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This article has been written and reviewed byAndrei Vasilief(a professional architect and interior designer) for factual accuracy and to provide unique content.
A small bedroom might not be much of an issue for babies and infants, but the lack of space can be a problem as your child grows and requires more room.
So how can you make the most out of your child’s small bedroom?
To maximize space in your child’s small bedroom, use a space-saving loft bed or cot (depending on the age of your child), wall shelves, toy chests, concealed drawers, inbuilt wardrobes; and adopt a minimalist, multifunctional furniture design to increase floor space.
The rest of this article expands on these ideas to give you 20 inspirational kid’s bedroom ideas for small rooms that are suitable for older and younger children.
These designs have been picked by a professional interior designer and architect to ensure that they are both practical to apply and contemporary in their style.
Need a new bed for your child? Click here to see the best mattresses and beds for autistic kids and adults.
20 Kid’s Bedroom Ideas for Small Rooms
Creating and decorating a bedroom for small kids can be quite challenging.
Oftentimes, the rooms which are supposed to be the child’s room are a bit of an afterthought, resulting in small, oddly-shaped rooms that barely fit the purpose.
Furthermore, a child’s room needs to be a multifunctional space, rather than a plain bedroom.
It requires storage space, sleeping space, play area, a spot to do homework, and more – while also being adaptable and dynamic as the child grows up and requires both different activities and decor.
Unlike most rooms in the house, which can keep their furniture and decor for a long time, a child’s room will have large changes often, as the space grows and matures with the occupant.
This presents a strong design challenge, as most designs are not made to be adaptable in time, with the usual response to such a situation being to simply keep it minimalistic.
This will not work for a child’s room, as expressiveness is part of the space, and having a kid growing up in a simple and basic environment is not the best approach.
So here are 20 kids bedroom design ideas to give you some inspiration based on my professional experience of designing children’s bedrooms:
1: Start With a Light Toned Base Color to Act as a Canvas
The wall and floor color create the base color scheme, which acts as a canvas for all the design and decor work that you do in the room.
It’s even more important in a child’s room as it will have to be adaptable to all the future redesigning that the space will undergo.
In the image, you can see a good example of a balanced base color scheme, with light tones that can suit almost any potential decor.
Avoiding stark colors is the best approach; choosing soft, neutral colors such as whites, off-whites, beiges, etc. that would suit a wide variety of decor choices.
Strong and bright colors are to be avoided, as they can be overstimulating and difficult to readapt in the future.
In terms of finishes, simple painted walls and wooden floors are the best combinations – being suitable for every situation.
The color of the floor should match the color of the walls, with as little contrast as possible.
How to Copy this Look:
Choose a simple wooden floor in a light or natural color and pair it with light-colored walls.
This will give you the best canvas to start adding color.
This style of decorating works well in autistic children’s bedrooms because the muted palette helps to avoid overstimulation.
Click here to see the top 5 colors to use in an autistic child’s bedroom now.
2: Create a Focal Point With a Wallpaper Feature Wall
With a solid base color in place, you can start adding some color and contrast.
Adding a darker-toned wallpaper on one wall is the simplest way to achieve this, especially if you have a neutral base color scheme.
Use either a block-color wallpaper, a textured option, or photographic wallpaper; they work well in almost all situations.
You should limit the wallpaper to a single wall to create a focal point and more impact.
Wallpaper has a few key advantages:
- It’s simple to do, with many options currently available at a lot of different price points.
- It’s also easy to change if it is no longer suitable in the future.
The plethora of styles available also ensures that you have options for children at any age.
How to Copy this Look:
Put up the wallpaper on a single wall.
Choose a wallpaper that creates some contrast with the room’s color scheme.
So, for example, if the room is mostly white, a wallpaper with an overall grey color scheme would work very well.
Using dark colors in a small room can be daunting but can look stunning when done correctly.
Click here to find out how to paint a small bedroom a dark color the right way.
3: Create Contrast With a Bold Accent Color
This idea can work both as an alternative to the wallpaper or to complement it.
You can either use color on a single wall or on multiple walls in combination with wallpaper on a single wall.
However, the best option for most situations is to use color on a single wall, by itself, as it is far easier to implement and it looks better in the majority of scenarios.
