When designing a child’s bedroom, finding the balance between creating a calming environment that encourages sleep, while also adding elements of fun and personality, can feel like a daunting task.

We see this as an opportunity to create an immersive space that sparks imagination, encourages fun, and helps little ones drift off to sleep with thoughts of adventure dancing in their heads.

Where to Start...

Let’s begin with a peek at my moodboard for my own son’s bedroom.

When I sat down to design his space, I identified a few key changes I wanted to make - ways to utilise an unusually shaped room and incorporate design elements I knew he’d love.

Enter our Allotment bedding - his favourite of our designs and one he watched come to life, from initial sketches to finished products. It was the perfect starting point.

Choosing a Colour Palette.

You may already be familiar with the 60-30-10 rule: 60% for your main colour, 30% for a secondary, and 10% for an accent. While this is a fantastic foundation, don’t be afraid to break the rules a little - especially in a child’s room where we want to keep things playful.

For this moodboard, I chose to keep the walls neutral, used green tones for the 30% secondary colour, and added accents of orange and navy to tie in with the Allotment bedding.

This palette achieved one of my main goals: to create a fun space that could grow with my son. The bedding added that fun touch, while the combination of wood, greens, and navy allowed for a moodboard that could transition with him as he grows.

Choosing Furniture That Grows with Your Child.

Next, think about what the room needs to do: Is it purely for sleeping? Will it double as a play space? Do you do specific activities like reading before bed?

Once you’ve identified those needs, you can choose suitable furniture and begin creating zones that support each one.

My son’s room has quite an awkward shape - I actually love that! - but it can be a challenge when deciding how to use the space well.

I knew I needed:

• A space for sleeping
• A space for playing
• A cosy space to encourage reading
• Storage

Let’s start with the bed - usually the biggest item aside from the wardrobe. When choosing something this substantial, consider its future use: Will it suit your child as they become a teenager? Could it work for a sibling later on? Is the style timeless enough to adapt to future decor changes?

Personally, I find wood to be a timeless material. It goes in and out of fashion, but always comes back around - and its tones tend to work with almost any colour palette.

The same goes for larger pieces like wardrobes and drawers. Thanks to modern furniture paints, almost any surface can be refreshed with a simple lick of paint. That’s why it’s worth investing in sturdy, quality furniture that will stand the test of time - you can always get creative later if you want to switch up the colour scheme.

Once the "big ticket" items are in place, the bones of the room will start to take shape. Now it's time to add key pieces that make the room functional for the other zones.

Creating a space to encourage reading.

We wanted plenty of space to display books - ideally forward-facing to encourage independence. We’ll be using our Nestie Signature bookshelves; their timeless design makes them perfect for every stage of childhood, right through to adulthood. (We even have them in our kitchen, so they really do suit any age or room in the house!)

To go alongside the bookshelves, we want to add a comfy spot for reading. This is the perfect opportunity to bring a little magic into the room - think dens, canopies, floor cushions, or modular sofas. Creating a dedicated reading area helps your child associate that space with calm, imagination, and stories.

A Space for Play.

For the play zone, something as simple as a rug or play mat can work wonders. It visually defines the space and also adds texture and colour to a room.

We didn’t want an overwhelming play environment - ultimately, this is a bedroom, so sleep takes priority. That’s where toy rotation comes in. Displaying just a few toys and swapping them out regularly keeps things exciting without creating clutter or overstimulation - the perfect way to include toys in a space that needs to be multi-purpose

The Sleep Zone — The Most Important One.

Creating a sleep-friendly space can be tricky when a room serves multiple functions. But children, like adults, thrive with consistency and the right environment.

Think about what makes you sleep better - fresh sheets, the right temperature, no light - it’s the same for our little ones!

Because of this, there are two areas I'd really recommend investing in: bedding and blackout blinds or curtains.

Light - whether natural or artificial - affects melatonin production, which is the hormone that helps us fall asleep. A dark room signals to the body that it’s time to rest and can even improve sleep quality.

And don’t forget, curtains or blinds are another great opportunity to add texture, colour, or pattern into the design.

As for bedding, synthetic materials can actually disrupt sleep. Good quality cotton or linen bedding helps regulate body temperature - keeping kids cool in summer and cosy in winter. 

Finishing Touches.

Once the core of the room is in place, it’s time for those personal details - the fun part!

Clever design allows for accessories to change over time, without needing to redecorate completely. Keeping your walls and larger pieces neutral means you can swap out accessories as your child’s interests evolve.

Consider things like:

• Interchangeable prints
• Toys that can be displayed 
• Tasteful character art from small businesses (Etsy is a goldmine!)
• Books 

All items that can be loved but easily changed over the years as your child grows. 

And finally… have fun with it! You can absolutely design a room that fits beautifully within your home’s aesthetic while still being a place your child will love and enjoy spending time in. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and play with colour and ideas.

If you try any of these tips, we’d love to see what you create! Tag us @nestieuk and share what you get up to!

Mood board: 1. Oak Signature book shelf - Nesite. 2. Kendra Woodrose roman blind-  Hillarys. 3. Navy ticking stripe fabric - EBay. 4. Allotment Line bedding - Nestie. 5. Scallop stripe wallpaper green - Munks & Me. 6. My Calendar - Moon picnic. 7. Allotment fitted sheet - Nestie. 8. Pure wool scallop rug, Myrtle green - John Lewis.