20 Modern Kids’ Room Ideas

From playrooms to bedrooms with triple bunks, this collection of neat and playful spaces will be sure to tickle your brain with ideas on how to take your kid’s room to the next level.

Published by

Whether it’s creating a comfy space to wind down or a great room for play, kids room are a fun challenge to take on. Learning, story-time, homework, playdates, and sleepovers bring these spaces to life and oftentimes make your home resemble a scene after a tornado’s touch down.

Keeping tidy with kids is ultimately a feat to be applauded, so here is a collection of inspirational kids rooms that provide modern solutions to help minimize the clutter. Toys, stickers, crayons, Legos, and Barbies will find their way into their dream house while you maintain yours.

1. Pair different patterns in the same color family

Soft patterns between the curtain rug and bed spread mature this room, while still maintaining a youthful playfulness. 

Designer Alexandrine describes the bedroom as "a functional space for a grown-up girl student."

Photo: Filippo Bamberghi

2. Keep some toys out for decoration

Who says that everything has to be put away? Sometimes displaying toys, markers, and other fun kid stuff can add a bit of homeyness to a space. 

In this room, the homeowners also chose to display the kid’s art as wall decor, too.

Photo: Albert Vecerka

Get the Dwell Newsletter

Be the first to see our latest home tours, design news, and more.

Subscribe

3. Frame the room with bunk beds

The upper-level of this shared family cabin has a playroom with four sets of built-in bunkbeds for the children. 

"We wanted to have a second living room, but for the kids," says architect Daniel Iragüen. "We imagined the kids playing here and producing memories with friends and cousins."

Photo: Marcos Zegers

4. Organize according to your child’s routine

The boys’ room includes sweet personal touches, like the pennants that reflect their namesake—Velzy, age 4, was named after Hawaiian surf spot Velzyland, and Bonny, age 1 1/2, was named after Bonny Doon, a surf spot in Santa Cruz. 

From the bunks, the kids are positioned for optimal reconnaissance of favorite play areas. "The boys can see the skate ramp from their top bunk, so our days usually begin out there since it’s the first thing they see waking up," says homeowner Leah.

Photo by Amanda Sanford

5. Keep things tidy with cubby storage

Although not a kids room per se, this college dorm room keeps things organized and compact with lots of optimal space for storage which is something that would definitely be helpful for little ones too.

Blonde wood and built-in storage makes for a dorm room that's anything but boring. 

Photo by Robert Rieger

6. Allow teens  to express themselves with flair

Let teens get involved in their own decor choices— just install lots of extra shelving to keep things off the floor and in the right place. 

This teen bedroom sports skull wallpaper and portraits of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and Colonel Sanders.

Courtesy of The Modern House

7. Use muted tones but still keep it colorful

Keeping neutral colors is a great way to ensure that the room can grow up smoothly with your little ones as their preferences change. Use toys and other colored items to boost playfulness in the space. 

In this playroom, custom millwork stores toys and books, and serves as a media console in front of the couch. The designers also added a daybed below the windows.

Photo by Hanna Grankvist

8. Get inspired by artistic themes

This surrealist style playroom has artistic visual appeal and also provides a fun space for kids to relax and play. 

Seen here is a wooden EZ Play Jungle Gym and a window that looks into the family's pool.

Photo by Christopher Dibble

9. Turn extra space around the house into a play area

A flexible loft space at the top of the stairs doubles as a sleeping area and playroom when the curtain is closed.

Skylights and punched window openings allow for lots of natural light and bright green accents add diversity to the neutral tones.

Photo by Tess Kelly

10. Build in play cubbies

Kids love climbing and they especially love secret hideouts. Why not build one in above the closet for a bit of extra fun?

 A hideout nook gives your child some privacy and is stylish to boot—built-in and seamless.

Photo: Rafael Soldi

11. Compliment bold patterns with muted tones

This shared girls room keeps things cohesive with matching patterns with differed colors. 

The neutrality of the muted pink wall grounds all of the vibrant colors and patterns.

Courtesy of Alex Zarour, Virtually Here Studios


12. Keep things simple

It is very easy to overdo things in the nursery, especially if baby is your first. But sometimes less really is more. 

Keep the nursery calm and serene for both mom and babe with cozy grays and earthy neutrals.

Courtesy of Steph Hegerty

13. Use pegboards for flexibility

Pegboards are a trendy favorite that don’t take up space, while also allowing for a dynamic way to change up your space anytime. 

This peg board holds shelving with toys, artwork, and other items.

Photo: Ye Rin Mok

14. Give kids a bit of privacy

Kids love a hideaway!  "They’re built-ins, but we didn’t want them to look like built-ins," says firm principal Ritchie Yao. "They’re more like stacked boxes."

This raised storage creates a perfect human-sized cubby for quiet time alone and a cozy sleeping space. In this room, designer Dash Marshall designed a platform bed and multiple storage units, accented with red lacquer and arranged in a playful way.

Photo by Mark Wickens

15. Use bold accents

This bedroom for three keeps things exciting with bold accents from the walls, to the beds, to the floors. 

As long as colors are complimentary, don’t be afraid to add in funky patterns and bright colors!

Photo by Marke Johnson

16. Breakout from traditional styled bunk beds

Not only do bunk beds provide extra functional space, but they can be a fun and unique way to change up a room. 

This bunkbed by CasaKids has fun peep holes and a side staircase.

Photo by Mariko Reed

17. Use knits

A bit of cottagecore is a trendy aesthetic that can add character to any room. 

The brightly colored bed spread and rug bring this painted white room to life.

Courtesy of BoutiqueHomes

18. Loft kids spaces

 Make space for the kids in a tiny home by taking advantage of tall ceilings and lofts

"Having the double loft really created a lot of sleeping space for our kids—we have two double beds and two single beds up there," tiny house homeowner Jorie says.

Photo: Petra Ford

19. Separate private spaces with tall storage

Because each bedroom in this house has outdoor access, it’s important to keep the children’s sleeping space private. 

The homeowners here used tall storage for shoes and coats to create a hallway effect to the door.

Photo by Bruce Damonte

20. Install play netting

In this tower home, just off of the living room, is the children’s study.  Floor to ceiling shelving provides maximum storage.

On the upper level, Oxley netting forms a web for the kids and their friends to sit and read, with views of the leafy street and garden.

Photo: Peter Bennetts

21. Use custom bunk beds as statement furniture

This spacious bedroom takes on mid-century modern flare with custom bunk beds that accent the large room while keeping ground space open for play.

Custom bunk beds are a great way to maximize space in an otherwise small room. 

Photo by David Archer

Related Reading:

16 Delightful Kids’ Room Ideas You’ll Definitely Want to Steal

Published

Last Updated

LikeComment

Roundups