This adds some vibrancy and contrast to the space, while not feeling too cluttered.
Children’s rooms need to have a level of color and stimulation and should not feel sterile.
Adding color to a single wall is a great way to accomplish this while still maintaining a balanced environment, and it’s also easy to change in the future when the decor is no longer suitable.
How to Copy this Look:
The main issue to keep in mind is the size of the room.
In a smaller room, it is much better to have either color or wallpaper on a single wall, and then to leave the rest of the walls white, as it feels more open.
Click here to find out if bunk beds are safe for children.
4: Buy a Stylish Yet Durable Bed That Will Last
Children’s rooms are highly dynamic and will see several changes of both furniture and decor while they are in use.
This is also in contrast to the other rooms in the house, in that these will be major changes and not just minor interventions.
Optimizing these changes will help you minimize the number of times you have to redecorate and will allow you to use the decor for longer periods of time.
Changing beds can be quite difficult and time-consuming.
Beyond the price, getting the bed into and out of the room can be quite complicated, as they require specialized delivery and assembly.
So choosing to optimize your child’s bed can give you much more peace of mind and financial stability.
One solution is to order a bed-in-a-box because they come in a compressed package that’s easier to move into the room.
Click here to see the best mattresses in a box now.
How to Copy this Look:
A lot of toddler’s cots can be converted into beds, which can be used until the child is in primary school.
At that point, they can be replaced with a standard single bed, which can be used for much longer.
This will allow you to choose a bed appropriate for a small child at first, and then one that can also work in adolescence.
Click here for an 8 step architect’s guide to decorating a small bedroom.
5: Deploy Individual Storage Units for Progressive Adaptation
Children’s bedroom storage must reflect the child’s age and their needs – which change as the child grows up.
For example, a toddler’s toys are larger, and they get smaller as the child grows.
In contrast, a child’s clothes start small, but get bigger and require more space.
The best approach to this is to create individual storage units for individual needs.
A child will access his toys more than his clothes, but a clothing storage solution is something that will be in use for longer.
Storage units for children fall into two categories: long-term storage and short-term storage.
Long-term refers to pieces that can be used for longer, from when a child is a toddler into their teenage years and beyond.
Short-term refers to units that will no longer be used in time, such as for toys.
By taking a modular approach, you can save both money and time and create a highly adaptable system that can serve your child’s changing needs.
How to Copy this Look:
Break down the storage you need first.
For example, a toddler will need to store clothes and toys.
A young child will also need to store books and school supplies, in addition to clothes and toys.
So you can buy a proper wardrobe, as it can be used for longer, and then supplement it with other storage units.
For a toddler, a toy chest is very useful, as you can put all their toys inside.
When the child grows, you can replace the toy chest with something smaller and add bookshelves to the room.
This enables you to create a modular setup, where you can use the long-term units (such as the wardrobe) and replace and add the short-term units (such as toy storage).
Click here to see 9 ways to make your small bedroom look bigger with furniture placement.
6: Leverage Wall Space for Extra Storage
Wall storage is a great option and it can fit in very well with the modular storage approach discussed previously.
Just like the wardrobe, it can be a long-term solution that can act as anything – from toy storage space to shelves for school books.
This versatility is highly useful in a child’s room.
Wall storage can be used and reused – saving you the trouble of having to replace storage units.
There are a few key advantages.
Wall storage is reasonably priced and can be easy to install anywhere.
It can also act as decor and bring some vibrancy into the room, as well as adding a very personal touch.
Another advantage for children is that it’s easy to access, which can contribute to keeping the room tidy.
Walls are generally underused, so being able to turn them into storage is a great choice.
How to Copy this Look:
Find shelves that follow the same color scheme as the walls.
If you opted to put up wallpaper or paint one of the walls a different color, a great idea is to have the shelves in the same color as this feature wall.
This will make the room look tidy and well put together.
Another thing to note is how you place them.
My recommendation is to arrange them in a geometric manner in a specific zone, instead of spreading them too much around the room.
While spreading them around the room is an option, it can make the space feel messy, so a geometric arrangement is the best option.
Click here to see the 7 best and worst places to put your bedroom shelves.
7: Opt for a Minimalist Furniture Theme to Create Play-Space
All children’s rooms should contain free space that can be used to play, making the space feel more open and uncluttered.
