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  1. Southern Living
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  4. Style Guide: Kids' Rooms and Nurseries

Style Guide: Kids' Rooms and Nurseries

December 02, 2010
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Credit: Photo: Laurey W Glenn
Your children are full of fun and imagination, and their bedrooms should be too. Check out these fun kid-friendly spaces for inspiration.
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Built-In Bunks

Credit: Photo: Laurey W Glenn

Bunk beds aren’t the only option for sleeping multiple kids on one room. Built-in beds in a row can take advantage of an otherwise awkward space in the eaves. Encourage your children to personalize their bed nooks.

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Painted Pattern

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto / Styling: Matthew Gleason

All you need is painter’s tape, a level, and some patience for a clean geometric pattern. Wait for each color to dry before starting the next.

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Molding Pattern

Credit: Photography Van Chaplin, Charles Walton IV / Styling Buffy Hargett

Instead of taping off stripes, hang inexpensive furring strips around the room. Paint before hanging to be sure that you get a clean edge. You may even want to make your own variation with some stripes in cork so your budding artist has a place to hang his or her handiwork.

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Clever Canopy

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Accent a comfy reading chair with a hanging canopy that creates a cozy hideaway.

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Classic Color

Credit: Photography Van Chaplin / Styling Cari South / Assistant Stylist: Katherine Eckert

For a room that will easily transition through the years, paint the walls a more muted, classic color and accent with bright accessories that can be changed out as tastes mature.

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Sleep-In Nursery

Credit: Photo Robbie Caponetto / Styling Scott Martin

If you have room in your nursery, include a twin-size bed. It’s perfect for a parent, and someday your little one can transition into it.

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Trundle Bed

No need to break out a sleeping bag. You will always be prepared for sleepover guests with a trundle bed.

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Small-Scale Furniture

Credit: Photo: William Waldron

Small-scale elements like child-sized chairs make a playful statement.

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Whimsical Details

Credit: Photo: William Waldron

Make a space unique with accents like a ribbon chandelier or whimsical canopy.

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Wall Murals

Murals offer big impact and endless possibilities. Limit color and pattern on other areas to keep the focus on the mural.

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Bold Patterns

Bold patterns are great for baby’s developing eyes. Choosing black and white for the main feature allows freedom to incorporate lots of color in bedding and decorative details.

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Historically Inspired

You can create a historically inspired room without committing to an over-the-top theme by using shapes and fixtures that are commonly associated with a particular time period.

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Masculine Neutrals

For a room that will grow with your son, forgo baby-blues in favor of simple neutrals accented with classic patterns and pops of more masculine colors.

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Built-In Everything

Credit: Photos by Jean Allsopp

If you have a tight space, built-ins can help you take advantage of every inch for sleeping, seating and storage.

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Include a Play Area

Be sure to leave plenty of open floorspace for playtime.

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Creative Corner

Encourage your child’s creativity with a corner just for art projects. If you have carpet, consider putting a throw rug or other protective surface over this area.

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Desk

School-age children need a desk for homework. Make this area inviting with fun colors and accessories.

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Curtained Bed

Create a cozy, kid-sized space in a larger room with a curtained bed.

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Vintage Furniture Finds

Add whimsy to vintage furniture with a coat of paint in a kid-friendly color.

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Hardworking Furniture

Make a room masculine with rugged pieces. This cool, boy-friendly desk is made out of a budget-friendly industrial shelving unit.

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Curtained Cubbies

Draw a curtain across built-in cubby bunks for privacy in a room shared by siblings.

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Organized Toys

Cleanup is hardly a chore when all you have to do is separate toys into labeled bins.

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Chalkboard

Make it okay to write on the walls with a large framed chalkboard. Step it up a notch by covering a whole wall with chalkboard paint instead.

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Rolling Ladder

Use a rolling library ladder to access the upper bunk of built-in bunk beds.

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Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

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1 of 24 Built-In Bunks
2 of 24 Painted Pattern
3 of 24 Molding Pattern
4 of 24 Clever Canopy
5 of 24 Classic Color
6 of 24 Sleep-In Nursery
7 of 24 Trundle Bed
8 of 24 Small-Scale Furniture
9 of 24 Whimsical Details
10 of 24 Wall Murals
11 of 24 Bold Patterns
12 of 24 Historically Inspired
13 of 24 Masculine Neutrals
14 of 24 Built-In Everything
15 of 24 Include a Play Area
16 of 24 Creative Corner
17 of 24 Desk
18 of 24 Curtained Bed
19 of 24 Vintage Furniture Finds
20 of 24 Hardworking Furniture
21 of 24 Curtained Cubbies
22 of 24 Organized Toys
23 of 24 Chalkboard
24 of 24 Rolling Ladder

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Style Guide: Kids' Rooms and Nurseries
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