7 Decorating Tips and Rug Ideas for Your Kid’s Room

Parents know best. But when it comes to decorating their kid’s room, whether it’s the nursery, bedroom, or playroom, it’s always wise to do a little research and pick up an idea or two from the pros. 

To take the guesswork out of styling your child’s private space, we spoke with kids’ room design expert and founder of YouthfulNest, Lisa Janvrin. Here are her decorating tips and a few rug ideas:

Tip #1: Yes, you can redecorate your kids’ room, regardless of your budget.

“I hear parents feeling stressed about their small design budget. They don’t believe they can realize a complete room design, or make small improvements, on a humble budget so they wind up putting it off. 

Almost any product trend or color you see out there is available at every price point. You can find what works for your dollars and style from all kinds of stores, from Walmart to Restoration Hardware. We also encourage parents to reuse items they already own, maybe those that are even in other areas of their homes.”

Tip #2: Stick to one inspiration or theme.

“The second biggest problem parents have is sticking to one style or inspiration. There is an unbelievable amount of visual inspiration on social media, from Instagram to Pinterest, that the process becomes overwhelming. That was my biggest challenge when designing my son’s nursery. So when we work with a client, we look to hone in on and stick to one style.”

Tip #3: Consider your child’s age, needs, and interests.

“Whether you’re decorating a boy’s room or a girl’s room, consider the functionality your child wants or needs to have in his or her room, whether that be for studying or homeschooling, sleeping, crafting, getting ready, etc. You need to find the right furnishings and décor to make the room a place they will want to spend time in. 

We also suggest that the décor reflect a child’s current age and interests, maybe even skewing a bit more mature in a way that builds confidence. That might simply mean stripping the bed of cartoonish-looking bed sheets—or the wall of babyish art—and replacing them with a more sophisticated design in the same motif or subject of their interest. Both the bedding and wall art are good examples of affordable and easy décor upgrades that impact a child on an emotional level.”

Tip #4: When redecorating a child’s room, timing is key.

“A child’s room should make them feel happy and confident. A good time to update a child’s room décor is in the summer or around back-to-school time. This prepares them not just physically with new clothes but emotionally with a new or refreshed environment. Another obvious time is around a birthday.”

Tip #5: Shop like a pro.

“These days, online shopping has become more catering to the consumer needs that retailers are making swatches and samples more commonly available to anyone. You no longer have to be a designer. If you don’t see samples offered on the product page of an online retailer, ask their customer service representative if they offer them. You can take the swatches with you to local stores to see how things will look together.”

Tip #6: Don’t do it all at once.

“Whether you’re redesigning an entire room or simply giving it some new life, starting with one major accent piece is a good idea. For example, nail down the wallpaper, bedding or that perfect kids rug. Then, you can layer in the other items as you find them. Maybe it’s that cool piece of wall art you see at the summer art festival or that bookshelf you love finally went on sale! Don’t feel like you have to do it all at once.” 

Tip #7: Get washable kids rugs!

“As far as style and functionality, selecting a machine-washable kids’ rug is one of our favorite things to present to a client in their kid’s room design. They are still a relatively new product so parents are amazed at this feature and are starting to ask for them. 

Whether you’re looking for a rug for a girls’ room or a boys’ room rug, Ruggable’s Kids’ Rug Collection has the perfect amount of whimsy and color choices, like the Constellation Rug (available in pink, lavender, and navy) and the Polka-Star Rug. The organic star pattern is fun, but the color palettes are more sophisticated, which can go from toddler bedroom to teen room. Another favorite of ours is the Multi Stripe Rug. This design brings in color to a space with a simple, easy-on-the-eyes pattern—perfect for a room with more ornate or elaborate decor. 

To be fair, we use a lot of non-kid rugs. For example, the Ruggable geometric and bohemian rug designs are wildly popular in youth spaces. We also love your Metro Rug, Tessera Rug, and Buffalo Plaid Rug (buffalo plaid is a trending pattern right now.) From the Bohemian collection, Kilim Batik Rug is super stylish and perfect for rounding out our most popular kid’s room designs in a boho or eclectic style.”

READERS: Any other tips on how to decorate your kids’ rooms on a budget? Share it with us in the comments section below!