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Kids' Room Decorating Ideas That Look to the Future
Why let children's furniture and fixtures be outgrown when they can be repurposed for teens and beyond?
‘Children grow up so quickly’ is an idiom that’s bandied about from maternity wards to graduation ceremonies. And it’s true. In a whirl of birthdays, Christmases, childhood milestones and endless trips to op shops to drop off yet another bag of outgrown clothes, your toddler will have transformed into a fully fledged teen. So how do you keep up? And how do you create a versatile space now that can also change with them without having to constantly revamp? Your best bet is to stick to furniture that can multi-task and be repurposed at a later date, or to choose timeless pieces that will last. Here are some ‘now’ and ‘later’ bedroom ideas to help get you started.
Source vintage storage for young and old
Who says all storage has to be hidden away? There are plenty of novel ways to keep your things out of the way but not completely out of sight.
NOW: Try using old steamer trunks or vintage suitcases, such as these, for stashing away toys or odds and ends.
MUCH LATER: Suitcases are also very handy for when you encourage your youngsters to finally leave the nest.
Vintage decorating ideas for kids’ rooms
Who says all storage has to be hidden away? There are plenty of novel ways to keep your things out of the way but not completely out of sight.
NOW: Try using old steamer trunks or vintage suitcases, such as these, for stashing away toys or odds and ends.
MUCH LATER: Suitcases are also very handy for when you encourage your youngsters to finally leave the nest.
Vintage decorating ideas for kids’ rooms
Find a comfy chair for two
You might have purchased an upholstered chair for nursing your baby, or even inherited one from your folks and hate to see it go. Either way, a well-loved, even worn, chair that is wide enough to squeeze in two (you and your child) has many benefits.
NOW: Add a classic armchair that won’t date, like the leather one pictured, or even splurge on an Eames-style lounge chair and ottoman. It will quickly become a favourite place for sharing bedtime stories.
LATER: The chair can later become an essential homework spot for reading through a Shakespeare play or two.
You might have purchased an upholstered chair for nursing your baby, or even inherited one from your folks and hate to see it go. Either way, a well-loved, even worn, chair that is wide enough to squeeze in two (you and your child) has many benefits.
NOW: Add a classic armchair that won’t date, like the leather one pictured, or even splurge on an Eames-style lounge chair and ottoman. It will quickly become a favourite place for sharing bedtime stories.
LATER: The chair can later become an essential homework spot for reading through a Shakespeare play or two.
Frame pictures to swap out later
There’s a reason why hanging pictures is an ageless decorating tool: it adds an instant display quality.
NOW: Decorate the room with images that will inspire an inquiring mind. Hunt down an inspirational print or even frame that cross-stitch your great aunt embroidered for the baby.
LATER: The beauty of framed prints is that they can change with your child. Eventually your baby will turn into a teen, but by keeping the frames and replacing the prints with posters they have chosen themselves, or certificates from their co-curricular achievements at school, you’ll encourage happy memories associated with the original frames to linger.
Ways to display kids’ artwork
There’s a reason why hanging pictures is an ageless decorating tool: it adds an instant display quality.
NOW: Decorate the room with images that will inspire an inquiring mind. Hunt down an inspirational print or even frame that cross-stitch your great aunt embroidered for the baby.
LATER: The beauty of framed prints is that they can change with your child. Eventually your baby will turn into a teen, but by keeping the frames and replacing the prints with posters they have chosen themselves, or certificates from their co-curricular achievements at school, you’ll encourage happy memories associated with the original frames to linger.
Ways to display kids’ artwork
Invest in a trundle
Children love to have friends over, so having a bed to offer come any last-minute sleepovers will save you the time and inconvenience that goes into gathering up couch cushions to fashion a bed on the floor.
NOW: Rather than accumulating dust or becoming a haven for lost Lego pieces, make your under-bed space work for you with a pull-out trundle. These days trundles often come with collapsible legs, so you can lift them up to bed height to make a large bed.
LATER: This can become an instant guest room or you can replace the trundle with conventional under-bed storage.
Under-bed storage ideas
Children love to have friends over, so having a bed to offer come any last-minute sleepovers will save you the time and inconvenience that goes into gathering up couch cushions to fashion a bed on the floor.
NOW: Rather than accumulating dust or becoming a haven for lost Lego pieces, make your under-bed space work for you with a pull-out trundle. These days trundles often come with collapsible legs, so you can lift them up to bed height to make a large bed.
LATER: This can become an instant guest room or you can replace the trundle with conventional under-bed storage.
Under-bed storage ideas
Find a secret space
Make use of nooks and crannies to hide or store things in. Kids like a bolthole and teens like somewhere to stash their stuff – in both cases, no parents are allowed.
NOW: Most kids dream of a cubby or secret spot where they can escape to. Whether it’s the spot under the stairs or a purpose-built loft, such as this one used for another bed, a secret space is the perfect place for playing or reading.
LATER: This out-of-the-way elevated location can become storage for super-sized items or even sports equipment not in regular use.
Make use of nooks and crannies to hide or store things in. Kids like a bolthole and teens like somewhere to stash their stuff – in both cases, no parents are allowed.
NOW: Most kids dream of a cubby or secret spot where they can escape to. Whether it’s the spot under the stairs or a purpose-built loft, such as this one used for another bed, a secret space is the perfect place for playing or reading.
