It is no surprise that children spend a lot of time in their bedroom. Used for sleeping, playing and working, it follows that their space should be a reflection of their little personalities. Still, as Yvadney Davis told The LuxPad in her guest post, it is easy to get lost in the world of children’s interiors. We asked 27 experts to showcase their favourite children’s bedroom and to help us recreate the look at home. Stylish, practical, fun, cosy and comfortable – our selection of children’s bedroom decorating ideas will keep the kids happy from toddler to teen and all ages in-between. Time to release your inner child…

Nancy Straughan – Organic Fabrics and Eco Friendly Homeware

I love the calming and clean atmosphere this space has, which I think is really important for a child’s room. As a Mid Century design geek I love the simple wooden mobile hanging above the cot, the print of the wolf cub matches the earthy tones of the wood and cushion perfectly. I also love the idea of having photography of baby animals in a kid’s room, its just the right amount of cuteness whilst still feeling a little grown up. I’m a big fan of Middle eastern textiles and I really like the slight juxtaposition of the candy coloured persian rug and monochrome block printed throw. I chose this image as it has a great balance of mature style with cute elements and I think a room like this could be easily adapted as the child grows up. Image Credit

Alex Gladwin – Blogger

I love so much about this baby/toddler room interior. The bunting across the blind really sets a tone for the room and I love the lights hanging off of the ladder, they add a touch of warmth and cosiness to the room – which is exactly how every baby or child’s room should feel. I love that the floors and walls are bright. There’s a blue, white and grey theme which is fantastic because it suits a young baby as well as being grown up enough for a toddler. We’re re-doing our boys’ rooms this year and this image among others is where we’re taking inspiration from. I plan to use a light laminate floor like here and opt for light walls too, contrasting it by using colourful accessories. I think that when it comes to children’s interiors it’s fine to want to go modern, but it’s important to make sure that the room both reflects your child’s personality and is fun and young at the same time. Image Credit

Jen Littlebirdie – Interior Blogger

I adore a nursery that is simple, bright and happy – this space in Australia made me smile the second I spotted it. From the clean white walls (that can be easily touched up when the toddler years start!), bold illustrations on the walls, to the cosy chair with cool cushions for feeding or cuddles, it’s my idea of a gorgeous room. I love that midcentury style cabinet with it’s display of vintage toys and fun artwork. It also offers a useful storage solution for all those little things that constantly need tidying away. If I was going to be decorating a baby’s room again, this is a look I would be completely inspired by. It’s perfect for a girl or a boy and a space that they can grow into too. The only thing I would be looking to add is something hanging from the ceiling. Babies love to look up, so a mobile or a garland would be great above the cot. Image Credit

Kara Janelle – Interior Blogger

Personally I like a child’s room not to have a theme, instead adding decorative touches, so that they can grow with the room. I tend to always steer towards bright pastels and pattern for children, I think it brightens a room and makes them feel clean but cool at the same time. The photo shows a beautiful bedroom for a little girl. I love how it is totally neutral whilst colourful – this room could happily be for a girl or boy of any age. My top picks for a children’s room would always be second-hand furniture painted in beautiful colours, bright simple bed linen, key timeless decorative pieces that can be passed down, photos or artwork to reflect their personalities and loads of storage. Image Credit

Jacinda Malloy – Interior Stylist

When I began Benji’s room, it was all about getting to know him. Benji has a twin brother so I wanted to make sure when designing their rooms that their different personalities were expressed.  I soon found out that Benji’s favourite color was blue, so blue was a must. I also found out that Benji was interested in travel, the world, and had a very inquisitive mind. These two details were then the theme for my design. I used a large blue rug so that blue was prominent in his room but I didn’t want it to be dark and dreary so I chose a yellow to lift the blue and then used accents of both blue and yellow around the room. To inspire his travel goals, I added a world map on one wall and commissioned a small hand painted compass mural on another wall. I love this space as it’s light, bright, stylish and still reflects Benji’s fun, adventurous personality

Ursula Wesslingh – Interior Designer

I wish I had designed this room – I love everything about it. The bleached natural pine floorboards and tall white walls are a perfect canvas for those pretty vintage pieces and more colourful toys. With a restrained colour palette like this, a child’s room always look stylish, no matter how messy it is. I love kids’ rooms that aren’t filled with matching furniture sets from children’s ranges. Finding meaningful, beautiful pieces gives kids’ rooms personality – it takes time, but this is how the best interiors develop, organically. Quirky details such as the hat collection add fun, whilst the unexpectedly small and contrasting orange pendant adds punch to this calm monochrome scheme. Image Credit

