Kids rooms can often be the trickiest room in the house to style. First and foremost, kids are messy. No matter how well you can get them to tidy, things get thrown around again within a few hours. And kids have a lot of stuff. Then, there is the fact that your kid is growing day by day which means the style and functionality of the room need to grow too. Not to mention finding a balance between their style and your own!
But, styling a kids room doesn’t have to be a battle. In fact, if done right, your kid’s room can be fun, stylish and last them from nursery to those tough pre-teen years! When we begin to think about decorating a stylish kids bedroom, it’s important to make sure you can get a few years use out of it.
Kids beds
When creating that perfect nursery for your newborn think of buying a cot that can then be used as a bed later on. Often, a cot-to-bed piece can then last up to the age of 7. Then, when your child has fully outgrown it, you can use the bed as a daybed somewhere else in your home! A few grown-up throws and pillows will easily style it up.
Kids room furniture
We would recommend keeping larger pieces of furniture, art or ornaments relatively neutral so that these won’t need changing as your baby grows into a toddler. One crucial piece of furniture is a comfy chair. This is important for you when nursing a young baby and can later be a great reading nook for a young kid or teen.
A stylish wooden or vintage trunk is a great addition to a kids room as it can be used for extra bedding for your baby, a toy box for your toddler and then, later, a ‘secret box’ for your pre-teen.
Kids room lighting
The lighting in a stylish kids room should be subtle, with a few key task lights in needed areas. Most important of all is to make sure the blinds or curtains are a blackout style. Cordless lift options for blinds are great for a kid-proof room.
Kids room art & decor
Art and moveable decor is the easiest way to add personality and style to the room, while also being easy to change. Incorporating their name, their favourite animals and things will make sure they feel connected to the room. We love the idea of a clothesline against the wall for hanging your child’s art. They’ll get such a kick from creating new things and watching you change the pictures.
One really cool idea is to get a custom-made rug of your kid’s art from our partners at Rug Your Life. This is a great way to keep your favourite picture for years to come.
Kids room layout
Always leave a space in your kid’s room that can be adapted year on year. For a baby, this space can be used for a floor mat and mobile. For your toddler, they’ll want open floor space for playing with their toys. You’ll also need easily accessible toy storage for kids at this age. Then, as your child gets older, they may want to use the space for a desk. Having this space open from the start helps when you need to think about age-appropriate style updates.
Pre-teens room style
When your kid reaches their pre-teens, they’ll want to start having their own say about the style of their room. But, remember, that these years are even more changeable than the last few and they will change their minds constantly. For pre-teens, you’ll want to add their style and personality in the accessories. They’ll really appreciate having free reign to choose things like throws, rugs, lamps and artwork.
We’ve come across a great company called Biscuit Moon Designs who can create the most fabulous pieces of art for the pre-teen bedroom (and babies and kids too!).
Then, you’ll want to keep the rest of the room fairly neutral as this is a great time to have the room as an occasional guest room (you pre-teen is likely to be with friends a lot too!). Being able to change the sheets and move some items out of sight and have a simple, stylish guest room is great.
Styling a kids room is a lot more flexible and fun than other areas of your house, so have fun with it!
Engage your kid as they get older and get them excited about interior styling too!
Many of the team at The Home Stylist are mothers and so we have a lot of experience in creating stylish kids rooms that work for both children and parents. Try out our virtual consultancy service to get some ideas for your own stylish kid’s room. This online service is great value for money and totally flexible for any schedule.