LATER: This out-of-the-way elevated location can become storage for super-sized items or even sports equipment not in regular use.
Apply wall decals
Decorate children’s rooms with temporary measures.
NOW: One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to transform a room is to apply a wall decal. They’re also a fantastic tool for renters as they won’t leave a mark and are reusable. This ‘purrfectly’ adorable decal from Made of Sundays can be used on almost any smooth surface including walls, doors, glass or furniture. There’s a bashful bear design, too.
LATER: Simply peel away.
Sisi the Cat decal by Made of Sundays: The Gathered Store
Decorate children’s rooms with temporary measures.
NOW: One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to transform a room is to apply a wall decal. They’re also a fantastic tool for renters as they won’t leave a mark and are reusable. This ‘purrfectly’ adorable decal from Made of Sundays can be used on almost any smooth surface including walls, doors, glass or furniture. There’s a bashful bear design, too.
LATER: Simply peel away.
Sisi the Cat decal by Made of Sundays: The Gathered Store
Support hidden artistic talents
Let your children express themselves artistically.
NOW: Consider including a full-sized chalkboard wall for your kids.
LATER: Rather than returning the wall to a neutral colour, hand the brushes over to your teen for changeable murals.
Let your children express themselves artistically.
NOW: Consider including a full-sized chalkboard wall for your kids.
LATER: Rather than returning the wall to a neutral colour, hand the brushes over to your teen for changeable murals.
Re-think and repurpose a built-in robe
Kids are inherently creative, but their art projects shouldn’t take over the whole room. A built-in robe can be transformed into a craft corner or a study nook.
NOW: Keep all the craft clutter in one place. Artworks-in-progress by your budding artist can be left out on the desk and hidden behind clever concertina doors.
LATER: With little effort, this can be an ideal study space for older kids.
Kids are inherently creative, but their art projects shouldn’t take over the whole room. A built-in robe can be transformed into a craft corner or a study nook.
NOW: Keep all the craft clutter in one place. Artworks-in-progress by your budding artist can be left out on the desk and hidden behind clever concertina doors.
LATER: With little effort, this can be an ideal study space for older kids.
Paint a wonder wall mural to keep
Geometric murals can work wonders in a bedroom for any age group.
NOW: Keep the paint scheme simple to allow a feature wall to take centre stage. Whether it’s a geometric-design wallpaper or your own design, you can cater to the look you’re after.
LATER: Let this wall speak as the bedhead for a teen’s retreat.
More ideas for bedheads
Geometric murals can work wonders in a bedroom for any age group.
NOW: Keep the paint scheme simple to allow a feature wall to take centre stage. Whether it’s a geometric-design wallpaper or your own design, you can cater to the look you’re after.
LATER: Let this wall speak as the bedhead for a teen’s retreat.
More ideas for bedheads
Purchase multi-tasking furniture
Don’t let shortsightedness stop you from making big purchases your kids need now, but do try to choose ones that will also work for kids as they age.
NOW: Bunk beds are a quintessential part of childhood. They make saying ‘yes’ to sleepovers easier – the beds are already there and the kids won’t have to camp in the lounge room where you’re planning to unwind.
LATER: Save on coveted floor space with a multipurpose piece that can double as a study desk.
Don’t let shortsightedness stop you from making big purchases your kids need now, but do try to choose ones that will also work for kids as they age.
NOW: Bunk beds are a quintessential part of childhood. They make saying ‘yes’ to sleepovers easier – the beds are already there and the kids won’t have to camp in the lounge room where you’re planning to unwind.
LATER: Save on coveted floor space with a multipurpose piece that can double as a study desk.
Refashion with colour
A coat of paint in kiddy colours can be easily painted over when the time comes to updating furniture.
NOW: Hit the op shop for vintage finds such as this wooden dresser. Theme it to your child’s room to add a splash of colour.
LATER: A quick coat of paint or a weekend restoration project can update this piece for a changing palette.
TELL US
Have you updated your kids’ rooms? Share some of your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
10 Kids’ Bedroom Themes That Go the Distance
Growing Concerns: All-Age Kids’ Bedrooms
Dreamy Ceilings: Fantastical Designs for Kids to Look Up to
A coat of paint in kiddy colours can be easily painted over when the time comes to updating furniture.
NOW: Hit the op shop for vintage finds such as this wooden dresser. Theme it to your child’s room to add a splash of colour.
LATER: A quick coat of paint or a weekend restoration project can update this piece for a changing palette.
TELL US
Have you updated your kids’ rooms? Share some of your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
10 Kids’ Bedroom Themes That Go the Distance
Growing Concerns: All-Age Kids’ Bedrooms
Dreamy Ceilings: Fantastical Designs for Kids to Look Up to
Toys have a magic way of doubling in number, and seemingly overnight. Store them away in a niche or nook and later use it for another purpose.
NOW: One great solution to keep them under control is to put storage bins in a corner, niche or built-in alcove of a room that has been designated a dumping spot – see here a set of simple Scandinavian-inspired timber toy boxes. At the end of play just scoop the mess up and hey presto, gone.
LATER: Swap out the boxes and the recess makes the perfect nook for a teenager’s study desk.
See novel study nooks for teens