Creative Colour Palette Ideas for Every Kids’ Room

Forest green paint enlivens this room with a bold, outdoorsy vibe. Applying it to just the lower portion is a graphic alternative to all-over coverage. It pops even more thanks to the savvy choice of accent colours – vibrant reds feel energetic, and dramatic black makes a strong statement. We love layering an area rug over wall-to-wall carpeting, and this one is charged with contrast and pattern. The black-and-red checked blanket recalls a classic lumber jacket and reinforces the fresh outdoor feel. See here for the full home tour.

This eclectic nursery

is surrounded in sensory delights, most notably its mural wall. Abstract mountain ranges in a standout palette (not many would mix navy and orange) transform an otherwise ordinary room into an extraordinary space for a little one. The daring combination works well and becomes even more interesting thanks to well-chosen accessories that play up the eclectic shades. The crib blanket and rug in particular repeat the scheme, and navy furniture and drapes further the continuity.

All kids love animals, so what could be more ideal than a safari-inspired bedroom? This one by vegan blogger Angela Liddon ticks all the design boxes, delighting little ones with a menagerie of friends and appealing to adults with its grown-up style. The whimsical wall treatment would work just as well in other rooms in the house, as would the chandelier, area rug, ottoman and on-trend potted plant. The framed artwork is sweetly kid-centric, while the room’s neutral tones will grow with baby.

This white nursery has such a fresh and colourful presence thanks solely to rainbow-hued accessories – an idea anyone can steal to transform a room. A busy blue-and-white rug sets the tone and is a punchy backdrop to artwork casually propped up on the floor. The green shelf punctuates the space and displays more colour-coded toys and knick-knacks. A simple garland of flags acts like art when strung above the crib and is masterfully complemented by the patchwork quilt. Here’s a full tour of this tiny heritage bungalow.

There’s something freshly glamorous about this combination of coral and green – a preferred preppy palette. And though this is a girl’s room, adults could easily imagine it for their own. Colour is introduced mainly with fabric, which is an easy way to transform any room and also satiate the ever-changing moods of children. Swapping out the cushions and quilt changes the look in a snap, whether seasonally or for a teenage whim. The contrast of girly florals and bold stripes keeps the look edgy.

Just as girly as pink but not as expected, orange strikes an energetic note in this teenager’s bedroom (take the grand tour of this eclectic West Coast home). Once again a white backdrop is brought to life with furnishings that are off the colour charts. Layering in soft blue to the mix is eclectic and in keeping with the playful pendant light. And while the butterfly mobile and artwork would look great almost anywhere, they really jump out here against the white walls.

This boys’ room channels a boutique hotel thanks to its smart use of colour and fabric. Matching cushions and drapes evoke a tailored feel – very masculine – and the repetition of emerald green, from the focal wall to the blankets, looks at once boyish and grown up. We love the way the grey of the duvets is repeated in the shade of the bedside lamp, and also how it picks up on the grain in the flooring. When thinking boys’ room – forget blue and go green!

This whimsical nursery

proves that black and white can be wonderfully sweet. While minimal and monochromatic aren’t synonymous with a room for baby, maybe they should be. The whimsical letter wallpaper – we love how the letters look like they were drawn with chalk – is adorable and echoed in the fun area rug. Sleek black pieces, from the furniture to the pendant lamp, pull the space together while lively patterned bedding keep things informal and fun.

Is this the bedroom of a boy, a girl or a grown-up? Because this colour scheme is so well done, it defies categorization so we don’t really know and it doesn’t really matter – it just looks fantastic. The timeless appeal of red, white and blue is on show in the stars and stripes bedding, and encapsulates one of the best design tricks: keep the walls light and add colour in fabrics. The washed blue of the duvet is complemented in the navy stripes on the stool. The black-accented metallic side table – a complete departure from the natural fibres of the bedding and stool – injects just the right amount of contrast. We like how the lamp and black picture frame play up on this.