How to Transition a Nursery to Toddler Room

Good-bye crib, hello big bed! Now that you’ve sprung your kid from sleep-time jail, it’s time to think about tweaking the space to fit your child’s growing needs. That means out with the change table, and in with the mini desk. Here’s some other toddler room ideas to get you started.

HGTV Canada

1 / 10

Replace the Crib

If your child is climbing out of the crib as stealthily as Spider-Man it’s time for a big bed. A Montessori-style set-up has the mattress right on the floor and is fun for story-time, since you can just plop and cuddle with a book. A higher bed is also a great choice, since it grows with your child. Add a bed rail for safety. The fire-engine red one shown here is cutely coordinated by Samantha Pynn of Save My Reno. Even the clumsiest parent can handle painting a letter A on canvas!

The Blush Home

2 / 10

Add a Cozy Factor

Moving into a bed is freeing and sometimes scary. Kids love nooks and crannies in which to burrow beaver-style. Follow Megan’s lead from The Blush Home and create a cozy little tent by draping a canopy safely from the ceiling – there should be no cords. Add piles of pillows, too, and stuffies for cuddling.

Minted

3 / 10

Create a Gallery Wall

Now that your child is old enough to appreciate artwork (sort of), it’s time to have some fun. A gallery wall is ideal – the wonkier the better. So what if everything isn’t perfectly aligned or the frames don’t match? (Unlike this vignette from Minted, which is admittedly perfect.) Just go for it! Recruit your kid to choose pieces he or she loves; maybe even artwork by your own little artist.

Angus Fergusson

4 / 10

Redo the Walls

So, you went soft and safe with the nursery walls, did you? Now it’s time to get bold and bright. In this children’s bedroom, by Dart Studio, a colour-blocked wall made up of olive green, grey, white, navy and cerulean blue, makes an exquisite backdrop. Choose any colour that you fancy. Your kid can help by rolling in the taped sections. Instant fun weekend project!

Little Nests

5 / 10

Add Clever Storage

Creative storage is tricky in a growing toddler’s room – you don’t want it to look too babyish. Perhaps it’s time to switch up the random plastic toy storage. We love this sophisticated design by children’s-room designer Aayushi Jain of Little Nests. This cute cocoon – how amazing is that padded nook? – incorporates hidden storage and open display shelves with soft lighting.

Bunkbed kids' room with striped wallpaper and pink paint

Jules Lee

6 / 10

Bring in a Big-Kid Chair

Kids gravitate to adult-sized furniture. Rethink mini furniture pieces and bring in a hefty chair they can snuggle into. Interior designer Jo Smeeth of INDA Interiors added a plush chair from Gus in her own kids’ bedroom at her lakeside cottage in the Kawarthas. We are also crushing on the bold, juicy wall showcasing Farrow & Ball’s Chromatic Stripe wallpaper. It’s not overwhelming thanks to the solid pink wall beside it.

Jules Lee

7 / 10

Install a Play Zone

If space allows, an art/play area within a bedroom is both functional and adorable. This whimsical room by interior designer Jo Smeeth of INDA Interiors features cheery Ananas by Schumacher wallpaper, simple storage cubbies, a stylish pedestal table with rattan poufs, an easel and even a giant flamingo. Everything is kiddie-height, so that the littles can help themselves.

Muted kids' bedroom with pale dotted wallpaper

Unsplash

8 / 10

Don’t Forget the Reachable Lighting

Nighttime can be a marathon for parents. What, with the last-minute waffle-and-milk requests, and the plea for “one more book!” Add lighting to that mix. Most kids want a Bogey-man-thwarting night light of sorts, so be sure to put one within reach. Let your child control the brightness. This bedroom not only has a table lamp, but also a glowing moon.

Amazon

9 / 10

Set Up a Mini Desk

Having homework is a fact of life as your kid grows. Create a mini office and be sure to choose an ergonomic chair – they’re not just for adults. This medium-sized student chair from Amazon features breathable mesh in a zesty chartreuse that’s instantly happy-making.

Kid on beanbag chair reading with teddy bear and plant

Getty Images

10 / 10

Decorate With Plants

Now that the nursery items such as the baby monitor and change table are no longer, there’s lots more room for decor options. Plants add a wonderful natural element and bright green hue to a room. And they clean the air, which is why it feels so good to be in a lush nursery. Add a pot or two to your kid’s room, but be sure they’re non-toxic. Kids (and pets) are known for sampling the strangest things, like the sand at the playground (delicious with a juice box – not). Opt for a non-toxic plant such as a Boston fern, a spider plant or a Burro’s tail, so whimsical and lovely in a kid’s room. Common toxic plants to avoid include Pothos, English Ivy, snake plants and Philodendron.