Unlike an adult’s bedroom, a child’s room needs to be multifunctional, as it needs to cater to specific needs and grow with the child.
In order to achieve this, it is important to streamline the furnishings as much as possible.
This refers to maintaining the optimum number of furniture pieces and not cluttering the room.
Leaving free space has many advantages, from making the space more inhabitable to giving the child room to think and being easier to maintain.
It’s very much worth approaching decor with a more minimalist approach and creating spaces that are not stuffed with furniture and clutter.
Click here to see how to design a minimalist bedroom on a budget in 7 steps.
How to Copy this Look:
Start by thinking about what you will need to store.
For example, if there are a lot of toys, you could opt for a combination of a toy chest and wall shelves, instead of buying a larger unit just for toys.
If it is possible to have a unit act as both storage and something else – such as a bedside table – then this is more space-efficient.
For school supplies, consider if it is better to attach another wall shelf, rather than buying a bookcase.
Also, consider using the bed for storage as well – you can get storage beds where the mattress lifts up on hydraulics so that you can store items inside the bed.
Click here to see the best space-saving Murphy beds with extra storage.
8: Add a Tactful Seating Area for Reading and Relaxing
When dealing with a small bedroom, many parents will skip the seating area for fear of taking up too much space.
But tactfully integrating a compact sofa or a relaxing chair can be very helpful, both for wellbeing and for activities such as reading.
A lot of the time, children’s rooms contain the bare minimum, but going further to provide more amenities can go a long way.
We generally tend to associate certain furnishings with certain activities.
For example, we associate a bed with sleeping and a desk with either working or computer-related activities.
If a child spends most of their time at a desk, then there is a strong chance that the time will be spent in front of a screen.
Providing an area to sit can help the child also experiment with other activities, as well as providing a space for kids and parents to interact.
How to Copy this Look:
Look either for a small armchair, or a small two-seater sofa: whichever works best for the room.
It should ideally be in the same style and color palette as the bed to create cohesion.
Do not go for something overly large or styled, stick to a simple design.
There is a chance that this might be a short-term piece of furniture, so keep that in mind.
Click here to see the best space-saving futon beds to buy online now.
9: Focus on Singular Decor Items to Reduce Clutter
A lot of decoration can create clutter and overwhelm the senses, particularly in the case of a child’s room.
The best option is to keep decor to a minimum by selecting a few beautiful pieces that compliment the space.
Ideally, the pieces should be larger or grouped together in a geometric arrangement.
Adding a lot of small pieces can make the room feel smaller than it is, especially in a cramped space.
So, it’s best to keep things tidy and minimalistic by sticking with a few pieces.
It is also easier to maintain and clean, as well as being simpler to update the decor over the years.
How to Copy this Look:
Find a few pieces of artwork that you like and place them in an open area of the wall.
If they are smaller, arrange them in a rectangular pattern, spacing them out proportionately to the available space on the wall.
It needs to cover a large enough area to fill the space.
Click here for 8 budget-friendly small bedroom decor ideas.
10: Integrate Carpets and Curtains to Create Harmony
Curtains and carpets/rugs are another great addition, both in terms of the comfort they create and that they can also work as decor.
You could also take it a step further and have them integrated into the overarching color palette or scheme of the room to create harmony and consistency.
Curtains have two major benefits: privacy and acoustics.
In a private space like a bedroom or a child’s room, having the option to create privacy by pulling the curtains closed can be a great bonus.
They also create better acoustics in the room by absorbing sound and eliminating echo.
Similarly, carpets provide acoustic benefits, but they also increase comfort.
It’s far better for a child to walk or sit on a warm carpet than on a cold floor.
How to Copy this Look:
Start with the curtains.
Ideally, these should match either the floor or the dominant color of the walls and should be from floor to ceiling height.
You have two options: just use curtains or use curtains and drapes.
The main difference between them is the level of privacy they offer.
The carpet should be chromatically compatible with the secondary color tones in the room.
A solid color or simple geometric-patterned carpet works better than a complex model, as it feels lighter, especially in a smaller room.
Click here for 8 ways to decorate a small bedroom with a high ceiling.
