Fresh and Creative Toddler Boy Bedroom Ideas: My Design Inspirations & Choices
Today, I'm thrilled to share I’ll be transitioning my little boy from the nursery to his first big boy bedroom. With another baby on the way, I not only want his new bedroom to feel like magical wonderland for him, but one that reflects his personality and provides a cozy haven for open-ended play and rest. When it came to drawing inspiration for my toddler boy's bedroom, the possibilities seemed endless. As I dove deep into Pinterest boards and Google searches of toddler room ideas that perfectly captured my son's interests I quickly became overwhelmed. From cars and superheroes to animals and sports, everything I explored at first seemed too intense. Don’t get me wrong, my son loves a good Disney movie, but do I really want Disney characters plastered all over my walls, only to change them in a couple of years? I don’t think so. Ultimately, I narrowed it down to what I believe is a delightful fresh take on a classic nature inspired theme that will fuel his imagination and creativity and most importantly, stay in place for years to come. Below are some fantastic toddler boy room ideas I came across while searching for inspiration.
Inspiration Room No. 1
CREDIT: Benni Amadi Interiors
I loved everything about this room the minute I saw it. The colors, the functionality, the custom furniture and placement, and that beautiful wall mural by Rebel Walls.
Inspiration Room No. 2
CREDIT: Kimberly Kay Interiors
Although this is actually a nursery design, I fell in love with the color scheme and all of the textures. The linen daybed, leather ottoman, and fur throw all enveloped in a gorgeous grasscloth wallpaper appear so balanced and serene.
Inspiration Room No. 3
CREDIT Anna Donskova Design
I love the functionality here, the custom built in cubbies are adorable storage and perfect for giving a toddler a sense of ownership to style their own shelfs. Also love the bed, my son it at an age where he just loves jumping, so sign me up for more soft and plush surfaces.
The Big Take-Aways
As I went back and scanned through my pinned ideas and saved images I knew I wanted to incorporate several key elements into my design.
Maximizing Storage and Functionality: When it comes to toddler bedrooms, storage and functionality are key. There is currently an existing closet in what will be James’ new room, but I will be making some modifications to maximize use of the space all while making it kid sized and of course beautiful. I’m also going to see what I can come up with regarding some sort of “built-ins” for him that will be for toy organization and make the most of the space without sacrificing style.
2. Budget-Friendly: Now, let's get real for a minute children destroy things, although unintentional most of the time they really use things, which is exactly what I want! So it’s good to assume that natural wear and tear will happen. That being said, I am going to use a tried and true favorite and incorporate some Ikea pieces I can customize to look more elevated. I also have a secret passion for thrifting, so I’ll likely incorporate thrifted decor pieces like artwork, lighting, and maybe even some furniture pieces if I come across something of real quality.
3. Wallpaper & Paint for Big Impact: In looking at all of my inspiration photos I couldn’t help but notice I was continuously drawn to wallpaper. Specifically, wall murals and wallpaper with texture. In the past several years wallpaper has made a huge come back and there are so many affordable options available, I knew this was a must. Wallpaper is a great way to completely change a space from boring to wow, and that’s exactly what I want James to feel when he walks into his new room. It’s no secret that a freshly painted room can automatically look better but in this room I want to take things a step further and extend the paint color to the trim and doors.
With these takeaways I started designing with my first decision being the wallpaper I wanted.
I ordered a sample to make sure I liked the finish, I am going with the peel and stick version vs. traditional which Wallblush offers as well, and it gorgeous! I used the sample to pick my paint color which will be Ice Marble by Benjamin Moore on all of my window, door, and wall trims.
Here’s the final mood board I came up with:
The mood board highlights the major components of the room: Budget friendly IKEA Eket cabinets which will be wall mounted to maximize floor space and function as storage. A cozy toddler chair for James to read, and some artwork and family photos I will pick as I put the finishing touches on the room.
I’m so excited to get started on transforming this room, sharing the process with you and of course the best part, the final reveal!