Designing a room for a child has many layers. Just like parenting, there’s a lot to learn—and when your little one starts outgrowing their nursery, things can get even more complicated. After all, when decorating a kid’s room, not only do you have to blend your taste with their interests, but you also have to create something functional.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of kitschy, conventional themes—or simply not factoring in enough storage for toys and books. To help you navigate all the many ins and outs, we rounded up some thoughtful ideas from top interior designers. These clever, fun rooms are sure to resonate with both you and your young one.
Go Vertical
Jamie Bush + Co.
Kids’ rooms are usually on the smaller side, so maximizing space by designing vertically is a good idea. “We created a custom bunk bed connected to a built-in closet,” says interior designer Jamie Bush. “This also gave us the opportunity to make an arched niche at the top of the bed and below, creating a bookcase and a cozy reading nook.”
Some of Bush’s other vertical design elements include custom stairs with upholstered steps and integrated drawers. The “cloud” bed rail is the adorable cherry on top.
Winning Neutrals
Rikki Snyder
Neutrals don’t have to be boring; you can elevate these tones with fun prints and patterns. “We had fun on the ceiling with a Porter Teleo wallpaper that hints at masculinity and is a cool design element,” says interior designer Hilary Matt of the above kid’s room she designed. “To keep the space playful, we added a nice way to display books—that way, they’re easily accessible for a nighttime read.”
Finally, Matt opted for clean, white furniture for a fresh and airy vibe, tying the neutral color scheme together.
Pretty in Pink
Rikki Snyder
If your child won’t back down on their bold paint color choice, don’t panic! There’s always a way to dress up pinks, blues, and other kiddie hues.
For example, in this room by Hillary Matt, the daughter loved pink. “We did her room in a pink shade that was also something that her parents could live with,” says Matt. “Kids’ spaces don’t have to use décor and furniture that’s marketed as being for children. You can use any pieces and add whimsical touches with accessories and other elements.”
Make a Mural
Kirsten Francis
Transform a room with mural wallpaper, and don’t look back. “A child’s room should feel like a world of its own—somewhere that sparks imagination and invites adventure,” says interior designer Sarah Lederman. “Here, a leafy mural and natural textures set the scene for a space that feels both playful and serene—a balance that keeps the design feeling timeless as the child grows.”
Lederman recommends pairing bold mural wallpapers with natural materials, like rattan or wood. “It grounds the space and keeps it from feeling overwhelming,” she says.
Keep It Classic
Kirsten Francis
When it comes to kids’ rooms, there’s a reason you keep seeing the same prints over and over again. “Classic patterns like gingham bring a sense of nostalgia to a child’s space—but the key to keeping it fresh is contrast,” says Sarah Lederman.
In this particular space, Lederman created a beautiful juxtaposition using beloved patterns. “The softness of the wallpaper and rug is offset by contemporary art, creating a room that feels both storied and unexpected,” she says. “Mixing traditional elements with modern pieces ensures a child’s room won’t feel overly themed, giving it room to evolve over time.”
Bold Is Better
Tory Williams
Don’t be afraid of eye-catching prints. “I love playing with patterns and wallpaper in a kids’ room,” says interior designer Sarah Rinehart Fleischer, the founder and principal of SRF Interiors. “It’s a place where you can be a bit more playful, and clients are often more willing to go bold.”
Fleischer used a fun, white-and-pink wallpaper in this particular project, which perfectly matches the room’s pink accent pieces. The wallpaper can serve more than one purpose, too. “A busy pattern will hide any potential mishaps (with kids, they’re bound to happen!) as well as fuel little imaginations,” she says. “In my opinion, the more pattern play in a kid’s space, the better.”
Red, White, and Blue
Kirstin Francis
Stuck on what to do? Consider primary colors. “A red, white, and blue scheme for a kid’s bedroom is classic,” says interior designer Paige Blodgett Scher.
The perfect example? This beach house bunk room that she designed. “I used Benjamin Moore’s ‘Champion Cobalt 2061-20’ to paint the bunkbeds blue, and then added printed bedding for an extra layer of pattern,” Scher adds.
Dive Into the Details
Creative Tonic Design
Wallpaper can make a bold, graphic statement, or it can depict something more elaborate. Here, Courtnay Tartt Elias, interior designer and founder of Creative Tonic Designs, used a white-and-blue pattern depicting playful monkeys.
“My advice in a nursery is to find a piece of art or wallpaper that’s youthful but not overly childlike—use that to inspire the details of the space,” she says. “Those details can be then used in different ways as the baby grows.”
