Stylish Kids Bedroom Styling

Styling a kid’s bedroom is an exciting project. But it can also be challenging – creating a space that’s as functional as it is fun and whimsical isn’t always as easy as it looks.

Cast your mind back a few years and think about what your bedroom meant to you growing up. It was more than just the room where you went to bed. It was your reading nook, your imaginary castle, a place where you had midnight feasts with friends, and your very own get-away-from-everyone space. Now it’s your job to produce a room that ticks all those boxes as well as looking awesome – phew!

Plan, Plan, Plan

Ok, we understand that planning isn’t the most exciting part of the project, but it’s probably the most important – time spent researching and planning certainly won’t be wasted!

Think about what you want to get out of the space (or what you want your little person to get out of it).  It might help to ask yourself these questions:

• What age is your child?
• Is this room to be used for a toddler or an older kid?
• Is the bedroom a multipurpose area or just a place to sleep?
• Do you need to include zones for play, study, reading and/or general relaxation?

The furniture you need will vary depending on the age group you are styling for.

Function before Form

When you’re designing a space with little tenants in mind, you need to concentrate on functionality – your child needs a space that’s practical and comfortable, as well as creative.

Try to choose furniture items that are versatile and can be adapted to suit your child’s needs and taste as they grow.  For example, a these beautiful bookshelves made by Dreamworld Furniture combine multiple storage options, or this cot made by Boori that can be converted into a day bed or even a double bed!

Think about your colour selection too. While an ‘all-white’ theme might look gorgeous while everything is new, consider the long-term practicality – unless yours are super clean kids, the carpets, rugs, walls, and bedding will likely gather a few marks over time so a bit of colour might help to hide some of these little stains.

Clever Storage Ideas

Is there even such a thing as too much storage in a child’s room? Maximizing storage means being creative and being prepared to think outside the box (excuse the pun!).

There are 101 clever storage hacks out there, so take some time to research different ideas and find options that fit into your overall theme. Ottomans, toyboxes, baskets, window seats with storage compartments, beds with drawers, shelves… the list goes on and on.

Think vertical space as well as horizontal.  Pegboards can make a great storage option as well as a really cute feature.

If your budget stretches to customized cabinetry, this is a great way to ensure that you make the most of every square inch.  If your child’s room is an attic one, made-to-measure furniture might be your best friend – it’s the perfect solution for maximizing storage space in rooms with sloped roofs.

Be creative – check out how these Ikea spice racks have been used to make some gorgeous bookshelves! And these swoon-worthy tree shelves are intensely practical as well as super cool!

If your child is the creative sort, think about trendy ways to organize their bits and bobs.  A desk with drawers is always a great investment (and if you choose wisely it should last for many years) and there are loads of different craft storage ideas for stationery, paper etc.

Pinboards are a cute and quirky way to display artworks, photos, and other ‘special’ things (most kids seem to collect plenty of these!). And a chalkboard wall is guaranteed to provide hours of fun for your little one.

Choose a Style

Before you start shopping for bedding and décor, it’s important that you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Choose a style and settle on a colour scheme. Design fluency is key when decorating any space in your home, and your child’s room is no exception.

Gender-neutral palettes are becoming increasingly popular. Creams, whites, browns, greys, and greens are all right on trend, and they make a welcome change from the traditional blue and pink.

You may choose to style your child’s room around one of their special interests, e.g.: dinosaurs, fairies, zoo animals or the jungle. Or maybe you want to theme the space around a specific colour.  Whatever you decide, you don’t need much to create a theme, and that brings us to our next point…

Less is More

All you really need to theme a gorgeous children’s room is a few statement items – maybe a cushion, throw rug, a picture, and a couple of décor items.  Above all, the most important function of the space is somewhere to relax and sleep, so don’t go overboard, and create too much visual noise.

Showing restraint when decorating your child’s room is super important.  We all know how quickly children’s interests change, so pick carefully and keep your spending modest – a few cute, quality items tastefully displayed generally look better than a room full of cheap and tacky decorations.

Think twice before you hang themed wallpaper or paint a bold feature wall – would you be better to opt for a removable option such as wall stickers that can be taken down or changed as your child grows and their interests evolve?  Remember, within a year or two you might be wanting to update to something more age appropriate…

Make the Most of the Light

Nobody enjoys spending time in a dingy room, so make sure you maximise natural light in your child’s room.

Simple window furnishings which can be drawn back or rolled up out of the way to allow the light in are a must. And if the room only has a small window, you may wish to install a roof window or skylight to create that bright and airy feel and help with airflow and ventilation.

Well, it’s time to get going – unleash your creative side and have fun! Enjoy creating something that’s functional, beautiful and inspiring and watch your little one’s eye light up when you do the grand reveal.