Decorating a kid’s bedroom can be hard. Should I buy that race car bed? Is this princess craze just a phase or should I paint the whole room bubblegum pink? We reached out to some of the best designers in town on what factors to keep in mind, as well as some of their favorite picks.
Durability & Cleanibility
“Kids are hard on furniture, so designing with durable fabrics and sturdy materials is always a good idea. Indoor-outdoor solution-dyed acrylics have come a long way and are practically indestructible when it comes to kids and messes. Spending the extra dollars to cover them [right] keeps it clean and looking good for years to come.” —Amy Thomasson, House of Amelia
“Kids are going to mess things up, but that is part of life. I still have the kitchen table from when my kids where younger. I love all the marks, because they are memories.” —Samantha Fisher, Samantha Fisher Interiors
“Kids are inherently creative and often more fearless than adults, and they need spaces to explore, play, and create freely. Furniture will be climbed on, jumped on, and slept on, so it needs to be able to withstand all that.” —Abbey Ragsdale, Smith & Ragsdale Interior Design
“Kids come with sparkle slime, finger paint, and Play-Doh in every color of the rainbow. So make sure that whatever their furniture set up is, it includes wipeable surfaces, iron-clad upholstery, and minimal crevices and gaps that you’ll inevitably be cleaning between.” —Jean Liu, Jean Liu Design, LLC
Leave Room to Grow
“We suggest pieces of furniture that can grow with the child as they mature. While the paint, curtains, and other decor can be changed with time, the investment pieces can remain the same.” —Pam Kelley, Pam Kelley Design
“Making sure that a kid’s space can grow with them sounds so cliché, but it really is a touchstone for all children’s spaces we design. Kids’ interests change constantly, so I am fearful of going too nichey on themes in their bedrooms. At 7, they might be stoked about the custom fort bunk beds, but at 10, they want a gaming space.” —Traci Connell, Traci Connell Interiors
Clutter Control
“Have lots of hooks, baskets/bins, and cabinets to keep the multitude of small toys, shoes, and clothing organized and out of sight.” —Susan Bednar Long, S.B. Long Interiors
“If the adults have to share the space that the kids play in, it is helpful to have a storage system that makes clean-up a fast and easy process. Drawers and closed storage as well as upholstered ottomans with storage inside will make scooping up toys a quick and easy process and change the room dynamic into a serene adult space.” —Kathy Adcock-Smith, Adcock-Smith Design
Comfort is Key
“Softness! Durability is important, but you also want it to be comfortable. With kids, you’ll inevitably end up playing on the floor, so avoid scratchy rugs at all costs!” —Josh Pickering, Pickering House Interiors
Let Them be Little
“Their rooms should reflect their personalities and things that interest them. I think it’s important for them to have input on the design so it’s a space they’re proud of and take care of.” —Shay Geyer, IBB Design Fine Furnishings
“Make it fun!” —Emily Summers, Emily Summers Design Associates
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