Michaela Mildenhall – Interior Blogger

I love the Scandi simplicity of this girl’s bedroom. Loft rooms are like a dream for most children – they are cosy, snug and a bit different. With this lovely white backdrop you can create a calm and uncluttered space – the mixture of white, pink and blue accessories make the room so modern. Current trends for girls’ bedrooms are veering away from the pink saturation approach of latter years, and moving towards something more creative and meaningful. You can decorate a room like this with slightly more nursery-like accessories to begin with and then up-style when your girl grows older. This can see your child through from baby, towards secondary school age – saving a fortune in decorating costs. On a final note, what’s not to love about the wonderful crepe lanterns and the cute lamb wall art?! Image Credit

Sarah Hayford – Interior Blogger

Kids are a great joy of family life, but one thing that can be difficult is decorating a bedroom of someone that grows so quickly before your eyes! I’m really big on gender neutral design and looking at this room, you wouldn’t be able to tell whether or not it belonged to a girl or a boy. It’s so bright and natural with bits of contemporary and Scandinavian design. Little elements like the blackboard, bean bags and lights are used to give the room a warm feeling even though the design is really simple. I love where the bed is placed in the corner by a large window too.  My top tip for decorating kids bedrooms is to maximise storage and to keep things simple, kids change their mind and get bored of a lot of things very quickly, we’ve all been there! Image Credit

Mandy Colliss – Interior Designer

Shoe horning three children into one bedroom is no mean feat and to pull it off this stylishly is quite a challenge. Three boys inhabit this small room; each has his own super cool platform bed suspended from ropes at differing levels, an individual wall light and artworks adorning their space. A colour palette of earthy grey looks wonderful teamed with natural wood and uplifting warm yellow. Every bed is identically dressed in crisp white linen and highlighted with a textural grey blanket and accented yellow cushion. Each child has an equal portion of the room so sharing should be a joy and not a trial. In fact, I can quite imagine these boys enjoying bed swapping every night! My top tips would be that when furnishing a small room, limit your palette of colours and materials – using too many will visually clutter a room and make it feel much smaller. The adage “less is more” is so true! Also, wall mounting furniture makes a room feel bigger – it’s all about being able to see under and around things that tricks the eye into thinking a space is bigger than it really is. Image Credit

Geraldine Tan – Interior Blogger

This is a photo of my 8 year old son’s room, styled and photographed by myself. It’s a modern Breton themed bedroom.  I styled this bedroom in the autumn to bring a fresh, bright and happy feel to the room. I made sure that a cosy feel is maintained, with the soft throw on the bed for bedtime tucking in and the cushion for casual lounging. Everything is positioned conveniently, such as the comforting bedside light, an accessible bedside table for his drink and storage below his table for toys. Next to his bed is a laundry bag which encourages tidiness. To the right of his bed is a large shelf of favourite books, recently converted to his workspace. To the left of his bed is an empty area for running around with friends. Image courtesy of Gerladine Tan.

Danielle Parisi – Interior Blogger

This girl’s bedroom designed by Petite Vintage Interiors features some must-haves for ultimate fun and style for little ones. Pastel colours are great in children’s bedrooms, mixing pastel colours makes it really easy to achieve a scheme that is soothing and still loads of fun. I love the pink and mint features that stand out in this bedroom! Next, the wall stickers are a great addition. They are easier, quicker and cheaper to use than wallpaper. Little dots, triangles or clouds are just some of the many choices available. Making storage fun is also important by using cleverly shaped side tables and shelves. The house-shaped shelf used as a side table here is a great example. And you’ll score highly on the fun factor! Image Credit

Gaby Davies – Interior Blogger

We are in the process of transforming our little one’s nursery into her big girl’s room. I’m going for a Scandinavian style with a touch of colour just like the one in this picture. The ingredients to achieve the perfect kids’s Nordic style room should include geometric patterns – you can use them in items of bedding or storage like boxes and bags. Cool prints to hang on the wall using washi tape. Picture Shelves are great for displaying art, books or small toys/decorative accessories. Adopt a minimal colour palette: black, white and one or two pastel colours. Finally, introduce a Charles Ray Eames table and chairs and an old fashioned looking white metal bed. A must to achieve the perfect Scandinavian look! Image Credit

Lara Jarvis – Lifestyle Blogger

When it was time for our toddler to upgrade to his “Big Boy Bedroom” I knew I wanted to design something which would be able to grow with him over the years. The basis of the room is classic stars and stripes, which means we can mix up the accessories as his tastes change. Taking inspiration from our travels around America and their comic book stores we used bright red as an accent colour against greys and whites. Comic covers from our special dates; birthdays, anniversaries etc. hang on the walls next to handmade comic book bunting, framed posters and Superhero silhouettes, with lighting and canopies creating a cosy feel. Super storage solutions hide all manner of clutter and provide a great display area for favourite toys and books.

