Tapping into boys' bedroom ideas that meet their daily needs and match their personalities too are, perhaps surprisingly, totally within reach.
Even if the rest of your home is a tranquil oasis of calming neutrals, and your son's desire for a bright red room is strong, there are lots of creative kids' bedroom ideas to put into play so that you can find balance and decorate in a way that appeals to them and that gets your seal of approval also.
Boys bedroom ideas that boast style and function
'Bedrooms are personal to everyone, no matter our age or the amount of time we spend in them. To make a boy's room appealing and somewhere they feel safe and comfortable, it's important to personalize the room as much as possible,' says Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla Online Interior Design.
As any parent will know, kids tend to have a lot of stuff, and it's all (usually) integral to their development. Banishing the nerf guns or the lego isn't really an option, so you've got to create enough space for adequate toy storage to keep the space practical and stylish. Plenty of closed storage is essential for hiding away the less-cute toys, and keeping the space clutter-free and always ready for playtime.
And of course, the age of your child(ren) makes a huge difference to how you should approach their decor. If they're younger, we'd always recommend of course getting your basic bones of the room, like kids' beds, perfect, but then choosing a scheme that you can easily and cheaply update as they grow older and their tastes change.
1. Go for nautical blues and whites for a timeless look
You can't go wrong with a classic color combo and blue and white is one that's sure to take them from toddler to teen. It's worth investing in the best kids' bedding for this style as well as the other essentials that can tie in with the look. The motto 'buy once, buy well,' very much applies to your kid's carpet, window dressings, and furniture, so invest in failsafe colors that they won't suddenly find 'babyish' when they're 7 years old! This is not only better for your wallet, but it's better for the planet too.
If you consider yourself to be the hostess with the mostess, and you love nothing more than having a house full of kids having fun, but you don't have a guest bedroom, a bed with a built-in pull-out mattress is a great idea. It means you don't have the faff of blow-up beds, and you can easily home last-minute guests.
2. Get creative with paint for a striking statement
If you want a fun and creative design for your boys' bedroom on a tiny budget, get your paintbrush at the ready and consider a creative wall paint idea! You can buy tester pots of paint for next-to-nothing. Use painter's tape to mark out a design and paint on a clashing color. Depending on the shades you're using, you may need two coats. When you gently peel away the masking tape, you'll have a striking look that your kids will be proud to show off to their friends.
3. Maximize space with built-ins
'Kids' rooms are always smaller in size than the primary bedroom in a home. Because of this, it's important to take advantage of vertical wall space. Wall shelving systems are a must and working with units that offer both open and closed components makes all the difference, as you can quickly hide clutter and also showcase your child's favorite interests with various decor elements,' says Shaffer.
Built-in shelves, cabinets and even a desk are great ways to save space in a boys' bedroom and make the most of every inch you have. The clever design above includes both open and closed shelving and a window seat, making it the go-to area for working, relaxing and storage. While built-ins can come with a hefty price tag, you can create the look for a lot less by doing DIY! This DIY 'built-in' desk and Ikea closet hack are perfect examples of ways you can easily get the look and practicality at a much lower cost.
If you've two boys sharing a room bunk beds are a no-brainer and will allow you to free up so much floor space, giving them more room for playing.
3. Divide and conquer
If your son wants a bright color on his walls but calming neutrals are more your vibe, compromise with literally half and half! Draw a horizontal line around your room, apply painter's tape for a perfect finish and paint his bold shade on the bottom (away from your eyeline!) and your neutral shade on the top. Not only is this the perfect compromise, but it looks fun and stylish too. These Wayfair kids desks are perfect for little ones, and if yours are older, teenage desk ideas are the ones for you.
4. Choose a day bed for a multi-functional space
If you're struggling for space in your boy's bedroom, give his bed an extra purpose by choosing a day bed. This means you can prop up cushions along the back so that by day it can become a sofa for him and his friends to play and read on. Then at night, simply take the cushions away and his bed is ready. This wooden and metal industrial style bed is perfect for this space and gives and cool and more grown-up edge to the room.
5. Create a fun feature with color blocking
If there's one room in the home where color blocking works especially well, it's in a boy's room. Choose the best paints for kids' rooms, and let your imagination run wild with how you use them. We love this creative idea of forming a colorful striped background for a gallery wall. This creates a statement centerpiece in the room for the rest of your scheme to work around.
6. Create an out-of-this-world celestial scheme
If you have a boy who goes crazy for comets and craters, then create a scheme that he'll be starstruck by. Start by covering the wall with planets, the moon and intergalactic-inspired artwork. Glow-in-the-dark stickers and LED lights can create a constellation of stars too for an accent. Glow in the dark space wall decals available at Amazon are a total steal and used tastefully, they won't look tacky either.
Then orbit around online shops and in-store retailers to find soft furnishings for this space. Think purple galaxy-themed bedding or asteroid grey accessories. And, for a vintage bedroom idea, add 80's inspired arcade memorabilia. We think Space Invaders would suit this scheme.
