When thinking about kids' bedroom ideas, it's helpful to personalize the space to their tastes to allow for comfort and coziness while incorporating a ton of storage for toys, clothing, and school essentials.
One way to make their bedroom immediately inviting is to pick a theme, like a safari theme or even features from their favorite fairytales, and use that as a jumping-off point for decorating. It can be extremely helpful and space-saving to add multi-functional furniture to the space, like a loft bed with a desk and shelving underneath. You can also keep things fun and age-appropriate by showcasing a canopy bed or even having a designated play area or reading nook.
Our design experts will take you through everything you need to know, including must-have items you should include in your kid's bedroom and how to arrange things in a way that makes sense.
Incorporate a Theme
Create a cohesive and personalized space using a theme your child will cherish, such as animals, sports or space. For inspiration, see the animal-inspired mural and décor in this charming bedroom. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms or playrooms. Style: playful, child-friendly. Key pieces of furniture: themed crib or bed, green dresser, wooden stool. Helpful advice: choose a theme that can adapt or evolve as your child grows and their interests change.
Maximize Storage Space
To keep the room organized and clutter-free, utilize multi-functional furniture with built-in storage or bookshelves. This colorful room with a red sofa and ample storage provides a great example. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms or playrooms. Style: vibrant and inviting. Key pieces of furniture: bed with storage, red sofa, bookshelves, colorful rug. Helpful advice: select furniture that serves multiple purposes and saves space to maintain a neat and accessible environment.
Create a Reading Nook
Encourage a love for reading with a cozy corner, outfitted with a comfortable chair, bookshelves, and soft lighting. Take inspiration from this delightful room with a brown bean bag chair and alphabet rug. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms or playrooms. Style: cozy, educational. Key pieces of furniture: bean bag chair, bookshelves, pendant light, chest of drawers. Helpful advice: create a charming and inviting space dedicated to reading, encouraging children to expand their minds in a relaxing environment.
Incorporate Fun Lighting
Make the room more inviting with playful lighting, such as string lights, a fun-shaped lamp, or a colorful pendant light. This fun chandelier with dangling fish enhances the cozy checkered-floor bedroom. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms or playrooms. Style: whimsical and unique. Key pieces of furniture: patterned beds, sunburst mirror, accent lamps. Helpful advice: choose lighting options that elicit wonder and excitement, while still providing adequate brightness for various activities.
Use Removable Wall Decals
Leverage easy-to-remove wall decals for your child's room, allowing for evolving décor as interests change. This colorful bedroom with cheerful textile accents affords endless inspiration. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms. Style: charming and adaptable. Key pieces of furniture: wooden bunk bed, child's table and chairs set, white rug, large storage dresser. Helpful advice: select decals that can be peeled off without causing damage, permitting the room to grow alongside the child's ever-changing preferences.
Install a Gallery Wall
Add a heartwarming touch to your child's bedroom by installing a personalized gallery wall. Ideal for any room size or style, this space showcases artwork, photographs, and keepsakes. Get started with a mixture of framed pieces, wooden shelves, and a cozy seating area. Capture your child's creativity and spark their imagination with this appealing display.
Choose a Color Palette
Create an adaptable and aesthetically pleasing kids' room using a versatile color palette. Pick a scheme like this charming pink and white nursery that complements the room's theme and transitions smoothly as your child grows. Complete the space with matching accessories, such as wicker baskets, soft textiles, and playful decorative elements.
Incorporate a Study Area
Design a productive and focused learning environment within your child's bedroom by incorporating a dedicated study area. Essential elements include a sturdy desk, comfortable chair, and adjustable lighting for maximum concentration. An attic bedroom conversion, floral wallpaper, and additional seating can enhance functionality and personal flair.
Add a Play Area
Nurture your child's playful spirit with a fun and engaging play area in their bedroom. Designate a space with a soft rug, ample floor space for activities, and accessible toy storage. The lively mural and various toys displayed in this example inspire creativity and fuel the imagination.
Opt for Adjustable Furniture
Invest in your child's future by choosing adjustable or multipurpose furniture, like convertible cribs or height-adjustable desks. This approach makes it effortless to adapt the room as your child matures, and ensures lasting comfort and usability. This serene, white-themed baby's room exemplifies adaptable elegance.
Choose Durable Materials
Select high-quality, durable materials for your child's bedroom furniture and decor that withstand wear and tear. Opt for solid wood, metal, or sturdy fabrics that maintain their appearance and functionality over time. The cozy arrangement and thoughtful details in this baby's room demonstrate lasting charm and durability.
Layer Textures
Create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in your child's bedroom by skillfully layering textures. Mix soft rugs, snuggly blankets, and plush pillows to enhance the room's ambiance. The abundance of bright and tactile elements in this young girl's room invites lasting comfort and relaxation.
Incorporate Patterns
Inject personality and visual interest into your child's room by mixing and matching patterns like polka dots, stripes, and florals. This serene blue and white bedroom exemplifies the calming effect achieved through skillful pattern combinations, and encourages tranquility and relaxation within the space.
Create a Focal Point
Design a visually appealing and balanced children's room by selecting a focal point, like a statement bed or bold wallpaper. This whimsical teepee bed and polka dot wallpaper draw the eye while adding energy and excitement to the space. Personal touches, such as the toy-filled wicker basket, enhance the room's allure.
Add a Canopy
Encourage your child to daydream and unwind by installing a canopy above their bed. This enchanting addition creates a cozy retreat for both sleep and play, working well with various room styles and sizes. The soft white canopy in this bedroom complements the overall decor and adds a touch of whimsy.