Rosie Kinsella – Interior Designer & Director

The key to successful children’s bedroom design is clever storage. Make storage practical, accessible and easy to use, so that children have a place where everything goes. Encourage children to have an input into the colour scheme or theme, if they buy into the idea of the room from the start and have a hand in how it is planned and arranged, then they are more likely to take pride in keeping it organised and tidy. Baskets, trays, cupboards with doors and drawers are all good options. If you have the luxury of space then try to keep storage to the outer edges of the room so that children have a clearly identifiable place in which to play. Room to play in a free and unstructured way allows children to be more imaginative in their learning. Image Credit

Jenny Taylor – Lifestyle Blogger

I absolutely adore decorating my children’s bedrooms from their nursery start to their teenage finish, as each stage requires something different. We are in the school-boy phase at the moment with my son so we wanted to create a bedroom for him that showcased his personality as much as his age. We chose a daybed here with underneath drawer storage for his clothes and a pull out bed to turn it into a double bed, if he had a sleepover. I like to choose a theme that won’t over-power a room and one that can grow with him too. We went for a red and navy theme with a London twist. I like to keep the bedrooms neutral and when it’s time to change the theme you don’t also have to change the wallpaper and furniture too. Kids enjoy space to roam free so I don’t like it to be cluttered too much with more furniture. My son doesn’t have a dresser as we have plenty of space in these drawers under his bed and in his wardrobe. This leaves more space for his toys and room to play. I think the best thing to do is think of how you can make the space functional for your little one that screams his/her personality but in a way they can love it and grow with it over the years with minimal changes.

Lorinda Mamo – Interior Blogger

A dash of vintage, a sprinkle of whimsy and a drop of contemporary all seamlessly intertwined into this gorgeous kid’s room styled by Petite Vintage. The easy to reach storage space makes it easy to tidy up and keep things in their place. Plenty of floor space allows for freedom to move, play and imagine, and the bed frame creates a creative space within a space where dreams are made. The colours used are striking and pleasant and the warmth of the light enhance the colours and soften the geometric lines of the bed frame and the carpet. My tips for decorating a children’s bedroom would be to remember that fairy lights are not just for Christmas – use them in a child’s room to create a dreamy atmosphere and to not be afraid to mix vintage and contemporary styles. Image Credit

Jessica Soothill – Lifestyle and Interior Blogger

I have chosen this image because, as a Mum of 3-year-old boy and girl twins, this is such a great example of how to style a shared bedroom. Not only do the colours complement each other so well, but the room looks matched, even though it is for both sexes. The shelving is perfect for storing toys and books, and they can accessorize it with their own items. I am drawn to the simplicity of the design, and contemporary style especially as we now live in a modern new build home. My tips for styling a twins’ shared room is to keep it simple, use colour schemes that complement each other and involve the children in the process – as they usually like to have a say in what they prefer! Image Credit

Lauren Gilberthorpe – Interior Designer

Children’s bedrooms should be fun, bold and playful. As a designer, I love to let my imagination run wild when working with children’s bedrooms. With a little inventiveness you can create the most wonderful spaces with unusual paint effects and bespoke joinery. Use MDF to create a built in bed in the shape of a house or teepee, section off a corner for a reading area in the shape of a castle or make the most of a tall ceiling with a mezzanine, as in the image above. Children love to have their own special space and creating a reading nook or hiding space allows them to escape into their own magical world. In the past I have designed rooms with tented ceilings, trampoline floors and a bed made from silver birch branches decorated with fairy lights. Go on – have some fun! Image Credit

Medina – Interior Designer

This is a bedroom we designed for Jaeden. It’s my favourite because it was transformed from a dull, and dark room to a bright, fresh and fun space! The room has subtle educational elements such as coloured 3D numbers and the hexagonal shaped shelving. During installation, Jaeden who was 3 at the time, learnt what a hexagon was. The book ledges are great for easy access to his books. He was fascinated by the monkeys which hung over his bed and referred to them as ‘monkeys jumping on the bed’. The room is practical with a trundle bed for future sleepovers. It has the quirky Kartell Componibili storage which acts as a bedside table. The walls are a neutral blue/grey that creates the perfect canvas for the pops of colour or allows for an easy makeover by changing the soft furnishings.