11: Save Space With Multifunctional Furniture Pieces
When the room is small, having multifunctional furniture is highly recommended, as it can lead to fewer items in the room and less clutter.
It can also lead to fewer items discarded as the child grows, giving you more control over the space and your budget.
For small rooms, you generally want to minimize the number of items you have in the room.
It’s even more important to keep this in mind for children’s rooms, as they can quickly get out of control.
So choosing items such as a desk that can double as a bedside table or a chest of drawers that can store both clothes and toys can be very advantageous.
It will give you better control of the environment in which your child grows up, and that can be a great advantage.
How to Copy this Look:
This type of furniture is not really obvious, so you will have to keep in mind the particularities of your space and choose pieces of furniture accordingly.
There are, however, a few options that you can choose right off the bat.
A convertible bed can double both as a bed and a sofa – providing both a seating and sleeping space.
Some desks can double as a bedside table and some storage units can be reused over the years.
These are some of the basic ones, but if you keep in mind the particular requirements of your child and the shape of the space, you can find many more options.
Click here to discover the difference between a futon and a sofa bed.
12: Contrast the Ceiling and Walls to Enlarge the Space
Contrasting the ceiling and walls is more of an advanced option, and it will not work in all situations.
It’s important to consider the dimensions of the room – including the height – before opting to paint the ceiling or creating a strong contrast between the ceiling and walls.
But in certain situations, it can work really well, helping you create a unique and stylish atmosphere.
The main benefit of this approach is that it can make the room feel larger.
When the ceiling and walls contrast, it can amplify the feeling of spaciousness.
It is also quite a unique solution that is rarely seen, mostly because of the difficulty of implementation.
How to Copy this Look:
You have two options: either keep the ceiling white and paint the walls a different color, or keep the walls white and paint the ceiling.
They work in different ways, and we will go over both of them.
Keeping the ceiling white and painting the walls has the effect of creating the feeling of a higher ceiling.
Because of this, it can work in smaller rooms with a standard ceiling height.
The color of the walls should be calm and light, so no bright colors such as yellow or red.
Blues, grays, and beiges work much better, provided they are pale and not bright.
Painting the ceiling is much more difficult and only works in rooms with high ceilings, as it has the effect of lowering the ceiling.
The color of the ceiling should be the same as the ones mentioned above: blues, grays, and beiges, in a light shade.
Try these 20 relaxing small bedroom decor ideas here.
13: Go For a High-Rise Loft Bed to Maximise Floor Space
A high-rise loft bed is a bed that is lifted above the floor.
A loft bed is a great space saver, as the area which would normally be dedicated to a sleeping space can now also double as something else – such as a play or storage area.
Access is made via a ladder, with the bed being surrounded by safety barriers.
The major advantage of using a high-rise bed is that it allows you to use the space beneath the bed for a different purpose, such as a desk or a play area.
This is a great benefit in small rooms and it can enable you to provide your children with more space.
One thing to consider is that high-rise beds will require a bit more ceiling height.
How to Copy the Look:
Find a high-rise bed that fits the room, both practically and aesthetically.
From a practical point of view, it needs to fit the dimensions of the room, especially the height of the room.
Aesthetically, the best option is a wooden bed painted in a simple color that fits the overall tone of the room.
White is probably the best option, working in the majority of cases, followed by a natural wood color.
You can either buy a loft bed (the safest option) or make your own.
Click here to learn how to to build your own loft bed in 7 steps.
14: Use an Overarching Color Palette to Enhance the Style
One of the best options for creating a unique design is to create an overarching color palette that ties the room together.
This requires a careful choice of furniture and coordination.
It’s also more expensive to achieve as it generally requires buying furniture from the same set, rather than mixing.
But the great advantage of this approach is that you achieve a much more stylish design that can be uniquely suited to you.
It gives you the option of adding your own signature design to the space.
How to Copy this Look:
Start by choosing the dominant color in the room, which will be your canvas.
Select a wall color that compliments the floor.
This will be the base color palette.
Continue by selecting furniture with contrasting accent colors.
For example, if the walls are white, then blue is a really good contrasting color, as well as orange, light red, or light yellow.
Finally, choose textiles and smaller furnishings with the same color as the accent colors.
Try these 9 colors that go perfectly with dark wood bedroom furniture.
