DESIGNER SPEAK

Stylish, practical, fun, cosy and comfortable - children bedroom decorating ideas by four renowned designers to keep the kids happy from toddler to teens

Children’s bedroom decorating ideas by renowned designers

How to decorate children’s room?

Use lots of playful elements. Always try and include touches of things they love, but don’t theme it as a space that can date really quickly.

Which colour works wonders?

In a boys room navy and sage green (add in lots of textural elements like denim, leather, rope). For little girls, pale pink with baby blue (as a general rule, little girls like unicorns, rainbows and sparkles!).

Taking inputs from children?

Always work with your little one to collaborate on a room design. Bring in their interest. It doesn’t have to be a mermaid theme room (if they love mermaids for example), you could bring in a gorgeous sparkly green cushion and maybe a print for the wall.

The best ‘themes’ that work?

Boys rooms tend to be driven by an adventure/travel theme. Little girls as mentioned above love sparkles, rainbows and unicorns.

Keeping the budget in mind?

I have designed rooms for clients around the globe and all within varying degrees of budget. Some have been within the client’s budget, and others have been unlimited.

How to decorate children’s room?

It’s best to decorate each child’s room according to their personality and the things they like. Make it practical with storage.

Which colour works wonders?

Bedrooms are best kept mostly neutral with a pop of colour. There are many different shades of a colour, and I believe it’s really about getting the balance right.

Taking inputs from children?

It is extremely important to get the child involved. It gives them a sense of ownership and pride. The children will enjoy the space more, knowing that they have contributed.

The best ‘themes’ that work?

I personally stay away from themes as they can get tired and outdated quickly. Keep the child’s interests in mind.

Keeping the budget in mind?

If the budget is tight, focus on the practical areas, such as sleeping and storage. Use paints as an alternative to wallpaper, you can find reasonably priced wall decals to create a feature.

Howe to decorate children’s room?

Choose a neutral canvas when it comes to wall decor and play around with accessories; rugs, wall art, soft furnishings - all these can make a vibrant statement, but most importantly can be easily replaced as your child grows.

Which colour works wonders?

Gone are the days of pinks and blues. For a while now, we’ve observed an ever-growing trend of gender neutral rooms. There has been more demand for earthy tones: soft greys, cotton whites and Scandinavian-inspired themes.

Taking inputs from children?

Little ones will have very clear views on their rooms and know exactly what they want or don’t want. Don’t suggest a particular theme. Try to engage them in shopping, give two or three options to choose from and you can build around that.

The best ‘themes’ that work?

Stick to a limited colour palette, add one or two statement pieces and let your theme come together gradually. Beautifully crafted themes can be real jawdroppers. Try ‘Jungle Theme’ as animals never go out of fashion, ‘Geometric Theme’ is also fun and striking in small doses.

Keeping the budget in mind?

Note down your key pieces of furniture or any work that needs doing before decorating. Set budget limits and monitor your expenses as you go along. Always look for bargains. Lastly, consider alternatives! It is worth investing in storage and statement pieces, but transient items such as children’s beds, desks, rugs or accessories will need replacing sooner so don’t overspend.

How to decorate children’s room?

Select some basic neutral foundation pieces if you want the furniture to last as they grow. Add pops of colour with pillows, accessories, drapery, and use toys to decorate the room.

Which colour works wonders?

Boys will gravitate to blues and girls to pinks. But, if you want to go with a neutral base, add in grays, beiges and whites to keep the room soothing. If you’re looking for a gender neutral colour, greens and yellows are the most common.

Taking inputs from children?

Children should absolutely have input. It’s the few rooms in the house that you shouldn’t be afraid to have a little fun. Any opportunity for a child to express their creativity should be taken.

The best ‘themes’ that work?

I’ve done a lot of spaces and Star Wars themes for boys. Instead of choosing an obvious Star Wars decal, I opted for a modern gray wallpaper that looked like the inside of a spaceship. It was such a cool wallpaper and really went with the theme, but if they ever grew out of Star Wars, it can turn into a nice modern backdrop for the next stage of their life.

Keeping the budget in mind?

There are so many resources online nowadays that a room that a child will love can be created for as little or as much as your budget allows. Just concentrate on spending good money on the furnishings if it’s something you want them to use for the next 18 years and onto college.