Themed Kids Room Decor That Won't Feel Dated Fast

The safest way to do themed kids room decor is to keep the big, expensive pieces neutral and put the theme in things that are cheap to swap: bedding, art, pillows, lamp shades. Kids move from dinosaurs to outer space faster than they outgrow shoes, so the theme should be able to leave without taking the furniture with it.

The approach I use is a loose style I call FunHaus. It borrows the geometric shapes and primary colors of Bauhaus and softens them for a child's room. It works for a five-year-old and still looks fine to a twelve-year-old.

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What are good themes for a kids room?

The best kids bedroom themes are broad enough to survive a change of heart. Think shapes, colors, nature, space, travel or music rather than one cartoon character. A broad theme lets you add or remove pieces as interests shift.

Some themes that age well:

• Geometric and architectural: arches, circles, triangles, color-blocking.
• Outdoors: forest tones, mountains, a few plants, wood finishes.
• Space or sky: deep blues, round lights, simple star or moon art.
• Travel and maps: framed maps, a pinboard, a small globe.
• Music or art studio: a display wall, a pinboard, a good desk lamp.

If you want a space theme that doesn't feel like a costume, see cosmic kids room ideas that won't feel too themed.

Start with a palette, not a character

Bauhaus leans on red, yellow and blue. In a bedroom, those straight from the can can feel like a fast-food restaurant, so shift the saturation. Terracotta or rust instead of fire-engine red, mustard or ochre instead of yellow, navy or slate blue instead of royal blue.

The 60-30-10 proportion keeps it calm:

• 60 percent: walls and large furniture in warm white, soft greige or pale wood.
• 30 percent: rugs, bedding and curtains in slate blue or sage.
• 10 percent: lamps, pillows or cabinet hardware in rust or mustard.

This palette suits themed kids room decor for a boy or a girl equally. The theme comes from the objects, not from pink or blue. As an architect, I'd also skip stark white: it tends to look sterile and shows every scuff. A warm white in an eggshell finish hides fingerprints better than flat paint and wipes clean more easily.

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Which furniture grows with a child?

Skip miniature wardrobes and novelty beds. A simple twin or full bed frame in natural wood works for a toddler (add a rail) and for a teenager. Square-cubby shelving holds toy bins now and textbooks later.

A few measurements worth planning for:

• Desk: standard desks are about 29-30 inches high. Pair one with an adjustable chair instead of buying a kid-sized desk.
• Bed: leave about 30 inches of walking space along one side so the bed is easy to make.
• Nightstand: roughly level with the top of the mattress.

A race car bed is fun for a year and awkward to get rid of. A race car duvet cover costs far less to replace. Put the theme in textiles and let the frame stay plain.

Which wall art and decor can carry the theme?

Wall art is the easiest place to change direction. Frame posters, prints or vintage comics, and hang them at the child's eye level, not yours. If you like the throwback look, vintage posters in kids rooms are a good starting point.

For renters, peel-and-stick shapes (circles, triangles) scattered in a loose confetti pattern give a custom-wallpaper effect and come off later. Check the product's removal instructions, and see how to use wall decals tastefully to keep it from looking like a party.

Other cool things to put in a kids room:

• A pinboard or magnetic strip for rotating artwork.
• Oversized round knobs on a dresser.
• A bean bag or floor cushion for a reading corner.
• A funky shaped mirror or a neon sign.
• A sturdy plant on a high shelf, such as a snake plant or ZZ plant. If you have pets, check with your vet about which plants are safe.

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How should you light a kids room?

Use three layers. Put the overhead fixture on a dimmer. Add an adjustable desk lamp for homework. Add a soft night light, such as an LED strip behind a headboard or under a shelf.

Choose warm bulbs, around 2700K to 3000K, for the evening. Cool daylight bulbs feel bright and alert, which is the opposite of bedtime. A pendant with round globes or a geometric cage also works as decor.

What makes a kids room durable?

Powder-coated metal, plywood edges and heavy canvas look better with a bit of wear. For the rug, wool is durable and cleans well, and recycled polyester (PET) rugs are a softer budget option. Keep the pile low, since shag traps LEGO and crumbs. The front legs of the bed should sit on the rug; in a 10x12 room an 8x10 usually fits.

I often recommend a small, cheaper novelty rug layered over a large neutral jute or sisal one. The play area gets softness and the theme stays easy to replace.

Storage and window treatments

Split storage by height. Keep the lowest 36 inches or so for the child: open bins, low shelves, heavy items. Use higher shelves for fragile sets and display. Solid-colored bins calm the visual noise of mixed toys, and hooks at kid height by the door give backpacks a place to land.

For windows, use cordless shades or curtains on rings. Cords are a strangulation hazard for young children. A blackout roller shade inside the frame, with curtains hung high and wide, handles sleep and daytime light. Mount the rod 4-6 inches above the frame. More ideas for family rooms are in FunHaus decor for families.

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What if your child wants a superhero room?

Frame comics as art, apply the hero's colors to geometric bedding and a rug, and display figures on a good shelf. If the room is neutral and you want to add a bit of sentiment later, easy nostalgic upgrades can help.

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Frequently asked questions