15: Install a Floor Lamp to Create a Relaxing Ambiance
Lighting has a big impact on our overall wellbeing and sleep quality, which is even more important in the case of children.
Most lighting solutions currently implemented in homes are not very well suited to ensuring quality sleep.
Having a single ceiling light fixture is not the best solution, with a lot of light shining down from one source.
Fortunately, this can be easily remedied.
Installing secondary, accent light sources somewhere in the room can help with sleep patterns, with the lower intensity and more comfortable color of the light contributing to preparing our bodies for sleep.
This plays into our natural sleep cycle, which is much more important in the case of children.
Click here for 19 ways to make your bedroom pitch black for better sleep.
How to Copy this Look:
You can easily achieve this by installing a floor lamp in the bedroom.
Ideally, you should install a lamp that can be orientated either towards the ceiling or the floor, allowing you to choose.
Choose a lightbulb with a warm, yellow color which is far more comfortable than white.
The best approach is to have the lamp project light towards the ceiling, which will then fill the room.
Check out these 31 stunning college bedroom dorm ideas for girls.
16: Create a Spacious Feeling by Pulling the Bed Further Out
In most children’s bedrooms, the bed is placed next to the wall, with access along one side.
This is usually a space-saving method, as most children’s bedrooms are smaller.
Placing the bed away from the wall has a few advantages and it should be considered if the room allows for this option.
Beds placed away from the wall look better, giving a sense of spaciousness to the room.
The ability to get into bed from either side also makes the room feel lighter and more well put together.
It also has an impact on the child’s sleep quality.
How to Copy this Look:
You might have to reconsider where you can place the bed.
You will need to allocate a slightly larger area for it and leave at least 50 cm or a foot-and-a-half from the wall to ensure access.
Also, you should place the bed somewhere near the window and away from the door.
This has an impact on the comfort of the room.
Try these 13 bedroom wall design ideas.
17: Use Accent Decor to Create an Impact
Accent decor is a really good option if you want to add some unique character to the room.
It is also quite easy to integrate, but still high-impact.
You can also use this as a general rule for any decor you wish to integrate, from artwork to something more complicated.
The advantage of this is that it’s easy to get right, and can be very cost-effective.
At the same time, it can be high-impact on a low budget.
How to Copy the Look:
Pick wall decor either in the same color scheme or with similar colors.
You can either match it to an existing secondary color in the room or add a new color.
Just make sure to not add too many colors to the space.
Then spread the decor around the room.
Do not add too many pieces to a single spot.
This 9 step guide shows you how to design a master bedroom with an ensuite.
18: Turn the Ceiling Light Into a Centerpiece
A lot of ceiling light fixtures can be quite boring, especially nowadays.
They tend to be utilitarian, with little consideration of interior design.
A more creative light fixture can give you some advantages beyond the simple aesthetically pleasing aspect.
Switching to a different light fixture can help with the light distribution in the room, which in turn can help with sleep patterns, as well as overall comfort and wellbeing.
Playing with light, color, and intensity can also bring benefits by tweaking the light levels to the way you prefer and respond well to.
How to Copy this Look:
Pick a ceiling light fixture that you like and that is proportionate to the space.
Do not worry about it matching the rest of the decor, as it can act as an attention-grabbing centerpiece rather than something that simply fits in.
Keep in mind the height of the room when selecting to make sure you don’t bump your head.
Click here for 19 cool bedroom door design ideas.
19: Create a Sleek Study Space for Older Children
While not really relevant while the child is still a toddler, a desk and chair are pretty much a necessity as the child grows up, both for schoolwork and other activities.
It’s well worth finding a space to integrate a desk into early.
Bear in mind that it will also have to be replaced a few times as the child grows up and requires a larger chair and more space.
As stated previously, children’s rooms are multifunctional spaces and need to serve multiple purposes.
A workspace is an essential part of that, contributing to the intellectual development of the child.
It’s essential for the child to have a quiet space to do homework and study that is free from distractions and noise.
How to Copy this Look:
Find a desk that integrates into the room’s overall style and aesthetic.
The simplest way to do this is to use the same material as the largest pieces of furniture in the space, such as the bed or the wardrobe.
The chair can then either contrast or be in the same style as the desk, depending on your preferences.
Keep in mind that you will most likely have to replace it as the child gets older.
