For Sleep and Play: 15 Kids' Room Trends for 2021 That'll Have Your Kids Asking to Get Grounded

2020 has found many of us cooped up inside our dwellings and doing our best to shelter-in-place. We’ve had to learn how to re-imagine the existing rooms in our homes to make them more functional for our personal, professional and educational needs, whether we are single or part of a big family. For those of us who have children, one silver lining as we look to 2021 trends is that we’ve discovered how to make kids’ rooms more functional and entertaining spaces. We’re featuring 15 kids’ room trends and kids’ bedroom ideas for 2021 that’ll have your kids asking to get grounded.

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Murals

A fun way to add a big pop of colour and a nice dollop of whimsy to a kid’s room is to put a mural on one of the walls. Whether your child dreams of being an explorer, loves the beach or is a fan of floral designs, there are many beautiful mural options (which could be painted on the wall or applied as wallpaper or wall decals) to choose from.

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Multi-Functional Spaces

2021 will see more kids’ rooms serving as multi-functional spaces that can satisfy entertainment, distance learning and sleeping. With stylish and cleverly designed desks that can fit into the smallest of spaces, your kids will be able to work at a designated time, take a break and then come back to their rooms for rest.

girl jumping on bed in pastel-coloured room

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Perfect Pastels

The use of pastel paint colours will continue to be a popular trend in 2021. What’s great about pastel wall paint is that it tends to be more gender neutral and can be used to inspire both girls’ and boys’ room ideas.

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Modern Lighting

While lighting often gets overlooked (or errs on the side of overly childish or cartoonish designs) in kids’ rooms, 2021 trends will see an emphasis on modern lighting. Consider choosing LED lights shaped in a word, hanging spheres or geometric-shaped lamps.

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Environmentally Conscious

As we are considering ways to improve how we are currently living, we are also adding a more eco-friendly consciousness to the list. With this in mind, 2021 will see more recycled materials being used in kids’ room furniture. From recycled materials created into new products to items that are refurbished and re-imagined, this is a great opportunity to teach kids how recycling and re-using can be incorporated into everyday living.

kids room with metallic accents and white area rug

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Metallics

Another big trend in 2020, metallic accents in golds, silvers and coppers will still be popular for kids’ bedrooms in 2021. To really shine, details like pillows and bedding, wall art or furniture could feature metallic touches in your kids’ room decor.

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Geometric Patterns

While geometric patterns will still be on trend for 2021, the key is to not overdo them in your child’s room. Make use of a striking and bold design, but also limit it to one wall of the bedroom. Pair a few fun accents (such as a bean bag chair or wall frames) in the same colour to bring the whole look of the room together.

family playing in black-and-white playroom

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Nordic Accents

If you have an energetic child, you might consider pitching a Nordic-inspired play tent in their room and letting their imagination run free for hours. The key to creating a Nordic-inspired room is to keep it fresh, bright and airy, and to place an emphasis on textures and natural fabrics.

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Abstract Art

While abstract art may not be as obvious of a choice as an image of a bunny or your kid’s favourite cartoon character, hanging up a beautiful abstract image in a child’s room will open their minds to exploring lively and bright images – while helping to foster the possibility for imagination and their own interpretations. Try asking your child what they see (is it a rainbow, a dragon or a butterfly?), and keep exploring together through abstract art.

child's bedroom with grey and white wallpaper

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Wallpaper Prints

If you’re nervous about paint, wallpaper is a great way to add lots of character to your kids’ room decor. Trends that will still be popular in 2021 include pastel-coloured papers, forest themes and patterns. Textured wallpaper is another great way to add an interesting look to the room that kids will love. You can also think outside the box and add wallpaper to places other than the walls (think shelves, ceilings or even furniture).

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Space Savers

Now that we’re thinking about getting maximum real-estate out of our kids’ rooms, you might want to consider adding a raised bed with a space for a desk and study station underneath. This would be especially helpful for small rooms, and even for shared rooms between siblings.

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Hanging Chairs

How fun is this trend? Safely and securely hanging a comfy chair from the ceiling in your child’s room will create the ultimate cozy spot for them to read, journal at the end of the day or just to hang out… literally!

floral kids bedroom with flower wallpaper and bedding

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Florals

The floral trend is gorgeous for any kids’ room, whether it’s small, delicate printed flowers or big and whimsical flowers. Use floral motifs around a mirror or popping out of the corners of the wall, and you will create an instant secret garden effect. If you’re looking for an alternative to wallpaper, consider using decals that can be easily peeled and applied to any wall.

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Space Themes

Out-of-this-world trends will be strong in the next year, with an emphasis on dark blues and greys, modern furniture and space-themed accents. This type of kids’ room decor trend is a great choice for your little explorer.

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Natural Materials

Natural materials such as wood, wool and cottons will continue to grow in popularity in the coming year, with an emphasis on using less plastics and synthetics in our home spaces. Decorating with items like wood bed frames and desks or wool bedspreads and wall art could make your child’s room the comfortable space they won’t want to leave.