A children’s bedroom should be a space where they feel safe when they go to sleep, and comforted when they wake up. It’s a sanctuary in which your little one loves to spend time. But creating a nurturing space for your child to sleep, play and grow is not always as easy as it looks. How do you strike that all-important balance between kid-friendly design and family-friendly practicality? And how do you do it without spending a lot?

Luckily, nursery and children’s room design doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve got some simple tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to redesigning and decorating a kids’ room that should please everyone. From quick fixes to weekend projects, here are some cool ideas to create a warm, welcoming and well-organised room for the little person in your family.

Wall treatments

Changing the room decor by painting the walls in a different colour is probably the single most affordable way to decorate a space with impact. For children’s rooms, consider a colour scheme that is bright and uplifting but not too garish. We know that different colours have the power to inspire and excite, soothe or heal, and kids can be extra sensitive to the impact of colour around them. The importance of choosing the right paint colour for a young person’s room should not be underestimated.

If you feel that a plain coloured wall needs extra interest, there are many inexpensive art effects you can add. The easiest way is to use simple colour blocking with a complementary two-tone room scheme, either on separate walls or on masked off areas of the same wall. Creative types might try their hand at painting a freestyle wall mural to add personality to your child’s bedroom. Older kids could even help with this. 

For similar impact but without the need for any artistic ability, wall stickers or decals can help to jazz up a wall inexpensively. Take a look at the green jungle scene below, courtesy of Vertbaudet. The added bonus is that they are easy to remove once your son or daughter has grown out of the design.

Finally, when it comes to decorative touches, ask yourself this: Why put shop-bought posters or art prints on the wall when you have a little Picasso in the family? Children are prolific producers of art, so why not frame their favourite drawings, paintings or collages and display these instead? It will add a splash of colour to the room, show off your child’s artistic endeavours and cost you nothing.

Furniture solutions

When it comes to furniture for your little one’s bedroom, rule number one is to think multifunctional. As your child grows, they will need a study desk and additional storage space for books and all those other bits and pieces. Multifunctional or modular pieces for your child that combine desk and (hidden) storage may be more adaptable as they grow, meaning you get more out of the investment.

This does not mean you have to spend a lot on children’s furniture. In fact, you may not need to buy anything at all. Take a look around your home to find underused or redundant furniture items that could be given a new purpose in your child’s bedroom. Rather than buying new, give an old boring chest of drawers a new lease of life by upcycling it for a kid’s room. All you need is a paintbrush and some pretty colours - sample pots may suffice - and let your imagination run free. 

Children’s rooms can be brought to life instantly with a few layers of bright colour and pattern. If paint alone does not produce enough of a decorative effect, how about experimenting with decoupage? It’s an easy way to transfer patterned paper onto furniture and looks great. Here’s a video to show you how it’s done.

Quirky accessories

Once the room is painted and the furniture is in place, it’s time to accessorise. This is when the decor for your little darling’s room really comes together. Try to avoid too much ‘theming’ - the best way to indulge your child’s favourite colours or characters is through bedlinen and soft furnishings. That way, it’s easy to change things up over the years without having to redo the whole room.

Add a few well chosen, stylish accessories if your child’s bedroom is looking a little on the bland side. These can be picked up cheaply from shops, supermarkets and even charity shops, or you could make your own. Pretty bunting is a brilliant thing you can make yourself on a shoestring budget, adding a fun element to your child’s room. Maybe ask your child to help with the choice of fabric or help in the crafting process?

As a final point, it’s a good idea to remind yourself that kids’ rooms don’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be personal to your child. There’s something quite charming about having mismatched items and quirky touches in the room rather than a polished interior design project. From simple storage boxes and wall organisers to squishy cushions and soft toys, it’s meant to be a place to laugh, live and love.