by Lauren Wicks

When it comes to designing a child’s bedroom—whether for a preteen or a baby on the way—it’s easy to find yourself at either extreme of the decorating spectrum. On one hand, involving your child in the creative process can be magical, especially when their imagination leads to bold color choices and whimsical pattern pairings. On the other, it’s tempting to design a space that seamlessly complements the rest of your home and will age gracefully as they grow.

However, what if we told you there are some key strategies out there to allow your child some design expression while still creating a timeless, elegant space? We’ve asked a stellar panel of local designers to share their philosophies for decorating children’s rooms.

1. Avoid a Strong Theme
Katherine Shenaman says that some parents may dream of having a safari theme for a little boy, for example, and while it may be the stuff of dreams for a few years, the decoration will inevitably start to date itself. This may be fine if you don’t want anything too precious in there, but it’s not the best strategy if you’re looking to invest in this space for the long haul.

“It really comes down to the colors and overall feel of the design scheme that allows a room to be timeless,” says Shenaman. “Lamps, bedding, and certain types of artwork are easy to tailor to a little one for a fun and more youthful feel — and they can be changed easily with time.”

Shenaman says that wallpaper, curtains, carpet and major furniture pieces are typically the greatest investments you will make in a room and should be considered for longevity. Cece Bowman says she usually selects materials that are of the same quality and in keeping with the style of the rest of the home for these major items, though she loves to add scallop details, hand-painted murals, and Pom Pom trims for a touch of youthful whimsy.

2. Carefully Curate the Walls
Lisa Erdmann says she typically starts the design of a child’s bedroom with a wallpaper and draperies that will offer a seamless transition from infancy to toddlerhood and grade school. She says stripes are a go-to for designing a boy’s bedroom and an all-over pattern for girls’ spaces, as they are versatile for changes in bedding, artwork, and accessories over time.

“If the rug is very youthful, we may keep the wall treatment more neutral, and if the walls are more childlike we may keep the window treatments more subtle,” Bowman says. “Our hope is the rooms can easily transition as the children grow older, which, sadly, they do so fast!”

Additionally, Shenaman says that a kid’s room can be the perfect landing spot for a piece of art that doesn’t have a proper home in your house. She says that this is a wonderful way to introduce children to fine art within reason, and it also helps them to have an anchor for their space, regardless of changing themes and color palettes through the years.

3. Take Advantage of the Plethora of Chic Kid-Friendly Design Brands
These days, it’s easier than ever to create a stylish kids’ room that balances timelessness with their unique stage of life, interests, and color preferences. We’re major fans of brands like Nestig for versatile furnishings that can evolve with your children’s needs, from clever convertible cribs and imaginative beds you wish you had as a kid to chic decor that features beloved characters from Eric Carle, Richard Scarry, and beyond. House of Noa is another favorite for stylish, soft furnishings that are well-suited to handle sticky fingers and toddlers with a high risk tolerance.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Have Fun in a Secondary Home
When it comes to decorating kids’ spaces in secondary homes, our designers say these can be great places to run wild. Shenaman says rooms of this type offer a chance for clients to step outside-of-the-box and explore more fantastical creations.

“Kids rooms function more like guest rooms in vacation homes than their everyday bedrooms at home, which typically need places to do homework, bookcases, good storage, and so forth,” says Bowman.
“I feel there is more freedom in these types of homes to simply have fun with the design.”

And if your child’s bedroom doubles as an actual guest suite in your secondary residence, Shenaman says there is still room for getting creative. She says that fun and happy colors appeal to all ages and don’t have to feel elementary in the design scheme. Plus, even your oldest guest may enjoy the nostalgic, eccentric design that hearkens to their own beloved childhood bedroom. And what could be better than that when on vacation?

Visit Luxury Home Magazine of The Palm Beaches for more design inspiration.

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