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Beyond Paint: 30 Inventive Ways to Add Color to the Kids’ Bedroom

Think of vivacious color and one of the first rooms in the home that comes to mind is the kids’ bedroom. These spaces offer the perfect spot to try out new colors, go bold with your decorating choices and throw in a whimsical pattern or four to spice up the space. Often, it is a smart compromise between what is practical and affordable and what your child wants that is the best choice to settle on. While expansive and dedicated themes with multi-colored brilliance look stunning, they might not be the best option for most of us. Today’s kids’ rooms showcase how you can keep the backdrop essentially neutral while adding plenty of color to the space.

When we talk of color, most often it is walls and paint that become the focal point of the conversation. Most kids’ room inspiration features colorful walls ranging from cute pink to vivacious red and charming yellow. But as your child grows up, the setting soon seems ungainly and you are forced to give the entire room a makeover. Not anymore, as the 30 fabulous ideas on display go beyond paint when it comes to unraveling colorful glee!

Flamboyant Décor & Lighting

Keeping the walls white or gray might seem like a boring prospect in the kids’ room, but there are plenty of creative ways that you can make up for it. This gives you more design flexibility, and you can simply switch out the décor and lighting fixtures in the room to alter both its style and theme. Considering how quickly kids fall in and out of love with various things around them, this is indeed the best approach. And it is a trend that is catching on as more and more homeowners are realizing the functional and economic benefits of this decorating method.

3D under the sea headboard makes for a delightful addition in the kids’ room [Design: Posh Playrooms]
Hot air balloons are by Authentic Models bring color to the contemporary kids bedroom [Design: Covadonga Cánovas]
Teen girls’ bedroom filled with purple brilliance [Design: Helene Hollub / Ken Hayden Photography]
Decor and bedding bring the color into this eclectic bedroom [From: Walk Among The Homes]

You can start off with a custom bed or even a headboard that steals the show and add nightstands, wall decorations and accessories that complement this look. You will still need to pick a color palette and stick to it, and as always, it is purples and pinks that dominate in the girls’ bedroom and classy blues that hold sway in the boys’ bedrooms. With a neutral backdrop, these bright and brilliant additions become far more visually appealing.

Designing a kids’ bedroom that grows along with your child’s needs [Design: Touch Interiors / Matt Craig Photography]
Incorporating floral prints and motif into the girls’ bedroom design [Design: Home Staging – Czech Republic]
Scandinavian kids’ room decor ideas [From: Ninainvorm]
Signs on the wall and orange bicycle wheels used to decorate kids’ room [Design: Laura Manning Bendik]
Wall decal and pendant usher in orange into this toddler room [Design: alvarez-diaz villalon]

Striking Shelves & Cabinets

Much like décor, shelves and cabinets play a big role in shaping the overall appeal of the contemporary kids’ room. Adding a modern modular unit that offers both storage space and a homework zone is a smart choice, and these classy units come in a wide range of colors. Beyond the overused pink and blue, yellow is a perfect gender-neutral color that works every single time. Orange is great when planning a room for a kid who is just a year or two away from his teens. Couple this bubbly hue with black and it will look even more striking. Colorful floating shelves or re-painted vintage cabinets; there are options galore that fit every style!

Boys’ bedroom with multi-colored shelves and FLY Suspension Light in Blue [Design: Redtop Architects]
Shelves and workstation in kids’ room with multiple shades of green [Design: Paul Archer Design]
Snazzy zigzag shelves in yellow and bedside lamps standout here [Design: Susan Strauss Design]
Home work stations for the kids’ room with ample color [Design: MATT architecture LLP]
Vintage modern kids’ room with colorful lockers [Design: Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs]

Make the Walls Come Alive!

Not happy with those white walls despite all the dazzling décor? Instead of instantly turning to a can of paint for a solution, consider creating a beautiful accent wall draped in lovely wallpaper. Wallpaper not only brings with it bright color, but also fun pattern and plenty of texture. Depending on the age of your little one and the color scheme of the room, you can choose a smashing wallpaper. Take into account the size of the room and the surface that the wallpaper will cover before making the final choice. A pattern that is too gaudy can seem overwhelming in smaller bedrooms.

Trundle bed in navy blue and Deco Monkeys in biscuit by De Gournay wallpaper for the vivacious kids’ room [Design: Scott Weston Architecture Design]
Custom designed world map wall mural [Design: Spazio Rosso]
Butterfly wallpaper from J & J Design Group

Maps are another perennial favorite in kids’ bedrooms, and they blend fun with a bit of learning as well. Graffiti on the wall is for those funky teen rooms that need an edgy look, while chalkboard walls give your child a chance to turn into a graffiti star himself! Posters, vintage wall signs and illuminated marquee signs can all add to the charm of the perfect bedroom.

Contemporary kids’ room in orange and blue [Design: Charley’s Loft Drapery and Design]
A wallpaper of posters for the trendy teen room [Design: Go Green Construction]
World map and colorful decor enliven the contemporary kids’ room [Design: Kati Curtis Design]
Graffiti on the wall adds color to the room [From: Putra Indrawan Photography]

Sensational Ceilings

A colorful ceiling dramatically alters the appeal of a room, and it is amazing how often the ceiling is completely overlooked by most of us. In the kids’ bedroom, the ceiling presents a great opportunity to add more than just color, as you can decorate it with everything ranging from stars and planets to decals of your child’s favorite superhero characters. Couple it with some brilliant pendant and recessed lighting, and you have a mesmerizing, impressive space that seems full of color and character despite walls clad in a softer hue.

Custom ceiling design is an absolute showstopper [Design: Staprans Design]
Color-blocking with pink and orange in style [Design: DKOR Interiors]
Ceiling and blinds in light blue for the chic teen bedroom [Design: Markay Johnson Construction]
Contemporary girls’ bedroom with a splattering of pink [From: Gormans]

Rugs & Window Treatments

If the ceiling does not do the trick for you, then turn to the floor with a beautiful rug, wonderful floor tiles or custom carpets to bring in some color. Window shutters and drapes that complement the color of the bedding and accent pillows is another classy approach that never fails. Regardless of how you decide to add color to your child’s room, make sure that the entire setting has a coherent and uncluttered look with an exciting color scheme.

Rainbow colored plantation shutters steal the show here [Design: All Shutters and Blinds – Adelaide]
Geometric rug completely transforms the ambiance of this playroom / bedroom [Design: Stone Creek Builders]
Bright and beautiful carpet with multi-colored charm [Design: DKOR Interiors]
Birdcage chandelier and groovy rug for the kids’ room [From: Alex Findlater]
Window treatments add plenty of color to the neutral backdrop [From: d2 interieurs]

Sherry Nothingam

Sherry is a blogger who loves to live her life to the fullest. She enjoys everything associated with design, décor and stylish modern trends. Born in California, Sherry has grown up on open ranches and in a wild setting, which has defined her taste for design and developed her interest in examining how structures and homes interact with the beauti[...]

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