Childs Play

Childrens’ bedrooms can be the most fun rooms in a home to decorate – these beautiful neutral tones and classic accessories will keep the room styled to perfection from the baby years to pre-teen.

Rock it

The Rocky by Magis is an interpretation of the classic rocking horse, with a silhouette and style that fits seamlessly into modern homes. A gliding mechanism hidden inside the base causes this cutie to slide back and forth smoothly, with foot holders, a moulded saddle and reins.
Rocky by Magis, $1911, ECC.

Hang time

Kids love nooks that create a special feeling of secrecy, surprise and intrigue. This hanging rattan chair adds a sense of adventure and creates a comfortable cocooning space kids will be keen to hang out in. It also adds scale and detail to the vertical wall space rather than lots of little furniture low to the ground.
Rattan Pod Chair, $975, Tea Pea.

 

Secret garden

Painted from her studio in Wānaka, Catherine Throne’s paintings of unruly gardens filled with rambling flowers capture connection to nature and creativity of spirit. She says, “I am most drawn to parts of the garden that are slightly overgrown and ramshackle where the audacious unruly spirit of nature is left to ramble.”
Katharine Throne artworks, POA, Sanderson Gallery.

Learning centre

You don’t want your child to feel like they’re taking a test, but their room should be a natural learning environment, too. Books, maps, globes, wall charts or musical instruments look great on display and can be fun educational tools. These oversized dice made from scented cedar are a fun addition as stools, sculptures or surfaces for creative play.
Dadone Stool by Riva 1920, from $2400, Matisse.

Happy bedtimes  

Bed linen is a great way to set a theme in a kids’ room and can be updated as they grow. This wildflower-inspired duvet cover has a subtle colour palette and is made from soft, natural fibres. Add a luxe velvet pillow and a throw to turn the bed into a focal point.
Wildflower duvet cover, $309 and velvet cushion, $59.90 (cover only), Citta.

Light it up

If you only have downlights in the kids’ rooms, hire an electrician to add pendant light wiring. Pendant lights play a double-duty role in bedrooms – they provide an ambient light and can be clustered to create imaginative formations. These cloud-like clusters add a dreamy effect to a bedroom.
73.3 pendant by Boci, $6072 for a cluster of three, ECC.

Hop to it

Look for furniture designs that have timeless appeal yet playful features. These chairs feature cute, asymmetrical ear-like shapes reminiscent of a rabbit that contribute a youthful vibe to any kids’ room.
Armless chair by Maruni, from $945, Matisse.

Curves ahead

This curved headboard adds softness and a playful vibe, plus gives a bedroom a more layered, sophisticated look and feel. An upholstered finish creates a soft foundation for activities including resting, reading and playtime.
Curved headboard $1799.99, A&C Homestore.

Hit the wall

This gingham watercolour design from Holden Décor’s Dream Catcher Collection is a gorgeous choice for a girl’s room – the hand painted look is softer than traditional gingham, and the neutral colour palette will evolve with her style for years to come.
Watercolour gingham wallpaper, $127 per roll, The Inside.

Take a seat

Martino Gamper designed this clever stool with its faceted angles back in 2006, and it has since become a design staple thanks to the versatility of the molded plastic shape and the extensive collection of colours on offer.
Anoldino Stool, $165, Everyday Needs.

Bear necessity

The Doudou teddy bear by Louis Vuitton was originally designed by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Spring/Summer collection – the original bears are now rare collector’s items. Featuring monogrammed velour fabric and a leather necklace, this designer bear is an investment piece that be handed down for generations to come – if you ever let it go!
Doudou Teddy Bear, $3300, Louis Vuitton.

Stash in style

Placing an ottoman at the end of the bed is not only a practical storage solution, it also creates a seating and styling opportunity. This upholstered storage ottoman features a curved front, elegant button detailing, and comes in a range of fabrics you can customise to your home décor.
Crescent ottoman, $1465, Coco Republic.