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How to Create Fun, Functional, and Refined Spaces for Your Little One

How to Create Fun, Functional, and Refined Spaces for Your Little One

3/11/2022

For families with children of any age but especially young kids, we want to create spaces in our homes that make them feel safe, secure, and joyful and allow their curiosity to flourish. We also recognize that finding the right balance in a room where your child can thrive, which is also practical and complements your at-home style, is challenging even when planning ahead. So, that is why we're here to share a short guide on how to best curate your kids' room, nursery, and even their bathroom. We've once again asked Kelley Mason, our Manager of Creative + Content and resident stylist, to share a few of her favorite bits of advice to parents. The four tips Kelley suggested are mixing patterns, staying organized (especially with your nursery), working around your or your child's favorite color, and committing to a theme in their bathroom. Her—and ours—most significant piece of advice, though, is to enjoy the process of setting up your little ones' rooms. These are the spaces in which you'll see them grow up, so they should be whimsical, bright, and fun. Read on for all of Kelley's styling tips and see a few inspired kids' spaces from other Lulu and Georgia customers. And for even more inspiration, discover and shop our curated Kids’ Shop by Room looks.

How-To Tip 1: Mix Patterns

First things first, do mix up patterns and colors! You can get away with a lot in a kid's room, so playing around with fun patterns and different colors and textures are all encouraged. When mixing patterns, make sure to vary the scale, using one oversized print and one smaller design. Last year, when we toured our design collaborator Nina Freudenberger's home, she showed how it's done in her boys' room. Her Otti Rug's lighter neutrals and blues complement the room's navy blue palette and the wallpaper's graphic motif. When mixing patterns, make sure to keep the primary colors to a maximum of three, but feel free to use multiple shades in each color family so as not to feel so restricted.

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How-To Tip 2: Stay Organized

For soon-to-be or brand-new parents, we know that nurseries are really tricky. You want to make sure to include everything you and your infant will need while still making it a bright, beautiful space. A well-planned, well-laid-out nursery can be the difference between a frustratingly long night and, well, just a typical long night with a newborn. That is why we like the idea of separating the nursery into different zones—a sleeping zone, changing zone, and glider chair is great places to start. For your reading/feeding chair, we suggest selecting durable, easy-to-clean performance fabric upholstered styles. Storage pieces, like these SortJoy bins and trays, are essential in every nursery to keep linens, clothing and pampers close at hand. When it comes to decorating your nursery, you have a lot of freedom. To keep things cohesive, limit the color palette to 3 colors or less, mix new items with a vintage rug or family heirlooms for a curated and lived-in look. Lastly, we love the idea of bringing the outdoors in with a plant or tree that can grow along with your child.

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How-To Tip 3: Work Around a Favorite Color

We definitely encourage input from your child, especially if they are obsessed with a particular color. It lets them feel as though they are helping style their own room. We suggest you lean into it, making sure to add variations in the palette to give it more of a designed feel. For instance, if they love pink, add a hint, but layer in blush, rose, and mauve tones throughout too. Above, we've spotlighted the Floral Field Wallpaper from our Rylee + Cru collaboration to do precisely that. Its warm-hued botanical design features touches of soft pink and earth tones. When utilizing a lot of color in your child's room, also make sure to incorporate lots of neutrals to give the eye a break. That could come from larger items like tonal bedding, rugs, or decor accents like a small table lamp.

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How-To Tip 4: Commit to a Theme for the Bathroom

Finally, in households with multiple bathrooms, we like the idea of outfitting one for your children. Kids' bathrooms should be fun, quirky, and whimsical without going too overboard. Pick a loose theme—for example, a nautical-inspired space doesn't need ship pattern towels, a helm shower curtain, and whale wallpaper. Choose one or two elements that make sense, like the understated yet still playful Rylee + Cru Sailboat Wallpaper, and deck out the rest with complementary colors, patterns, and accessories. Finish with higher-end finishes, fixtures, and a round mirror to keep the overall look curated and refined. Think of it as a space your little ones can grow into, as well as provide an elevated spot for any visitors or overnight guests. If you need any more ideas on how to refresh your kids' or master bath, read through our bathroom guide.

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