And if your guy loves a little sparkle, nod to sprinkles of biodegradable glitter on the wall here and there too, sure to bring the room to life. So if you love your boy to the moon and back, create a spectacular space that's his own.
7. Integrate a sporting hobby into his interiors
If you want an inspirational interior that lasts longer than the game itself, it's time to make some substitutions to your existing boy's bedroom space.
Revamp your boy's bedroom wall decor affordably with bright wall paint and stencils. Be sure to choose washable paint so that any scuffs and scribbles can be easily removed. If painting's not for you, try a wall mural for a similar look!
This leather sofa is perfectly placed to divide up the room into sleeping and relaxing zones.
Top tip – swap a boring clothes storage idea for high school style lockers and replace hangers with cloakroom hooks to complete a scheme like this.
8. Create a bold monochromatic scheme
Think black bedroom ideas are boring? Think again. This minimalist scheme is bang on trend and ages well with your young man.
By incorporating geometric shapes and organic patterns, you can create a design-led look that keeps on giving. As shown in this space, drip designs aren't just for cakes. So get the boy involved with this simple but statement den design. Or, for a more spontaneous and undone look, paint splatters work just as well.
Keep it simple with these two colors or add a vibrant hue for an interior space with impact. Think of a monochromatic boys' bedroom idea as a chameleon that can evolve as your boy gets older.
9. Create a powerful superhero wall mural
Keen to add kapow to your boy's bedroom decor? Then use your superhero skills to paint a simple wall mural. Start off by using a bold primary color like blue as your foundation, and add black buildings and other iconic comic strip characteristics.
But don't be discouraged if freehand sketching is your arch rival. Because stencils and stickers can be your secret weapon. So add wow-factor to this space with loud lettering, zig-zag motifs and all the onomatopoeia. That sounds like 'bang', 'crash' and 'boom' to you and I.
10. Go wild with a printed wallpaper design
If you've got a little cub who's roaring mad for animals, then incorporating a safari theme into a boy's bedroom scheme is the way to go.
There are so many innovative ways to introduce wildlife into this space but printed children's wallpaper is one of the easiest. By looking out for stick-on adhesive solutions, you can simply peel this off once your young have grown up and out of it.
Create your own Noah's ark-style bedding on a budget by sourcing off-cuts of wood to add to your bed frame. To style, add earthy mustard and terracotta soft furnishings to warm up this space.
11. Get them involved with the color scheme
The easiest place to start when planning a boy's bedroom is with the color scheme. It's something you can both decide on together and will dictate a lot of the design decisions so it's good to decide on colors first.
When it comes to paint ideas for kids' bedrooms, you don't want to be repainting the room every month as your kid's favorite color changes. But do consider what colors they are loving right now and bring them in splashes – like with the yellow in this bedroom.
Note that all the walls are kept fresh and white, the perfect neutral backdrop for adding in other colors as your kid's tastes change. And painting the ceiling is a great tip as it means the color isn't as dominant as it would be on all four walls, plus it's playful to have a colorful ceiling.
12. Make playtime the focus with a fun theme
Most boys' bedrooms double up as a playroom, so make toys and fun the focus from the off. Keep toys accessible at kid-level, and plan quirky things into your decor like this cute rug that replicates grass and the wallpaper that continues that outdoor theme.
You want the space to feel like a little refuge for your kid, a place they can escape to that will allow their imagination to run wild.
13. DIY a cool kid-approved bed
Who (including us grown-ups) wouldn't love to have this cute kids' bed in their room? It's like a playhouse and a treehouse but in their bedroom and they get to sleep in it every night!
Not only does it look fab, but it also gives them a sense of privacy too, a place to go and read or play, where they feel like they have their own space. Plus you can decorate it to suit their tastes, changing it up as they grow. If you feel like a DIY option, try your hand at building a loft bed.
14. Get the bed up off the floor
This is such a cool boy's bedroom idea for when they are a little older, and the idea of having your bed essentially on the ceiling is brilliant as opposed to terrifying. In this kid's room, the bed is built above the wardrobes, with a ladder taking you up to the sleep space.
It creates such a cool cozy nook, and it's perfect for smaller rooms because you don't need to cram in both a bed and storage, you get both in one, leaving more floor space for play!
15. Make a cute gallery wall
A gallery wall is a fun and easy way to bring more pattern into a boy's bedroom no matter what their age. It's a lovely way to get the things your kids love out and on show – frame their favorite books, movies, quotes, photos, anything you can hang on a wall get it up there.
Combine a busy wall with a muted color scheme for a finish that feels fun and child-like but still serene enough to get the adults' stamp of approval.
16. Create a cool industrial feel with gray
Decorating a teenage boy's bedroom? Lucky you. The key is to just keep everything feeling nice and neutral and then they can go to town adding their own touch with the decor. Gray is always going to be a safe color to go with, it's cool, classic and will suit whatever vibe your boy wants to create in his space.
Hang some floating shelves for them to adorn their vinyls or retro games consoles or whatever it is they are into that makes you feel ancient, and pick out furniture that adds to the steely, gray, industrial feel.
