5 interior designer tips for kid-friendly bedrooms that grow with your children

“Right now, we are loving sage green for both boy’s and girl’s rooms,” concurs Claudia Roth of New York-based Claudia Allegra Interiors. “It feels intentionally youthful, fresh and organic, yet gender-neutral.”

The founder and principal designer of the full-service residential design firm also adds: “It can be accented with pops of salmony-pink for a girl’s room, or darker greens and shades of blues in a boy’s, but the bones remaining light green will age wonderfully and allow for design flexibility in years to come.”

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“There’s an art to balancing the use of colour so it feels timeless but not too restrained, and one of the easiest ways to update without any major renovations is playing with colour and texture in unexpected ways,” say Josh Evan and Michael Edward Moirano of Evan Edward.

“For example, pairing a textural grasscloth with a more graphic pattern is an easy and sophisticated way to create visual interest,” the co-founders elaborate. “These elements can be easily tweaked to keep the core of the room the same, but change the look entirely.”

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Regarding wall treatments, paint often represents the optimal and most convenient option; easily updated over time, not to mention affordable and quick. But, selective use of wallpaper or decals presents an alternative for some, as Chris McGovern of McGovern Project demonstrated in several past projects.

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“For the Chelsea loft project, we did an accent wall in bold paper in the son’s room and opted to wallpaper the ceiling in the daughter’s room,” explains the founder of the full-service interior design studio in New York. 

“On the other hand, for a Sag Harbor project, we used vintage beach-inspired decals on the wall,” he continues. “While we expect these patterns won’t feel too juvenile for many years, it’s an easier change with adding in selected surfaces.”

That said, wallpaper does require a steady hand and patience during application, and expenses can mount quickly if human errors persist, necessitating professional intervention.

However, this doesn’t mean wallpaper should be avoided entirely; after all, some of the prettiest wallpapers do add spirit and vibrancy to an otherwise plain bedroom intended for lively children.

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“Peel-and-stick wallpaper, when installed properly, offers a stylish, non-committal solution that delivers major design impact,” Roth chimes in. “Its removable nature eliminates the need for costly labour if you ever decide to switch things up, while adding rich texture and intricate details that flat paint simply can’t achieve—an effortless way to elevate a space with personality and movement.”

A child’s bedroom or playroom serves as a space where imagination can flourish. This developmental aspect holds greater importance than maintaining perfection in these areas.

Yet, this doesn’t suggest parents should deviate from the overall design concept and settle for inferior materials and furnishings because they might face damage.

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In fact, interior designers recommend prioritising durability and longevity—selecting materials that withstand wear and tear, and accompanying children throughout their exploratory journey.

“When designing for young children, I go for semi-gloss, low volatile organic compound paint (VOC) instead of matte, as it’s so much easier to wipe down,” Bradley shares. “I also love using stain-resistant fabrics for upholstery because spills are inevitable.”

Additionally, Bradley recommends natural fibre rugs as they provide softness underfoot while remaining incredibly hard wearing, while Roth advocates wool and nylon for rugs and carpets due to their durability and ease of maintenance.

“A word of caution: avoid viscose fabric,” the New York-based designer warns. “It’s the trickiest fibre to maintain, and when it comes to kids, you’ll want something that can handle some mess.”

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“Another great way to update accent colours and the overall color scheme of a room is by reupholstering furniture,” Roth advises. “We often take existing chairs and reupholster them in a new fabric and colour to bring a fresh feel and texture to the space.”

“Colour doesn’t just add vibrancy, it also enhances the texture of a room,” the founder of Claudia Allegra Interiors goes on. “For example, a once burgundy plaid chair, when reupholstered in luxurious pink mohair, can completely transform both the chair and the space, infusing warmth, depth, and a new visual dynamic.”

Safe Kids Worldwide reports that approximately 3.5 million children ages 14 and under sustain injuries annually in home accidents, while the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) indicates that children under five face the highest risk of household accidents.

While predicting accidents remains impossible, parents can implement precautionary measures by safeguarding children’s rooms through discreet yet tasteful solutions.

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“We often collaborate with contractors to create custom baby gates that blend seamlessly into the home’s design, such as furniture crafted from wood that matches the handrails and floors,” Roth shares. 

“Standard, often plastic, baby gates can feel bulky and disrupt the flow of a room, but by integrating them into the existing woodwork, we can make them almost invisible,” she adds.

“We use the wall-mounted safety brackets for any large case goods, and avoid items with breakable materials like glass,” McGovern chips in. “On some occasions we’ll seek out case goods with more rounded edges, while corner guards can be a good solution for a temporary period too.”

“Soft surfaces and rounded edges do wonders to keep little ones from hurting themselves,” the co-founders of Evan Edward continue. “Furniture pieces like plush ottomans work hard as an additional play space, especially when they are upholstered in darker colours.”

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When it comes to furnishing for the children’s room, there are an infinite number of creative ways to integrate versatility without compromising on style as they mature. 

From dressers that function dually as changing tables for infants transitioning to toddlers, to sofas that convert into guest beds for sleepovers, well-crafted versatile furniture with a more classic look can still feel stylish years down the line.

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This philosophy extends to thoughtful storage solutions incorporated into children’s room designs. Whether through built-in shelves, storage benches, or woven baskets, these elements create hazard-free and uncluttered environments where the little ones can move freely and safely.

“Cube storage bookcases are a great versatile piece,” McGovern says. “You can add soft storage bins for a child-friendly and neat looking appearance.”

“For young babies and toddlers, we typically love to outfit their rooms with wall-mounted shelves or dedicated wall storage—allowing for easy access to baby books and toys in younger years,” Roth agrees. “As they get older, it’s the perfect place to collect picture frames, objects, stuffed animals, and other sentimental pieces collected over the years.”

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The interior designer also highlights that keeping toys and books off the floor helps prevent overcrowding while creating space for creativity—whether for imaginary tea parties or fort building.

“Integrating storage into sofas, ottomans and even beds is a favourite tactic of ours,” add the Evan Edward co-founders, taking things up a notch. “They work so well to conceal and store toys, clothes, books… virtually anything—making clean-up time a cinch.”

Adjustable closet systems are a popular, unanimous storage solution for these interior designers as well. Designed with their older, future selves in mind, these retrofit closet interiors accommodate modifications as the children grow.

“I like to install closet systems with varying height hanging rods—lower rods for kids’ clothes to taller sections for adult sizes,” Bradley concurs. “Versatile storage cubbies can also fit pull out bins or baskets that are great for storing toys and accessories early on, and can later transition into organised spaces for shoes, bags, and other items.”

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“While fixed shelves may provide a more finished look for millwork in closet interiors for adults, I often recommend closet systems for kids to have additional boring holes for the ability to adjust shelves and hanging rods over time,” McGovern adds. 

“This way, you can often fit three rows of hanging for toddler clothes in what otherwise would accommodate one adult sized shirt, and provide room for additional shelves for overflow storage.”

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