You start out with such good intentions. A serene white nursery with just a couple of carefully positioned, old-fashioned wooden toys or crocheted animals. Possibly an artfully displayed teddy bear or two. Then gradually something happens. Aside from the growing mountain of plastic gizmos, and toddlers who simply refuse to tidy up, our children start to develop their own interiors ideas.
They (probably) don’t care about taste, they don’t care about good design, they just want their surroundings to be bold, bright, cheerful and simply fun. How then to please both parties, and avoid a sea of sickly pink or walls of football memorabilia? The answer is to find a theme you can both agree on. Here are a few ideas that big kids and little kids alike will appreciate.
Space
A massive rocket. Aliens. Forbidden planets. What’s not to love? The walls of this bedroom have been painted navy blue for the full ‘deep space’ effect – sure to please aspiring mini astronauts. It’s mixed only with white and red, and the restricted colour palette stops the room feeling too busy. I’m loving the standout rocket tent/bunkbed and world globes, as well as the red stencils on the wall.
Woodland
Deep, dark forests are a timeless fairy-tale setting, and a woodland theme works beautifully in a small child’s room. Here, the idea has been followed through with toadstool and log seating, a tree complete with over-hanging branches and, if you look carefully, even magic poisoned apples and a frog just waiting to be kissed.
The 3D grass and tree trunk wall decorations are a smart alternative to wall stickers or stencils. Consider getting Perspex laser-cut to your own design. Look online for companies that can help you.
Floral
Flowers are a perennial favourite in kids’ rooms, but don’t assume you have to go for low-key sprigs or faded blossoms. This floral wallpaper is bold, bright and beautiful, and just retro enough to have plenty of attitude. Look out for bed linen that has a similarly bold floral theme. Note also the deep magenta as opposed to a more insipid pink.
Robots
There’s something so pleasingly retro yet futuristic about robots. The classic depiction hasn’t moved on since the 1970s, which is probably why they’re a thing with nostalgia-tripping ‘kidults’, too. Look out for robots on cushions, bed linen, prints and wall stickers, or go for a mural, as here. Don’t forget to display some vintage clockwork robots on shelves, too.
Nautical
Nautical is a classic boys’ bedroom theme, but I reckon it’s just as cool for girls. The onus is very much on white, blue and red, with a few stripes, anchors and nautical accessories thrown in. Here, the bunk doubles as a magical sailing ship for the ultimate cool kid’s bed. Aye aye captain.
Vintage cottage
This room ticks all the boxes for timeless chic: patchwork quilt, mix and match fringed light shades and mini vanity unit. Try contrasting spotty and floral patterns, as seen here on the walls and bed, for a cottagey, shabby chic look.
Geographical
A large, wall-mounted map is a classic touch in a kid’s room – fun and colourful, but educational, too. Kids love plotting adventures and this will help them learn new names and countries. It’s also likely to appeal to both older and younger children. In this room, the map mural works brilliantly along with the vintage-style metal lockers, wooden crates and fun ‘stuffed’ animal heads.
Crazy bright
For a modern theme that appeals to grown-ups as well as little ones, and that can easily be changed to suit different stages, choose a neutral backdrop and accessorise with brights. These over-sized Lego storage bricks are fun and handy for stashing toys, while the woven pouffes, panel of geometrical wallpaper, blue chair and teepee all add up to a playroom that’s effortlessly cool.
Superhero
As the movies prove, superheroes never go out of fashion, either with kids or grown-ups, and for good reason. Here, framed vintage comic covers, cartoon cushions and, of course, that spectacular urban mural create a distinct Gotham City vibe. There are no end of superhero bed linen sets around; the trick is to tone them down with other accessories, like this plain red blanket.
Jungle
Young children love animals, and a jungle or zoo scene makes for a charming theme. These bright animal wall stickers cheer up this compact bedroom no end, along with the unusual zebra-mounted TV. The result is cute and playful, while the pale blue walls give the impression of sunny safari skies. You can find tons of themed animal wall stickers for sale these days, and many peel off easily without marking walls.