Toddler Room Ideas: How to Convert Your Kid’s Room

Moving into a new season of childhood is a big deal for you and your little one. Toddlers are no longer sleepy, stationary babies and they need a bedroom suited to their evolving interests and abilities. You can make the transition from nursery to toddler room fun by incorporating some of our best toddler bedroom ideas!

Your little one is growing up and it’s time to put together their first “big kid” bedroom. This probably means ditching the crib for a new bed, a change in wall color or decorations, and maybe reorganizing to give them access to new things. You can use these examples to get your design ideas flowing.

1) Start With Simplicity

Don’t overthink it. Keeping things simple in your toddler’s room is a great place to start. Solid colors and minimal room decor are a great base for the room if you’re undecided on a theme. A simple space is less overwhelming for a child who’s still acclimating to their new room, so you may consider maintaining this theme for a while. Neutral tones never go out of style and pair well with your child’s changing interests as they get older.

2) Work With Wall Decals

Adding a design to your child’s bedroom walls with decals gives the room personality. Wall decals are temporary stickers that give you the ability to be creative with patterns and colors without permanence. Let your child choose decals of their favorite character or get them involved in placing the stickers on the wall to help them feel included in the construction of their new room.

3) Bring In the Big Kid Bed

Depending on how old your child is, it might make sense to opt for a twin bed. Your child will be able to sleep in a twin bed far longer than in a toddler bed. The Kids Bed from Nurture& gives you 12 color combination options for a customized look in your kid’s bedroom. A big kid bed can make the transition to a new room easier if this kind of bed is something they’ve been asking for.

4) Decide on a Daybed

A daybed in your child’s room creates a cozy atmosphere. With three tall sides, it can be the perfect transition piece when moving your little one to a twin bed from a crib or toddler bed.

The Daybed from Nurture& offers a modern look in a variety of colors and practical stain-resistant upholstery. You don’t need to sit on the floor when you spend time in your kid’s room. You can comfortably cuddle up with your little one on a daybed for storytime or use it as a seat to relax while you watch them play.

5) Pump Up the Pink …

… or whatever your child’s favorite color is. Picking one color as the focus of the room can give you more flexibility than settling on a character theme. You can incorporate different shapes and textures in your accessories and wall decor, or use multiple shades of the same color to add depth and dimension.

Remember to include at least one contrast color to break up a monochromatic theme. Neutral colors like white, gray, or beige work well with most bold colors.

6) Accent With Animals

Adding animal pictures to the walls works well for a toddler boy or girl. Consider sticking to animals from the same area—like woodland critters or big cats from the savanna—or look for prints in the same media style—like watercolor paintings or photography. You can also find tabletop lamps, decorative pillows, and posable stuffed toys that fit this theme. Animals are a huge hit with most kids and the market is loaded with endless options, so you can really go wild.

7) Create a Boho Style

A  boho-style bedroom creates a calm ambiance. Soft, earthy tones like sand brown, sage green, and steel blue can help you build a relaxing kid’s bedroom. Rattan bedroom furniture and accent pieces also fit the boho style. The neutrality of this kind of room is easily adapted to style changes in the future as your child grows.

If you’ve made it this far, you likely already have your little one sleeping in a toddler bed or you’re about to make the big move soon. Choosing a toddler bed—or twin bed if you prefer—for your child’s room is the number one essential and a great focal point to build their new room around.

You may not need to buy a whole new bed if your little girl or boy has been sleeping in a convertible crib. Cribs that have the option of lowering the mattress and adding guardrails can easily be converted into toddler beds with a few adjustments.

Some young children also do well in a twin bed when safety rails are attached to each side to keep them from rolling out in the night.

After selecting a toddler bed, you can add other elements to the rest of the room that complement the style or color of the bed. Reuse your nursery furniture when you can—you may even be able to repurpose some of your nursery decor.

Look for pieces that fit well with the overall design and have a practical use in the room. Wicker baskets might match the bedroom decor and can serve as toy storage to help the room stay tidy. An area rug can be a comfortable place to sit and add a pop of color to the room.

Here are more toddler bedroom ideas to help you create a space that you and your child will love:

Your big kid has a unique personality and their new bedroom should be a reflection of that. Whether you’re styling a boy’s room or a girl’s room, picking a theme can help all the elements of the design fall into place. The theme of your toddler’s room could center around colors, shapes, characters, or any of your child’s favorite things. Bedding, curtains, and wall art are easier to decide on when you have a theme in mind.

The colors you want to paint the walls or decorate with might be obvious once you choose a theme but keep in mind the other important aspects of home decor.  Darker shades can make a room feel warm and cozy but may make a small space feel cramped. Lighter colors make a room feel more open and bright. Bold colors are best when used on an accent wall. Choose the color scheme that creates the aesthetic you like best.

You can promote a love for reading and learning during these young toddler years. A cozy reading nook near a window with natural light or a floor lamp in the corner of the room can become a space where you and your little one look forward to spending time together. Soft seating and a bookshelf in this area will help keep your reading nook comfortable and organized.

Your toddler’s bedroom doesn’t have to be all about bedtime. Their room can be a place for them to play and create. Adding an art space to the room gives you control of what mediums they have access to while allowing them the independence to be artistic. A two-sided easel with a chalkboard and dry-erase board will foster your child’s creativity with minimal mess.

Fabric bins and linen baskets create storage spaces that are easy to move around and are easily accessible to the littlest members of your family. Bins and baskets are great for small toys or little girls’ hair bows.

You can also store socks or pajamas in the bottom drawers of your child’s dresser to help them learn to get dressed on their own. The best part of storage your child can reach is teaching them how to clean up after themselves.

These are toddler room ideas, but your toddler won’t be the only one spending time in this room. When you’re getting them dressed or watching them play it’s nice to have a seat up off the floor. A bean bag might be fine for playtime, while a glider is more comfortable for bedtime snuggles and reading books together.

Toddlers learn developmental and social skills through play. Even if you have a separate playroom in your home, it’s a good idea to have some toys in their bedroom as well. Allow your little one to empty a bin of blocks on the floor or stack their favorite stuffed animals up on their bed. You can set the boundaries of the play space with The PlayPad from Nurture&. The PlayPad gives cushioned support covered with easy-to-clean vegan leather.

Moving to a new room—or giving the room a complete makeover—can be a big adjustment for young children. Your excitement about the change will greatly impact how your son or daughter feels about it.

Consider these tips to help make a smooth transition:

• Talk about it often. In the weeks leading up to the project, tell your child what the plans are. Ask them for their opinion on colors and themes to help them feel involved.
• Let your toddler help. Include them in parts of the setup they can contribute to. Placing pillows on the bed or stacking their books on a low shelf will make your little one feel important in the process.
• Incorporate familiar favorites. Bring in items that your child was used to seeing in the nursery. A beloved stuffed animal or family photo on the wall can make a new room seem less scary.
• Spend time together in the room. Before your child sleeps in their new room alone, spend as much daytime as you can in the room together. Let them play and explore in the new room with you to learn that this is a safe place to be.

These toddler room ideas are only a few of the many different directions you could take with the design of your kid’s bedroom. Your child’s first “big kid” room can be as simple or elaborate as you want and if you still feel stuck, your toddler probably has a few opinions about what it should look like.

Now that your bedroom ideas are flowing, it’s time to get started!

Nurture& offers premium furniture and essentials with your growing family in mind. Check out our online store to explore our collections of beds, seating, and more. For more ideas and tips to help you through all stages of parenting, you can scroll through our Journal.