The new era of colorful kids rooms

Trends come and go, but kids and color go together no matter what's in fashion.

It's no secret that kids love color. But even if you're a color-lover yourself, little people can tend towards some big, bold choices. Although the beige era may be well and truly behind us, there's an art to finding the balance between color and chaos.

At Mustard, we firmly believe that your home should be a celebration of what you love – which means kids' rooms that embrace being as vivid and vivacious as they are.

"I've noticed a real trend towards bright and cheerful kids' spaces lately," says Becca. "We're seeing a shift away from more neutral decor as we embrace color, pattern and a sense of play and fun. I think it's really lovely to see kids expressing themselves through their spaces!"

The Shorty to the Left in Blush | The Twinny in Berry | The Storyboard in Poppy

Pick Your Palette

Case in point: Jess' daughter Poppy's brand new big-girl room. The tight color scheme featuring Blush, Berry and Poppy (of course!) helps keep the space feel cohesive, while reflecting Poppy's tastes. "We loved Poppy's sweet Sage and Blush nursery," says Jess. "Now that she's growing up and developing her own tastes – and some very strong opinions about colors – we've gone a little bolder in the new room. It's so much fun!"

Not sure where to start? Try our color quiz to help you find your palette.

The Standard in Mustard | The Midi in Mustard

Room to Play

When it comes to kids' spaces, no one does them quite like our friend Cass Danson. With a home bursting with personality, we knew she'd be the perfect person to ask for tips on designing a colorful kids' space. "I love using color in my kids' rooms because it sparks joy and inspires creativity," Cass tells us. "These two things are so important in early childhood, and I really want to make sure both of their rooms reflect this."

As far as Cass is concerned, all colors work in a kids' room – it's just a matter of how you approach it. "When I'm styling with a lot of color, I like to balance it out. For example, if I'm using a lot of colorful wall decor, I will paint half the wall instead of the entire wall, to prevent it from feeling overwhelming."

The Mixer in Berry | The Kit in Mustard

Personality Plus

Cass' first rule of designing a kids' room is simple, but easily overlooked: make sure it's something they will actually like. "It's easy to get caught up in what we would like to do in their rooms instead of creating a space they would want. I usually start with one main item in the room that can inspire the rest of the design. I love to create a mood board to get a clear vision of how everything will come together. This also helps make the process less overwhelming."

The Ledge – Small in Berry, The Lowdown in Olive | The Ledge – Large in Ocean, The Midi in Ocean, The Shorty to the Left in Olive

Show and Tell

One of the simplest ways to make a kids' room feel more like their own is to give them a special spot to display the things that bring them joy. The Ledge, our reversible floating shelf, is the perfect way to add a pop of color that's both fun and functional. Favorite toys, books and knick-knacks all look better when they're sitting pretty on The Ledge, and they're easy to restyle when it's time for a change.

@houseofedencourt - The Skinny in Mustard, Blush and Berry | The Skinny in Poppy, Ocean and Sage

Put the Fun in Functional

Joy and play are high on the priority list for any kids space, but so is function. Choose pieces that are multipurpose and designed to stand the test of time – we may be biased, but we think a colorful locker is the cherry on top of any kids room! Aside from bringing a sense of nostalgia and timeless design, they do a whole lot of heavy lifting in the organization department. In Janine Genower's London terrace, a rainbow of Skinnys keep her daughters' school uniforms separate from their everyday clothes, for smoother mornings. "I love the fact that the shelves can be moved down as the kids' clothing gets bigger," she says.

@thedarlingassembly - The Shorty to the Left in Ocean, The Shorty in Olive | @sarahsprange - The Shorty to the Left in Berry

It's the Little Things

If the thought of running wild with color in a whole room feels overwhelming, try starting with some feature pieces of decor. Simple swaps like switching out a rug, refreshing the artwork or even changing the bedding can bring a whole new vibe to a room without too much commitment. "I think decals are a fun way to add color to the walls," Cass says. "They're not permanent so you can change them whenever you want, they save time on painting and are renter-friendly." That's a win-win, if you ask us.