How To Always Get The Design Of Kid's Rooms Right

kid's bedroom with green patterned wallpaper and large bed with a toy in the middle of it

(Image credit: Emma Beryl Kemper)

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Designing Rooms Kids Can Grow Into
Separate the Permanent From the Personal
Lean Into Natural Materials
Choose Furniture That Evolves
Invite the Child Into the Process
Prioritize Comfort and Calm
Be Strategic With Placement
Designing for Who They’re Becoming

I’ve said it before, but children’s rooms remain my favorite spaces to design. They offer a rare kind of creative freedom – a place where the usual rules soften, and playfulness becomes the priority. These are the rooms where bold ideas feel not only allowed but encouraged, where you can take design risks you’d never attempt elsewhere.

At their best, kids’ rooms do more than deliver a fleeting sense of magic. They invite nostalgia and storytelling, allowing themes – outer space, secret gardens, jungle explorers – to be explored without irony. They’re deeply personal spaces, expressive and occasionally a little unexpected. And because they’re often smaller in scale, ambitious ideas feel more achievable: a hand-painted mural, graphic wallpaper, or sculptural bed can take center stage without overwhelming the rest of the home.

The real challenge – and where thoughtful design truly shines – is creating a room that delights now while remaining flexible enough to grow with the child who inhabits it, rather than locking them into a phase they’ll quickly outgrow.

Designing Rooms Kids Can Grow Into

kid's bedroom with cot in one corner, toys on the floor and floral wallpaper on the walls

Separate the Permanent From the Personal

Begin with a timeless foundation: neutral flooring, classic furniture silhouettes, and versatile lighting. Antiques and vintage pieces work beautifully for larger elements, adding both character and longevity. Personality can then be layered in through easily updated touches – bedding, artwork, and accessories that evolve as tastes change.

Lean Into Natural Materials

Rather than committing to bold, overtly kids' room color ideas throughout the space, lean on natural materials to anchor the space. Wood, linen, wool, and rattan create a calm backdrop, letting playful touches feel deliberate rather than overwhelming.

Choose Furniture That Evolves

Convertible cribs, extendable beds, adjustable desks, and modular storage are indispensable. The trick is selecting pieces that feel thoughtfully designed – not juvenile – so they remain stylish and functional from early childhood through the teenage years. Flexibility is the quiet hero of a room built to last.

Invite the Child Into the Process

Even small choices – picking artwork, selecting bedding – give children a sense of ownership. When they feel connected to their space, changes happen naturally, evolving with them rather than feeling like a constant redesign.

Prioritize Comfort and Calm

Amid all the play and creativity, rest remains essential. Thoughtful lighting, soft textiles, and careful attention to acoustics help the room function as a true retreat – supporting sleep, quiet moments, and emotional balance at every stage of childhood.

Be Strategic With Placement

If a child is set on a feature that feels tricky to integrate, try suggesting it for a bathroom or playroom instead. These spaces can handle bold, playful ideas for longer, offering room to experiment without committing to a full bedroom redesign too soon.

Designing for Who They’re Becoming

kid's bunk room with pale blue joinery and sisal rug with rocking horse on it

The best children’s rooms never freeze a single moment in time. They celebrate imagination today while quietly supporting independence tomorrow, creating spaces that grow alongside the child. When done well, they don’t just house childhood – they help shape it.

That’s why designing kids’ rooms remains endlessly rewarding. They’re a reminder that great design isn’t just about how a space looks – it’s about how it lives, evolves, and changes with the people who inhabit it.

Emma Beryl Kemper is the founder of Emma Beryl Interiors, a New York–based design studio known for its sophisticated yet livable spaces that balance classic refinement with contemporary ease.

Emma’s interiors have been featured in publications such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino, Luxe Interiors + Design, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She has been named a Next Wave Designer by House Beautiful and included in Elle Decor’s A-List.

Her first book, The Art of Home, celebrates her approach to creating meaningful interiors through storytelling, eclectic sourcing, and a modern eye for proportion. The book reflects her belief that every space should be as expressive as it is functional.