17. Add a mural to a boy's bedroom
Murals are such a fun way to add a bit of excitement to a boys room. Picking something nature-inspired like this forest scene gives this room an adventurous feel and will stimulate all those creative senses.
Plus, this is a great look for a smaller bedroom too, as it turns a blank wall into essentially a massive window that creates the illusion of more space – a brilliant small kid's bedroom idea.
18. Use prints and toys to add personality
This boy's bedroom is so fun and creative – it feels like a child lives there, which is so important when designing your space. Let your style have some input but remember the room has to be kid-friendly too.
Make sure some of their toys are always on show or easily accessible, baskets and shelving are stylish toy storage ideas that do the job.
'Utilize all the vertical space in your boy's room. Tall storage cabinets and shelving that mount on the wall are a really good use of space and will take up less floor space,' says Andra DelMonico, lead interior designer at Trendey. These shelves are a great way to display his personality whilst saving the precious floor print of the room for playing.
19. Mix fun prints and patterns into a neutral scheme
Anyone else a little bit jealous of this boy's bedroom? Minus the giant toy octopus and shark plushy, we reckon we could go for this room. This is the perfect example of how to design a boy's bedroom that's neutral, and so has longevity, but still feels fun and creative.
The mix of funky leopard print bedding with the blue and the sea theme is just right for a child's room, but you could easily change up the accessories to create a whole new look as your kid gets older.
20. Get your storage spot on
No matter what their age or style, you are going to need plenty of storage ideas for kid's rooms to keep on top of clutter.
'When planning a bedroom for children you need to think of the various types of storage needed, who the space will be designed for and how the space will be used.' explains Medina King, creative director of MK Kids Interiors.
'The age of the child will play a major role in the types of storage and use. Children ages 0 - 2 will need clothes and book storage, you will also need to consider a changing area, comfortable seating and a side table for bottles, wipes, etc,' she continues.
'Ages 2 - 7, will need storage for toys, consider role-play toys, such as shops, trucks, and dolls. Primary school children are also keen on sleepovers and extra beds should be considered when designing. Older children will need more book storage, as well as a desk for studying, as well as more clothes storage.'
21. Create a fruity feature out of stickers
How sweet is this orange print? It feels so fresh and fun paired with the vivid blue of the fireplace.
Adding a single wall of a cute whimsical stickers can instantly liven up your space and give you a color scheme to base the rest of the room around. Plus, they're not too tricky to remove in a couple of years should you and your child want to redecorate.
22. Or go bold with wallpaper on all four walls
The jungle theme is just a classic, and choosing a tropical print wallpaper idea for all four walls is instantly going to a fun feel in a bedroom. Continue the theme in the rest of the room by adding animal motifs, more splashes of green and a cozy rug to soften up the space.
23. Use a tipi to create a den-like space
If you have the room, adding a tipi to a younger boy's bedroom creates an instant den for them to crawl into and play in by day, or read in at night.
They have a fun den-like feel, like they are on a camp out in their own bedroom. They also make for some great sneaky storage for toys that you pick up throughout the day.
24. Bring in a chair to create a reading nook
As your boy gets older, he might want a place to sit and read with you or by himself away from his bed.
Adding a little reading nook with a soft sidelight and plenty of cozy cushions gives him that dedicated space to sit and focus – plus it gives you a spot to perch to read before bedtime too.
What should I design my boy's bedroom?
What you should include in a boy's bedroom will depend on the age. 'Toddlers will have different needs to pre-schoolers and teenagers hence it’s generally easier to plan for older children as you know their needs and preferences. But a play corner is always a good idea to keep the little ones occupied. This can later turn into a reading corner and eventually perhaps a TV/ computer area,' says Joanna Landais founder of Eklektik Studio.
'The sleeping area is also important, in particular its proximity to radiators. This is especially important for babies and toddlers as the little ones can easily overheat. Also window treatment and black-out options will give you an extra hour of sleep in the summer months and an extra layer of insulation in winter,' Landais continues.
'Lastly, storage - ideally open and closed as toys will be coming in all shapes and sizes from small stackable toys to chunky Nerf Guns at 6+. Having accessible storage is also important so children can learn to entertain themselves and hopefully tidy up at the end of playtime.'
How can I decorate my 8 year old boys room?
'If they are old enough, why not sit down with them and discuss what theme, color or style they would like to go for? If they love space, have an astronaut-themed room! Or if they love animals, choose cute safari room accessories,' says Amy Stansfield at Wallsauce.
'Once they've chosen their theme, you can take the reins and decide how to make it stylish. Stick to more neutral shades and avoid bright reds, greens etc,' she continues.
What colors should I use in a boys bedroom?
'When deciding on colors, start outside of the bedroom,' says Joanna Landais founder of Eklektik Studio. 'As with any interior planning, a child’s bedroom should create part of a cohesive scheme throughout the house. Whether the house is decorated in Scandinavian or bohemian style.'
'Then, consider your key pieces– bed, desk and storage solutions and think carefully about the amount of storage you will need in years ahead. Once you know your dimensions, think of a layout and how it will work best for your child, their own playtime, play dates and sleepovers.'