Look Up
Creative Tonic Design
The ceiling is an underrated area. Kids can spend a lot of time looking at it, after all, so don’t let it pass you by.
“This nursery began with a whimsical, blue-and-green bird wallpaper for the ceiling and an ombre Zak and Fox linen for the draperies,” says Courtnay Tartt Elias. “Entertaining details on the ceiling are always a great idea for babies, and there’s an elevated feel to a full wallpaper treatment—rather than just a simple mobile.”
Incorporate Their Interests
Creative Tonic Design
If you’re designing for older teens, displaying their hobbies is the way to go. In this particular room, that meant making room for musical instruments.
“There’s dedicated guitar storage and a loft space where she can relax and compose music,” says Courtney Tartt Elias. “The dreamy feel complements the main bedroom area.”
From Two to Tween
Read McKendree/JBSA
Not crazy about bright pink or neon blue? Consider moody, elevated versions of your child’s favorite color. This little girl’s room by Chauncey Boothby, for example, is located in the turret of an old Victorian home, so it had a “very fairytale feel to it,” according to the interior designer.
“The goal was to create a room suitable for a two-year-old, but that could grow with the child and shift into a chic tween layout when the time came,” she says. “By mixing sophisticated colors, fixtures, and furnishings with some quirky and youthful accents, we created a space fit for a princess.”
Art in Architecture
Read McKendree/JBSA
Creating a kid’s room doesn’t always mean getting rid of everything that was there before. “This bedroom had an old, unusable fireplace that we decided to make the real focal point of the space,” says Chauncey Boothby. “We modified the mantel, gave the old brick a new tile facelift, and painted the whole room a color that would make the design pop.”
The result is a “whimsical vignette,” according to Boothby—one that will age well with its young occupant.
Playful Projections
Read McKendree/JBSA
Pick a shade like peach that’s easy on the eyes. “In this third-floor playroom, I had a lot of fun with the color palette,” says Chauncey Boothby. “Inspired by the fanciful wallpaper, I pulled out certain color tones for the striped ceiling valance—which was designed to hide the projector screen—the blossom-colored curtains, and the playful, peach dining chairs.”
She notes that the rug was a real find, as it was a durable indoor-outdoor carpet that was soft to the touch and a perfect match for the overall color palette.
Dual Purpose Solutions
Studio McGee
As a parent, you should always be thinking ahead. It’s unlikely you’re going to redo a room in the near future—so make sure you’re able to repurpose the design.
“Having designed countless kids’ spaces and having a family of my own, I’ve learned a few tricks that can help aesthetically manage the massive amount of stuff that comes with having kids in the home,” says interior designer Shea McGee.
One example? “A wall of built-ins functions both as a changing table and [eventually] a desk for homework. Keep this in mind when you’re designing a kid’s space—everything should have dual functions according to age.”
Timeless Texture
Brad Knipstein
Lean into elements that make your design unique. In this space, designed by interior designer Anu Jain, founder of Atelier Oleana, the wallcovering adds a bit of intrigue.
“The herringbone wallpaper in a pale blue-grey sets a refined yet approachable tone, adding just the right amount of texture without feeling too grown-up,” says Jain. “The upholstered bed, in a warm neutral fabric, keeps things cozy.”
Jain describes the space as “layered, personal, and designed to evolve.” “It’s proof that a kid’s room can be playful without being cliché,” she says.
Pattern on Pattern
Yes, you can mix two patterns together—it’s all about finding the balance between these different prints. “Doubling down on a pattern is one of my favorite design tricks of the trade,” says interior designer Jennifer Hunter. “In this specific space, I let the adorable Serendipity wallpaper by Sister Parish speak for itself, and paired it with lots of natural textures—like rattan and jute—to add depth and interest.”
Amplified Art
Ken Fulk
When it comes to creativity in a kid’s room, the sky’s the limit. “I like to incorporate bold elements, specifically through art, textiles, and paint, all of which can easily be updated as time goes on,” says interior designer Ken Fulk. “Kids with big opinions are some of my favorite clients because there’s no hesitancy. That’s the joy of being a kid—that sense of fearlessness.”
Two for One
Juliette Byrne
Having friends over is a big part of being a kid. The solution? Two stylish beds. “We wanted to create a practical solution for sleepovers, so we designed this room to have twin beds that were zip-and-links—so they can be pushed together to form a double bed,” says interior designer Juliette Byrne. “The headboards are curved and have studding around the edges. When they’re pushed together, it creates a pleasing, curved effect.”
