Our Favourite Kids' Rooms

Roundup

Kids’ rooms are the most fun decorating projects. Why? Because kids never worry about what the neighbours think, and they couldn’t care less about re-sale value!

From bold paint treatments, to patterned wallpaper, perfect poster placement, and eclectic toy collections, today we round up our most memorable kids’ rooms.

2nd August, 2017

Jo Dabrowski and Andrew Fisher’s Californian bungalow in Melbourne’s inner West, includes this incredible room for their son Herbie. Photo – Annette O’Brien.

Jo Dabrowski and Andrew Fisher’s eldest son, Fred’s room Lego head from Target, bed linen from IKEA, and sock monkey and soft toys on bed made by Jo. Photo – Annette O’Brien.

Enlist Bright, Bold Colours

Kids love colour, and there truly is no better room to introduce a bold paint treatment. If you’re lacking confidence, try starting with a small, contained area, such as an internal bedroom door, or just one wall (the wall behind the bed is a great place to start).

If you need further convincing, take your cues from Jo Dabrowski and Andrew Fisher’s vibrant home in Melbourne’s inner West – every room is painted a different hue!

The Seddon home of art teacher Martine Cook, her husband Jason, a podiatrist, and their two children Annie and Barney. Annie’s bedroom with Fictional Objects doona cover, Kip & Co cushion, Pirum Parum Pear poster by Fine Little Day and the bed head is an eBay find. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The bedroom of Martine Cook’s son Barney. Framed David Bromley quilt, bookshelf and bed head are eBay finds, the lamp is an Inner West ‘Buy Swap and Sell’ find, Bonnie and Neil cushion and quilt from Sedonia. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Try Statement Wallpaper

If there’s one thing more anxiety-inducing that choosing a bold paint treatment, it’s installing Wallpaper. Terrifying stuff. Understandably, since wallpaper can be a significant investment, and requires an expert to install. (DON’T even think about DIY wallpaper installation…).

The right wallpaper, though, can completely transform a room. We love Martine Cook’s selections from JC de Castelbajac Paris. In Melbourne, try Radford Furnishings for a brilliant range of imported wallpapers.

The North Melbourne home of Paula and Peter Mills and their three daughters Lia, Rosie, and Liberty. Rosie and Liberty’s shared bedroom with wrapping paper from Wrap Magazine, Yay art print from Sweet William Prints, large poster with dark background from The Souvenir Society, bedspread from Earth Tribe, hand cushion hand made by Paula’s sister Shelley, brightly coloured cushion from Halcyon Nights, and pink velvet cushion from Rachel Castle. Photo –Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The North Melbourne home of Paula and Peter Mills and their three daughters Lia, Rosie, and Liberty. Lia’s bedroom features torn out pages from magazines and a Moonrise Kingdom poster from Etsy. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Paste-it-up

Teenagers know a thing or two about personalising their spaces. When it comes to posters, tear sheets and mood boards – more is more. Go floor to ceiling, or go home!

We love the playful poster placement in the North Melbourne home of Paula and Peter Mills and their three daughters Lia, Rosie, and Liberty, featuring torn out pages from magazines, prints, photos and Etsy finds.

Inside the Point Lonsdale home of Kip & Co co-founder Kate Heppell, her partner Mal Heppell (of DMS Landscapes) and their son Zig. Zig’s bedroom brings together an array of Kip & Co pieces: pillows, cushion, bedspread, bedding and blanket, as well as a Minnie Pwerle artwork above the bed and vintage wall hanging purchased from the Mill Market in Geelong. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Eltham home of Poppy Lane and Scott Gibson (of Pop & Scott), and their children Frida and Lou. Frida’s sweet bedroom features Pop & Scott single bed and vintage Moroccan rugs. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Layer Pattern and Texture

Colourful bedlinen is a no-brainer in kids’ spaces. Try Kip & Co for the brightest, boldest bedding and accessories, and Op Shops or Etsy for Nanna-tastic crochet blankets and old fashioned knitted toys.

Another room from the home of Paula and Peter Mills and their three daughters Lia, Rosie, and Liberty. Pictured is part of Rosie and Liberty’s shared bedroom with bedding from Adairs, handmade soft toy from South Africa, tiger tote bag from Gorman, vintage beds from junk shop in South Africa, banana wrapping paper from Wrap Magazine Shop and Liberty’s own artwork on the wall. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The East Malvern home of Ruth Bruten (aka Gourmet Girlfriend) her husband Guy, and their FIVE boys: Jasper, Max, Oscar, Gus, and Archie. This original cast iron bed once belonged to Ruth, now it belongs to Archie. Washi tape love heart above bed made by Ruth and all the other art by Archie. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Showcase Self-made Artwork

Kids are creative without inhibition… follow their lead! We love the unbridled creativity on display in the East Malvern home of Ruth Bruten (aka Gourmet Girlfriend) and her FIVE boys: Jasper, Max, Oscar, Gus, and Archie.

The North Fitzroy home of Kylie Zerbst (owner and creative director of local fashion label Obus) and her partner Simon Murray (a digital director at Doris). Their little boy Orlo’s room includes a ‘half bed, half play platform’ built by Simon. Eames hanger, top artwork by Sarah Parkes, and the framed Ibex print is from a trip to Turkey. Photo – Annette O’Brien, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

The Jan Juc home of Arabella Wilson (designing kidswear under her label Dougal), Chris Wilson (of Yoke Yoga studio) and their two young daughters Marlowe and Lottie. The kids’ bedroom features antique wooden beds from Sydney Antique Centre and artwork from Outré. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Toy Town

The bedroom of any child under 10 is usually home to a small village of soft toys. We love UK designer Donna Wilson‘s sweet knitted critters, rag-doll style softies from Danish brand Maileg, and exquisite custom handmade dolls by Melbourne crafter A Makers Burrow.

The Elwood home of optometrist Jo Twaddell (of WINK Optometry), her husband Toby McIntyre (a physiotherapist) and their three young boys, Fred, George and Angus. The boys’ room has a sliding door that can open up to make one large space. The KNECT4 beds are from Mubu home, drawings by Annabel Warne, lanyards and ice cream money box from ‘Naughts and Crosses’, and the pom pom throw and wood cushions are from The Grumpy Swimmer, while other cushions are from South Village Trading. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files. Photo – Eve Wilson.

The home of Tim Ross, Michelle Glew-Ross and their gorgeous kids Bugsy and Bobby. In Bugsy’s room is a map of the Sydney CBD, found in an op shop. Photo – Eve Wilson. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Keep it Themed

Try for a consistent theme to keep clutter at bay. A passion for all things vintage extends into the kids’ spaces in the home of Tim Ross, Michelle Glew-Ross and their gorgeous kids Bugsy and Bobby in Sydney.

Closer to home, we love the playful, cartoon-like details in the Elwood home of optometrist Jo Twaddell (of WINK Optometry), and her three young sons. The boys’ room has a sliding door that opens up to make one large space, and features an awesome oversized ice cream from Naughts and Crosses, and ‘wood’ cushions from The Grumpy Swimmer. Try Third Drawer Down for similar oversized novelty pieces.

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