Click here to learn how to design your bedroom on a budget in 5 steps.
20: Create a Custom Artwork Design for Maximum Impact
Turning the walls into custom wall art can create something truly fantastic, but it is also quite complicated.
You have the option of turning the walls or the ceiling into a large-scale artwork, creating a completely custom-made design for the room.
This is the most difficult solution to implement and is only recommended if you are comfortable with such sweeping changes.
The advantage is that you have something unique to your child and that it can have an impact on their well-being.
The downside is that it is very difficult to create, requiring an artist to come to your home and turn the walls into a canvas (unless you can do it yourself!).
It’s also important to remember that this will be permanent until you decide to repaint the walls, which will most likely involve a complete renovation of the room.
How to Copy this Look:
Once you’ve decided on this approach, speak to an artist to put your ideas into practice.
They will first make a sketch for you to discuss and give feedback on.
Once you have agreed on the design, they will carry it out.
It’s important that the final piece is not too complicated, and that it includes light colors and textures to soothe and calm the child.
Try these 15 creative ideas for painting bookshelves.
Image Attribution and Licencing
All images used with permission under the terms of Canva’s One Design Use License Agreement.
Main image: ‘Kid’s Bedroom’ by tulcarion (Getty Images Signature).
Image #1: ‘White Spacious Autistic Kid’s Room’ by KatarzynaBialasiewicz (Getty Images Pro).
Image #2: ‘Kid’s Room With Grey Wall’ by KatarzynaBialasiewicz (Getty Images Pro).
Image #3: ‘Interior of Cozy Kids Room’ by serezniy (Getty Images).
Image #4: ‘Kids Room Interior With Blank Wall’ by ExperienceInteriors (Getty Images Signature).
Image #5: ‘Kid’s Room’ by tulcarion (Getty Images Signature).
Image #6: ‘Stylish Kid’s Room’ by abezikus (Getty Images).
Image #7: ‘Kid’s Room Interior’ by onurdongel (Getty Images Signature).
Image #8: ‘Interior of a Kid’s Room’ by vanitjan.
Image #9: ‘Modern Kids Room’ by casamediacasamedia.
Image #10: ‘Modern Kids Room’ by Woning Media (Getty Images).
Image #11: ‘Kids Room Home Furniture’ by AndreyPopov (Getty Images).
Image #12: ‘Cheerful Kids Room With Boat Bed’ by irina88w (Getty Images).
Image #13: ‘Kid Bedroom With Teepee and Bunk Bed’ by Ruben Ramos (Getty Images).
Image #14: ‘Kid’s Bedroom’ by gerenme (Getty Images Signature).
Image #15: ‘Colorful Kid’s Bedroom’ by Yuganov Konstantin.
Image #16: ‘Kid’s Bedroom Interior’ by ExperienceInteriors (Getty Images Signature).
Image #17: ‘Blue Kites in Kid’s Bedroom’ by KatarzynaBialasiewicz (Getty Images).
Image #18: ‘Bedroom for Kid’ by abezikus (Getty Images).
Image #19: ‘Kid’s Bedroom’ by gerenme (Getty Images Signature).
Image #20: ‘Kid’s Bedroom With Blue Sky Painted Walls’ by irina88w (Getty Images).
Dan
Dan is the founder and head content creator at Bedroom Style Reviews.
He has been working as a professional online product reviewer since 2015 and was inspired to start this website when he ended up sleeping on a memory foam mattress that was too soft and gave him backache.
Through in-depth research and analysis, Dan’s goal with this website is to help others avoid such pitfalls by creating the best online resource for helping you find your ideal mattress, bedding, and bedroom furniture.
Dan is a qualified NVQ Level 2 Fitness Instructor with 6 years’ experience helping clients improve their health through diet, exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
He also holds several college and university-level qualifications in health sciences, psychology, mathematics, art, and digital media creation – which helps him to publish well researched and informative product reviews as well as articles on sleep, health, wellbeing, and home decor.
Dan also has direct personal experience with insomnia, anxiety, misophonia (hypersensitivity to sounds), and pain from both acute and long-standing sporting injuries – he enjoys writing insightful articles around these subjects to help fellow sufferers of such conditions.
Learn more about Dan here.