Carla Jones – Interior Stylist

A good desk is a must! This will be the centre point of a girl’s teen life! From homework and study to using as a dressing table, find a desk with drawer storage for books and supplies but also for hair care, a mirror and beauty essentials. Choosing a white desk option will suit any bedroom scheme, is low cost and easy to maintain. Personal space is so important as a teen, so add her own style in accessorising a funky chair design, a bright pattern blanket and some colourful desk tidies and that’s one cool combination of a desk and dressing table design! Image Credit

Lizzie Woodman – Lifestyle Blogger

For grown-ups a bedroom is a place of tranquillity and calm. But do young children have the same needs? A bedroom is their space – a chance to distill their rainbow coloured personality into a single (usually fairly small) room. And children come with a lot of stuff – which usually means they’re living in the aftermath of a tornado of toys. Organisation is key – it’s all about creating order from the chaos without becoming a control freak. Which is why I love bedrooms with clever, inventive storage. The trick is to balance your desire for organisation with plenty of bright, colourful, child-friendly fun. Beds with built-in storage, slim-line desks and bookshelvesare all great ways to use every scrap of space as efficiently as possible. The clever furniture and pops of colour in this photo are neat enough to please the grown-ups whilst still being perfect for the kids.

Claire Price – Interior Blogger

My recipe for a cool children’s bedroom involves 3 main ingredients: great storage, blackboard paint and amazing lights. I love this room because it works just as well for girls as it does for boys. The rock star/monochrome theme is always age appropriate – very important because in my experience kids grow. Fast! The hip industrial vibe is den-like and softened with tactile furs, comforting checks and a cosy rug. Extra twinkling lights at ceiling height add a bit of fairytale magic and nobody grows out of sleeping under the stars, right? On the other side of this room I’d install a bank of full height cupboards to hide all the cargo that comes with every child and also has a habit of growing with them. Mini rock stars might prefer a cabin bed or bunks and some extra spots and stripes in the form of soft furnishings would provide the X factor for me. Image Credit

Sarah Burghard – Designer

A school uniform chair would be a truly special feature for any child or teenager’s room – uniform, sports kit, brownies, cubs, a favourite party dress, any outfit can become an eye-catching piece of furniture with a little imagination. Here, I used a digital fabric design and combined it onto my favourite style of armchair. This would work equally well on any style of chair, sofa or interior furnishing! I think this is a wonderfully quirky design that features a fabulous twist on a special part of your child or teenager’s life, making sure that the memories of their happiest years live on forever… Custom-designed chairs, lampshades, cushions and wallpaper designs are a fantastic edition to any child’s bedroom and provide high quality, extremely comfortable pieces that will make your bedroom design truly unique and memorable.

Morgana Laze-Doyle – Lifestyle Blogger

We recently updated my 8 year old’s bedroom and Pinterest was a great source of inspiration for me. She has a small room and I wanted to make the most of the space and decorate it in a way that would see her through her pre-teen years. I’m a huge fan of white walls and light spaces that can be brought to life with a splash of colour and styled with a bit of black too – you can’t go wrong with monochrome! This picture inspired me when I was putting her room together. I love that there is a place of everything but it still looks stylish AND lived in. The monochrome styling mixed with the pops of colour and a few kitsch accessories all work so well together. Image Credit

Miranda Vedral – Interior Blogger

I don’t know about you, but I find that having non-themed rooms in my home is essential to the ever-changing needs of family life. What’s more, themed rooms spells hotel. And do we want to live in a soulless hotel? Thought not. Ask yourself, as children grow out of their beds, share with a sibling or move rooms, could their ‘old’ room be adapted as a snug, study or dining room? The littlies’ needs change so much and so quickly in those first few years, it really makes sense to go for a scheme that is multi-purpose but, most importantly, timeless. Turn convention on its head and experiment. This Farrow & Ball wide stripe is supposed to be hung vertically but I couldn’t resist flipping it ninety degrees. For furniture, see what you can find in flea markets and slap a coat of paint over it, or rummage around in local auction houses. Brown furniture is still well-priced and besides, it is so much more fun for a child to be grabbing their clothes out of an old chest of drawers that has a story to tell, than an identikit piece, hot off the production lines from China. Although they will only appreciate it (there’s always hope) when they move out, taking their ‘old friend’ with them. The overall effect is much more personal and full of character, which is what makes a home your home.