Your newborn will become a toddler in a blink of an eye. And while it might be tempting to paint their nursery bubble-gum pink, or make the switch from their crib to that adorable twin-sized bed, you’ll find them quickly outgrowing their room’s design.
Designing your child’s room with their future self in mind will help you avoid the headache of completely re-doing their space every year or two as they grow and their interests change. But don’t worry – there are ways to bring a magical, joyful element to your kid’s room without commitment and hassle. To help get you started, we talked to top interior designers across the US – from San Francisco, CA all the way to Bethesda, MD – for their advice on designing a kids room that will grow with them. From neutral color palettes to investing in the right furniture, here’s what they recommend:
Plan ahead
When buying “baby” furniture, also buy a matching headboard for a twin or queen bed, so that when your child moves from a crib to a “big kid” bed, the other furniture pieces are still relevant. Buy now, save later. – Susan Brunstrum, Studio Brunstrum
Start with a neutral and timeless base
Think furniture, carpet, lighting, and paint color, and build from there. Nowadays there are such great removable wallpaper and wall decals available to use. You can add a fun and magical element to your child’s room without the commitment and hassle. Finish with accessories, wall decor, and curtains that suit your child right now (think unicorns and trucks). Those things can easily be swapped out as your little one grows and interests change. – S. Flynn Designs
Invest in a bed early on
Rather than going from a crib to a twin bed, go straight to a full or queen-sized bed from the crib. Sure, a bed this large may look like it might swallow your child at first, but they will grow into it. This will eliminate the headache of constantly shuffling and buying furniture. – Allie Mann, Designer – Senior Interiors Specialist, Case Design/Remodeling Inc.
Think multi-functional and timeless
To create a kids room that grows with them, skip kids furniture once your child ditches their crib and invest in multi-functional furniture pieces that will wear well as the child grows up. It’s smart to use a few timeless “blank canvas” type furniture pieces to create functional zones for creativity, reading, playing games, etc. in the space. This allows those areas to evolve with the child’s interests. – Mackenzie Collier, Mackenzie Collier Interiors
Don’t be afraid to go bold with patterns but a mature color palette
Playful characters and patterns can stand the test of time but typical pastels can date themselves. If you are drawn to a more traditional pastel look, keep it monochromatic. Do a full spectrum of one color, i.e. all variations of blue, yellow, green, or pink. – Melissa Crotty, Crotty Carr Design Group
Design your kid’s room with decor that you can easily swap out as they grow
If your goal is to create a kids room that will mature with them, opt for classic furniture pieces that fit your home’s aesthetic and accent with items that are easily replaceable as they age. Consider choosing bedding and pillows that are fun, adding color through artwork, and placing kids’ books and articles on floating shelves. Rugs are a great way to add style and can be updated as your child grows. – April Spagnolo, Evalia Design
Invest in well-made classic furniture pieces
This provides a solid design base as your child grows, from elementary school through high school and even beyond. We always recommend a full or queen size bed for this reason. Bed linens, throw pillows, rugs, accents, and artwork can be layered and changed as their interests evolve and mature over time. – Glenna Stone, Glenna Stone Interior Design
Save the “younger” designs for non-permanent pieces
Limit overtly baby or childlike designs (printed animals, rattles, bottles, etc) to toys, bedding, art, and decor instead of wallpaper. Creating a neutral backdrop that has timeless appeal is key. You can freshen paint colors and purchase new accessories for an effortless transition as your child grows. – Priscilla Bettencourt, Halcyon Home Staging + Design
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