Incorporate Greenery
To create a cozy and refreshing atmosphere in children's bedrooms, introduce greenery like potted plants or low-maintenance succulents. Ideal for any decor style, greenery can be placed on shelves, windowsills, or side tables. This natural element also improves air quality, making the room healthier for your little one. Featured in the photo: a serene baby's room with white furniture, blue accents, a plant in a wicker basket, and a beautiful nature-inspired mural.
Choose Age-Appropriate Art
For a kids' room that stimulates creativity and suits their personality, select age-appropriate artwork reflecting their interests, such as educational posters or favorite characters. Great for playrooms or bedrooms, this idea complements colorful, playful decor styles. As seen in the photo: a lively children's room with rainbow wallpaper, bunk beds, a yellow pendant light, and whimsical wall art, creating an energetic and imaginative space.
Display a Growth Chart
Record your child's height progress in their room with a fun and decorative growth chart – ideal for adding a personalized touch to their space. This playful, functional decor suits rustic or nature-inspired bedrooms. Place the chart anywhere in the room for easy updating. Pictured room: cozy interior with wooden floor and ceiling, rattan crib, and a wooden giraffe growth chart on the wall, creating a memorable and picturesque nursery.
Incorporate Mirrors
To make children's rooms feel more spacious and brighter, add mirrors that reflect natural light, suitable for smaller or darker rooms. Mirrors complement any decor style while providing the illusion of larger space. Photo description: a colorful, animal-themed room featuring a large bed with plush toys, and a tall mirror with an ornate frame, making the room feel bigger and more open.
Opt for Blackout Curtains
Ensure a healthy sleep environment for kids by installing blackout curtains that block out excessive light during daytime naps or summer months. Applicable to any room style, blackout curtains contribute to restful sleep. In the photo: a charming girl's room with yellow walls, a purple-themed bed, purple curtains, and an artistic mural that creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, perfect for sleeping.
Create a DIY Headboard
Customize your child's bed with a unique, budget-friendly DIY headboard using reclaimed wood, fabric, or painted canvas. This idea is suitable for any room style and adds a personal touch. The photo shows a cozy, toy-filled bedroom with a beautiful bed, white chandelier, and an adorable stuffed bunny resting beside the bed, showcasing the potential for a creative headboard within its delightful setting.
Add Personalized Touches
Enhance your child's sense of ownership by incorporating personalized items, like a monogrammed pillow or custom name sign, in their bedroom. Suitable for modern and minimalist designs or rooms with vibrant color palettes. Pictured: a modern bedroom with pink and white accents, a glass pendant light, a pink chair, and a personalized name sign on the wall, making the space feel special and one-of-a-kind.
Utilize Wall Space
Smartly utilize vertical space in kids' rooms by installing floating shelves or wall-mounted storage solutions for books, toys, and decorations. Excellent for small or clutter-prone rooms and suitable for any decor style. Showcased photo: a cozy, well-lit room with bookshelves filled with stuffed toys, a framed raccoon picture, and a charming window seat covered with plush cushions and teddy bears.
Choose a Rug
Enhance the comfort of kids' rooms with a rug that complements the color scheme, providing a soft surface for playtime. Works well with ethnic, boho, or colorful room styles. Depicted room: a playful and welcoming children's room featuring a white bunk bed, a wooden swing, a colorful Aztec-patterned rug, and various toys and furniture, creating the perfect environment for play and relaxation.
Incorporate a Chalkboard Wall
Paint a wall or section with chalkboard paint, allowing your child to draw and express their creativity.
Designate a Dress-Up Area
To foster imaginative play, designate a dress-up area in your child's room or playroom, featuring storage and a mirror. This chic black-and-white playroom provides ample inspiration. Recommended spaces: playrooms or bedrooms. Style: modern yet playful. Key pieces of furniture: rock wall, child's table, storage cabinet, interesting artwork. Helpful advice: create separate zones in larger play areas for various activities.
Add Seating Options
Add seating, like bean bag chairs or a small couch, in your child's room for relaxation or socializing. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms or playrooms. Style: colorful and inviting. Key pieces of furniture: blue chair, rocking chair, wooden dresser, brown leather pouf. Helpful advice: use colorful accents, such as rugs, pillows, and hand-embroidered blankets for a cheerful and comfortable atmosphere.
Display a Collection
Showcase your child's favorite collection, such as action figures or stuffed animals, in their room. For example, this dinosaur-themed room features toy dinosaurs displayed on a shelf and dresser. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms. Style: fun and personalized. Key pieces of furniture: themed bed, colorful dresser, display shelves. Helpful advice: incorporate a collection that corresponds with your child's passions to spark joy and inspire creativity.
Use Washable Wall Paint
To maintain the room's aesthetics over time, use washable wall paint, which is easier to clean as the child grows. As seen in this cozy bedroom, the writing on the walls appears intentional and home-like. Recommended spaces: kids' bedrooms. Style: warm and cozy. Key pieces of furniture: beds, dressers, bedside tables. Helpful advice: choose paint finishes that are durable as well as easily cleaned to reflect an evolving child's interests.
Incorporate a Nightlight
Install a fun and functional nightlight, such as this brass star-shaped fixture, that adds comfort and safety during bedtime. Recommended spaces: kids' and toddlers' bedrooms. Style: cozy and tranquil. Key pieces of furniture: plush bed, blue couch, small coffee table. Helpful advice: coordinate lighting options that are both playful and functional to ensure the room feels relaxing and inviting.
Eliza Bush
Eliza is a creative interior designer who swears by the power of sleek interiors and quality furniture to transform daily personal and professional life. With a B.Sc. in interior design from Philadelphia University and a well trained eye for craftsmanship, she offers unparalleled advice on how to arrange your space to make it sophisticated, comfortable, and functional, whether it’s the office or bedroom.
