Kids’ bedroom ideas and styling tips for children’s nurseries

Author Yvonne KealProduct Management SpecialistWritten 07/05/2025

Baby's bedroom in soft pink with tall window dressed in white shutter, closed with louvres open, white wardrobe, moses basket on white stand on a cream sheepskin rug, pink chair, white chest of drawers, wooden rocking horse, white vase on white mantelpiece with pampas, pink and pale grey bunting, baby on sheepskin rug on cream carpet, under a wooden hanging toyframe.

Decorating a nursery or a young child’s bedroom brings the creative side out in everyone. As well as having fun with the styling there are some practical aspects to consider that will help make this a versatile space that will grow with your child.

Let’s discover how to make this important room of the home a space that both you and your child will love to spend time.

Child's bedroom in soft white with window dressed in white curtains with multi-coloured star pattern, open, white cast iron-style bed with patchwork cover in shades of pinks with flower patterns, bunting in pinks and blues, white dolls house, small white wall shelving with small animals, small pink round rug by bed.

Pick a theme

Going for a theme in a nursery is a great starting point. From princesses to space adventures, jungle vibes to under the sea, there are so many themes to choose from. Knowing which one to choose can be tricky, especially if you’re preparing for the arrival of a newborn. If you need inspiration to get started, a quick trip to your local book shop could help. Spend a while browsing the early years picture books – as well as themes, you’ll see characters and colour schemes that will inspire the entire room.

Nursery with wallpaper in white with narrow individual bands of rainbow colours, parquet wood floor with a white rug with thin bands of blue, storage unit with animal fronts to sections, filled with baskets and boxes, blue upholstered child's chair with bear cushion, wooden toys on floor, giraffe plush by small white painted wooden round side table.

Think about wallpaper

Alternatively take a look at wallpapers from brands like Hovia. Wallpaper is a quick and relatively easy way to transform a room – we love this simple striped design called Breton Pastel.

“Soothing, soft colours such as pastels or neutrals create a tranquil atmosphere. Mix patterns with solid colours to keep the room balanced, and add small pops of bright accents for a touch of playfulness. Choose classic colours and designs such as our Breton Pastel striped wallpaper as they’ll suit your child as they grow.” - Catherine Jacob, head of design at Hovia

For a simple take on a theme that can grow as your child does, choose a neutral backdrop for walls and add fun with accessories instead. Bedding, lampshades, artwork and toys can be curated around a theme and will be easy to swap to a new theme as your child gets older and develops new tastes.

Styles to last

Let’s discover how to make this important room of the home a space that both you and your child will love to spend time.

Child's bedroom with natural walls and sash window dressed in two layered roller blinds, neutral with tiny yellow bursts behind a white with colourful jungle animals, wooden floor with a round faded-effect rug in white and voilet, white cot, jungle-theme animals in corner.

Continue the theme

Fabrics designed with children in mind are cute and can be practical too. This room has Roller blinds in our Safari Jungle pattern. Soft toys and an art piece on the wall add to theme. However, fabrics like this won’t last through to your child’s teenage years. If that’s a key consideration for you, it might be a good idea to avoid this type of design.

Kids bedroom in cream with lower half walls in mid dusky blue, white and blue striped bedding, red edges to shelf and pinboard and inset windows dressed in three red and white checked Roman blinds.

Patterns that will last

There are plenty of classic designs that look great in a nursery and will work just as well in a teenager’s room. This classic gingham is versatile enough to work for any age. Simply update the paint and room accessories for a brand-new look as your child grows.

Child's bedroom in white with two adjacent windows dressed in white tier on tier shutters, top set open on both, white bed, feature wall behind map of the world, white bedding with blue throw and pillows, white toy box, white bookshelf, picture of sailboat between windows, white floor, white round paper lampshade to ceiling light.

Maximum flexibility

Neutrals are the ultimate choice for standing the test of time. The simple design of a wooden blind never goes out of style – change the décor around it as your child grows.

Shutters are another style that could be worth investing in. There’ll be no need to constantly replace them as your child’s taste changes and their sturdy construction means that with care, they’ll still look great when your child is ready to leave home!

Child's bedroom in pale green-blue with window dressed in pale blue roman blind, lowered halfway and white sheer curtains, open, wooden bed with pale blue bedding with dark blue striped throw, blue bunting over bed, blue bedside lamp, triangular shelving unit with books and toys.

The importance of light control

Controlling the light throughout the day is key to any young child’s bedroom. Finding a window dressing that can keep a room dark, even when it’s still light outside, is going to help children of all ages drift off to sleep.

Look for Roller blinds made with blackout fabrics, or choose a blackout lining for a Roman blind or curtains to help create a dark environment that will encourage a good night’s sleep. Electric blinds can help, especially if you opt for smart operation as this allows for voice activation when linked to your smart home system – a great option if you’re hands are full with toys, clothes, nappies or children! You can also program blinds to open and close to match your child’s sleep schedule and encourage a routine – we particularly love this feature in the bedrooms of sleepy teenagers.

Child's bedroom in pale grey with window dressed in chalk white roller blind, lowered halfway under curtains in white with jungle animals in teal, umbre and ochre, grey wooden chair with cushion matching curtains, white cot with grey throw over.

Layer up

For children who struggle to sleep with even a little bit of light, it’s important to get a good fit. Made to measure blinds fit snugly at windows, so light creeping into the room will be minimised. Layering with curtains will give the best results though – choose a blackout fabric or lining for the blind, and a blackout lining for the curtains will create a dark environment that’s sure to help even the lightest of sleepers get a restful night.

Child's bedroom in white with left hand wall mustard, window to rear dressed in white roller blind with black vertical scribble wave pattern, three quarters lowered, white cot, grey carpet with mustard rug in centre, modern rocker with cushion matching blind, mustard unit, toys around right hand side of room.

A comfortable space

A well laid-out room gives your child plenty of space to safely and comfortably sleep, play, read and study when they reach school age.

Take some time to plan designated spaces in the bedroom for these activities. A sleeping area can be cosy and snug away from toys and other distractions. For babies, a changing table and nursing chair may work best close to the cot. Make the most of the natural light by placing a desk or a reading chair and bookcase close to the window.

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