1Bring in a Favorite Hobby
Sara Ligorria-Tramp 2Paint With Primary Colors
BRIAN WOODCOCKWhen babies outgrow the pastel colors of a nursery, transform the space with an all new look in bold primary colors.
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3Spread Some Sunshine
Jessica Klewicki GlynnA cheerful yellow hue and a statement-making jumbo stripe pattern combine to give this kids’ room a positively cheerful aesthetic.
4Display Toys and Collections
Courtesy of Joni LayKids’ toys are precious to them — even after they outgrow daily play. That’s when you can create a display that honors their objects’ importance, elevating stuffed animals and toys in a dedicated but tidy out-of-reach space.
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5Play Up Their Passions
Laure Jolie/Designed by NICOLEHOLLISGive them a space filled with their favorite activity: This Hawaii bedroom designed by San Francisco-based NICOLEHOLLIS displays an array of surfboards on its wall, in a nod to its occupant's true love for the sport.
RELATED: 14 Boys' Room Ideas You'll Both Love
6Take Bunk Beds to the Next Level
Studio Life/StyleBunk beds can be an endless source of creativity: Take ordinary bunks to the next level with fort-like build-outs, curtains, and a bold wallpaper backdrop, like Southern California-based firm Studio Life/Style did.
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7Go Green
Genevieve GarruppoDesigner Emily C. Butler explains why a vibrant green is not only an aesthetic choice for a kids room — but an enduring one, too. "Less conventional than your typical navy, this striking green plays well with blue, red, gray, black, and even wood tones, making it the perfect accent color for a bedroom that can easily grow with its inhabitant," she told House Beautiful.
8Mix Prints Fearlessly
SARAH ELLIOTT/Designed by Susana SimonpietriDon’t be afraid to mix prints for a dramatic, lively effect. Coordinate the look with a unifying color, as blue was used in this bedroom.
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9Western Charm
Lisa RomereinA California state flag, cow skin rug, and woven lamp shade turn this space into a laid-back yet stately hangout spot.
10Hang a Gallery Wall
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11Think Pink
Roger DaviesPainting a kid's room pink doesn't have to mean creating a demure space. Consider this room’s vibrant alcove done in high-gloss hot pink paint.
12Play Up Patterns
Lucas AllenImpart a sense of exuberance in a kid's room by decorating with a liberal use of patterns. A teal-and-white polar bear print oilcloth was the source of inspiration behind this lively, exciting space. A patchwork quilt adds to the pattern play.
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13See in Black and White
Black and white lends a sense of chic and cool — for any age. This Tribeca loft plays up the graphic look in its rug, lighting fixture, and accessories.
See more at Elle Decor »
14Make Homework Fun
Lucas AllenEncourage diligence when it’s time for homework by creating a desk where kids will truly want to sit down and work. This attractive space takes advantage of a cozy corner space with a wall-mounted desk, and a shelf displaying vintage soda bottles.
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15Conjure Camping
Victoria PearsonIf your family loves camping, bring that experience of togetherness in the great outdoors… indoors. This themed-out kids' room features a canvas tent rigged up as a fun "headboard."
16Fix Up Old Furniture
Dana GallagherGive a kids room a truly individual flair with a piece of furniture like no one else has — because you carefully curated it secondhand. The owners of this upstate New York cottage found an iron bed at a yard sale for $40. To complement it, they found a trunk at a thrift store, which they transformed with paint for a perfectly unique and vintage look.
See more at Country Living »
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17Make a Map Wall
Inspire kids’ curiosity about the world — while encouraging their understanding of geography, too — by transforming a wall in the bedroom with a map mural. Use pins or flags to mark where you’ve been as a family — and where you’re going next.
18Inspired Industrial
Amy KnerrOrange plaid blankets, faux wood-paneled walls, and a sleek black-and-white childhood photo make this room polished, but still cool enough for a kid.
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19Nursery Nook
Emily JohnstonCrystal Palecek, cofounder of Rue magazine, her husband, Andrew, had to adapt their cozy San Francisco home to accommodate their son, Benjamin. Space was limited, so the couple turned to an underutilized space — their cluttered walk-in — for the reno. Black and white horizontal stripes elongate the sweet space, giving a greater sense of width. With a cute little crib and star-studded ceiling, we imagine that Benjamin, now two, is sleeping just fine.
20Navy and Orange
JACOB SNAVELYA nautical-wave rug and orange stripe duvets are a playful pair. Plus, a rope ladder adds a fun touch to these bunk beds.

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.

Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
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