credit
Medina – Interior Designer
This is a bedroom we designed for Jaeden. It’s my favourite because it was transformed from a
dull, and dark room to a bright, fresh and fun space! The room has subtle educational elements
such as coloured 3D numbers and the hexagonal shaped shelving. During installation, Jaeden
who was 3 at the time, learnt what a hexagon was. The book ledges are great for easy access to
his books. He was fascinated by the monkeys which hung over his bed and referred to them as
‘monkeys jumping on the bed’. The room is practical with a trundle bed for future sleepovers. It
has the quirky Kartell Componibili storage which acts as a bedside table. The walls are a neutral
blue/grey that creates the perfect canvas for the pops of colour or allows for an easy makeover by
changing the soft furnishings.
Teen
Carla Jones – Interior Stylist
A good desk is a must! This will be the centre point of a girl’s teen life! From homework and study
to using as a dressing table, find a desk with drawer storage for books and supplies but also
for hair care, a mirror and beauty essentials. Choosing a white desk option will suit any bedroom
scheme, is low cost and easy to maintain. Personal space is so important as a teen, so add her
own style in accessorising a funky chair design, a bright pattern blanket and some colourful desk
tidies and that’s one cool combination of a desk and dressing table design! Image Credit
Lizzie Woodman – Lifestyle Blogger
For grown-ups a bedroom is a place of tranquillity and calm. But do young children have the
same needs? A bedroom is their space – a chance to distill their rainbow coloured personality into
a single (usually fairly small) room. And children come with a lot of stuff – which usually means
they’re living in the aftermath of a tornado of toys. Organisation is key – it’s all about creating
order from the chaos without becoming a control freak. Which is why I love bedrooms with clever,
inventive storage. The trick is to balance your desire for organisation with plenty of
bright, colourful, child-friendly fun. Beds with built-in storage, slim-line desks and bookshelves
are all great ways to use every scrap of space as efficiently as possible. The clever furniture and
pops of colour in this photo are neat enough to please the grown-ups whilst still being perfect for
the kids. Image Credit
Claire Price – Interior Blogger
Sarah Burghard – Designer
My recipe for a cool children’s bedroom
involves 3 main ingredients: great storage,
blackboard paint and amazing lights. I love
this room because it works just as well for
girls as it does for boys. The rock
star/monochrome theme is always age
appropriate – very important because in my
experience kids grow. Fast! The hip industrial
vibe is den-like and softened with tactile furs,
comforting checks and a cosy rug. Extra
twinkling lights at ceiling height add a bit of
fairytale magic and nobody grows out of
sleeping under the stars, right? On the other
side of this room I’d install a bank of full
height cupboards to hide all the cargo that
comes with every child and also has a habit of
growing with them. Mini rock stars might
prefer a cabin bed or bunks and some extra
spots and stripes in the form of soft
furnishings would provide the X factor for me.
Image Credit
A school uniform chair would be a truly
special feature for any child or teenager’s
room – uniform, sports kit, brownies, cubs, a
favourite party dress, any outfit can become
an eye-catching piece of furniture with a little
imagination. Here, I used a digital fabric
design and combined it onto my favourite
style of armchair. This would work equally
well on any style of chair, sofa or interior
furnishing! I think this is a wonderfully quirky
design that features a fabulous twist on a
special part of your child or teenager’s life,
making sure that the memories of their
happiest years live on forever… Customdesigned chairs, lampshades, cushions and
wallpaper designs are a fantastic edition to
any child’s bedroom and provide high quality,
extremely comfortable pieces that will make
your bedroom design truly unique and
memorable.
Morgana Laze-Doyle – Lifestyle Blogger
We recently updated my 8 year old’s bedroom and Pinterest was a great source of inspiration for
me. She has a small room and I wanted to make the most of the space and decorate it in a way
that would see her through her pre-teen years. I’m a huge fan of white walls and light spaces that
can be brought to life with a splash of colour and styled with a bit of black too – you can’t go
wrong with monochrome! This picture inspired me when I was putting her room together. I love
that there is a place of everything but it still looks stylish AND lived in. The monochrome styling
mixed with the pops of colour and a few kitsch accessories all work so well together. Image Credit
Miranda Vedral – Interior Blogger
I don’t know about you, but I find that having non-themed rooms in my home is essential to the
ever-changing needs of family life. What’s more, themed rooms spells hotel. And do we want to
live in a soulless hotel? Thought not. Ask yourself, as children grow out of their beds, share with a
sibling or move rooms, could their ‘old’ room be adapted as a snug, study or dining room? The
littlies’ needs change so much and so quickly in those first few years, it really makes sense to go
for a scheme that is multi-purpose but, most importantly, timeless. Turn convention on its head
and experiment. This Farrow & Ball wide stripe is supposed to be hung vertically but I couldn’t
resist flipping it ninety degrees. For furniture, see what you can find in flea markets and slap a
coat of paint over it, or rummage around in local auction houses. Brown furniture is still wellpriced and besides, it is so much more fun for a child to be grabbing their clothes out of an old
chest of drawers that has a story to tell, than an identikit piece, hot off the production lines from
China. Although they will only appreciate it (there’s always hope) when they move out, taking
their ‘old friend’ with them. The overall effect is much more personal and full of character, which
is what makes a home your home.
Which one of these stylish children’s bedrooms is your favourite? Pin the image below to ensure
you’re never short of décor ideas for your little ones!
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This article was written by
Lucy Crossfield
Lucy loves talking to fellow bloggers and industry experts to gather their advice
and tips for The LuxPad’s larger articles. With a background in social media
marketing, she keeps the world of interiors at her fingertips.
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