Interior design is never simple, but home decor takes on a whole new array of complications when you need to delight a child, rather than a partner, a roommate, or yourself. Contemporary styles that work wonders for an adult’s bedroom or living room are simply not vibrant or whimsical enough to keep kids happy. Go too bold, however, and you risk your child growing tired of his or her new bedroom design in just a few months.

Thankfully, middle-ground solutions are available. The goal should be a space that is fun yet stylish. One that you and your child are equally proud to show off. This space may function as a playroom, but it should also be calming enough to promote a wonderful night’s sleep. All this might seem like a lot, but the perfect child’s bedroom is within reach if you try these decorating ideas:

 

1. Pick Your Kid’s Bedroom Theme

Before you begin your child’s bedroom shopping spree, get organized. This begins with selecting a theme. Start by idea-sourcing on Pinterest or Instagram. Jot down your favorite ideas — and don’t discount gut feelings about which styles look the best or should be avoided.

Of course, depending on your child’s age, this decision may not be entirely up to you. Older kids will definitely want to have a say — and even some toddlers may express clear preferences for how their rooms are to be designed. Take your little one’s interests and feedback into account as you determine which styles will work best for the room in question.

Naturally, this is a lot easier when you only need to deal with one child per room. If multiple kids share this space, a compromise may be necessary. In this situation, a more minimalist style may be called for. Do some creative thinking to determine where common ground exists. Perhaps your children share the same color preferences or are both fond of animals. 

Castle wall mural in child's bedroom.

Girl’s Bedroom Design Ideas

Gender-neutral options abound, but you’ll also find a wealth of looks that are primarily targeted at girls or boys. With girls, this may mean adding lots of pastels, as well as princess, ballerina, or floral imagery. Whimsical touches are always appreciated in a girl’s room, with favorites including:

  • Mermaids
  • Cupcakes
  • Bunnies
  • Hearts 
  • Fairy tales
  • Rainbows

Boy’s Bedroom Design Ideas

There’s a lot to love about the girls’ bedroom ideas mentioned above, but you’ll likely take a completely different approach if your design project centers around a little boy. Typical boy room decor falls into one of two main categories: subtle or bold and brash. Either is worth pursuing, but a lot depends on your son’s personality. Common bedroom design trends for boys include:

  • Dinosaurs
  • Solar system
  • Astronauts
  • Construction vehicles
  • Racing
  • Superheroes

 

2. Decide on a Bedroom Design Layout

Once you have a theme in mind, it’s time to determine where the essentials will go. No one layout is ideal for every situation; your decision will depend largely on the types of furniture you need, the size of the room, and whether multiple children will need to share this space. Sketch out kid-friendly ideas before you proceed, but be prepared to move furniture around as you experiment with the layout.

Considerations to keep in mind include:

  • Twin beds, lofted bed, trundle, or bunk bed
  • Toy storage: closet, cubbies, or toy chest
  • Reading nook with a bookshelf
  • Activities such as a climbing wall
Layout of a kid's bedroom.

kids-bedroom-02” by jingdianjiaju is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

3. Make the Most of Floor Space

The ideal layout will provide ample space for your child to play or relax. While children’s bedrooms tend to be small, it’s possible to provide lots of usable space. With older kids, this is often accomplished by lofting beds — or bunk beds for rooms with multiple children. 

Younger kids may require creative storage solutions that keep bulky dressers and toy chests out of the way in a small bedroom. Wall space and built-in storage are always essential, as are simple closet organizational strategies that even the youngest children can handle.

 

4. Select the Room’s Color Scheme

Even if you have the perfect theme and a strategic layout in mind, your child’s bedroom will never live up to its full potential if it lacks a cohesive color scheme. In many cases, this is as simple as finding a version of your child’s favorite color that you find acceptable. This can either be incorporated as an accent in a neutral-dominant room or played up to its full potential. Consider how the colors will play into the theme you’ve already selected.

Large hot air balloon wall decal in child's play room.

5. Find Creative Ways to Stick to Your Budget

Bedroom design can get expensive quickly, even if it’s centered around small children. Sticking to your budget can be tough, but it’s important — kids are fickle and will eventually want to change up their look. As you search for solutions, you’ll need to find a balance between investing in options that are durable enough to hold up to abuse from kids — and affordable decor that you won’t be sad to remove when children inevitable change their minds.

If you anticipate regular makeovers, plan ahead by investing in wall decals or murals. These can easily be removed if needed — and they won’t leave residue behind. They’re also affordable, so you should have more money left over to purchase furniture, bedding, and lighting solutions.

 

6. Consider Hiring a Professional Designer

Some parents love DIY projects, while others are desperate to avoid bedroom interior design. If you fall into the latter category and have a decent budget, you may benefit from a professional designer’s insight. This is a great option for handling the ‘bones’ of the project, such as the color scheme or the basic layout. From there, you can make decor adjustments as needed without significantly changing the room’s core aesthetic.

 

7. Scope Out Child’s Room Interior Design Stores

If you’re short on inspiration but don’t want to hire a professional designer, it may be worth your while to stop by design stores that cater to children’s styles. Even if you don’t make any purchases right away, you’ll find plenty of ideas to get those creative juices flowing. Online shopping is also an excellent option, as it exposes you to a greater variety of design solutions. 

As you hunt for affordable child’s bedroom wall decor that you can adjust at a moment’s notice, take a close look at the Cardboard Cutout Standees decal and wall mural collections. We’re pleased to offer a variety of options that delight parents and kids alike. What’s more, we provide the exciting opportunity to create custom designs. Take a look at our decals and murals — or contact us to learn more.

Author

  • Jason Frank

    Jason Frank is the Co-Founder and Vice President at Cardboard Cutout Standees. After 25 years of selling factory automation he started the company with one of his college roommates. The company has grown to one of the largest providers of large format custom printed products in the United States. Along with the namesake cardboard cutout standees, they also provide BigHeads, Point of Purchase Displays, Wall Murals, and Wall Decals to a diverse client base across the US and Canada. When not focused on the business, you usually find Jason either on the road biking or our in the woods and fields of western Wisconsin.

    View all posts