The new era of colorful kids rooms
Kids love color. If you’ve ever watched a toddler pick out their own outfit, you get it! Here’s how to satisfy their bold tastes, without dialling up the chaos.
Bright, primary colors. Pops of pastel. Rainbows galore. Yep, most kids will take a loud and proud bedroom design over the soothing, oasis retreat you might be tempted to create for them. Kids tastes can be as vivid and vivacious as they are, so creating their dream space is all about balancing fun and functionality. Luckily, that’s what we’re all about too!
“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!”
Speaking of kids spaces, Jess is currently mid-renovation and ready to start planning Poppy’s big girl room! “We loved Poppy’s sweet Sage and Blush nursery. Now that she’s growing up and developing her own tastes (and some very strong opinions about colors!) we’re going to go a little bolder in the new room. I’m having so much fun playing with color palettes!”
Ready to join us for some colorful kids room inspiration? Read on to check out some of our favourite bright and beautiful spaces for little people with big imaginations!
get creative
When it comes to kids spaces, no one does them quite like our friend Cass Danson. She’s a mum of two (the very lucky Charlie + Lola) as well as a photographer, artist and all-round color queen. With a knack for creating harmonious spaces and a passion for wall decals, we knew she’d be the perfect person to ask for tips on designing a colorful kids space. “I love using a lot of 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 include neutral elements in the space to balance out all the color. For example, if I'm using a lot of colorful wall decor, I will paint half the wall instead of the entire wall. In my living space, I chose to use colorful decor throughout, so I kept my walls an off-white to prevent it from feeling overwhelming.”
confident colour blocking by @breeleech
personality plus
Cass’ first rule of designing a kids room? 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 what I want to do in the space and how everything will come together. This also helps make the process less overwhelming when bringing the space together.”
@our.home.le.fleur switches up the decals, artwork and soft furnishings to refresh her son’s room
decal decoys
There’s one little trick that we love to add some easy fun to a kids room. Cass is a big fan of removable decals (she even makes them herself if you’re looking for some!) “I think decals are a fun way to add colour to the walls,” she tells us, because “they’re not permanent, so you can change them whenever you want, and second, they save time on painting and are renter-friendly!” That’s a win-win, if you ask us.
start small
If the thought of running wild with color in a whole room feels a little intimidating, 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 needing too much work. Plus, these little changes don’t require the time or commitment of painting or investing in big pieces!
Some of our go-to color injections? We love the machine washable rugs from Double, prints from V. Happy Co and bedding from Sage & Clare and Castle and Things.
The piece de resistance goes without saying, of course: a colorful locker is the cherry on top!
