ⓘ Images in this post are AI-generated virtual design concepts intended for inspiration. Linked products reflect the style and feel of the space, but are not exact matches. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn on qualifying purchases.
Kids’ rooms are some of my favorite spaces to design because you can have a little more fun with them—but I still don’t want to decorate a room that needs to be completely redone three years later.
For this shared boys’ room, I started with soft blue gingham, warm wood, and creamy white, then added just a hint of a nautical feel through the artwork. It feels unmistakably like a boys’ room, but the larger pieces are classic enough to work well beyond the little-kid years.
A playful wall treatment can set the tone without turning into a theme.
The blue gingham is really what makes this room.
I love the Sweet Gingham Wallpaper I’ve linked from Ballard Designs. Used above the white millwork, it gives the room plenty of pattern and color without covering every surface. And because gingham is such a classic pattern, it doesn’t feel tied to a particular age.
The framed sailboat sketches bring in a little nautical personality without taking the room all the way into a themed bedroom. I’ve linked similar Yacht Sketches from Wayfair to get the look.
That combination—one strong pattern plus a few smaller nods to an interest—is usually where I like to stop. It gives kids a room that feels like theirs while leaving plenty of room for their interests to change.
Start with beds and furniture that don't feel overly juvenile.
The soft blue upholstered beds give each side of the room its own little focal point. I’ve linked the similar Felix Upholstered Bed from Birch Lane, and I love that the shape feels special without looking like a piece of furniture meant only for a young child. This is also a great price point for a piece that will look like you custom ordered it.
I kept the rest of the furniture warm and fairly simple. I’ve linked similar Victoria dressers from Wayfair in both the larger six-drawer size and the smaller size used between the beds. Mixing sizes from the same collection is an easy way to make a shared room feel coordinated without using identical furniture everywhere.
For the bedding, I’d keep the bigger layers simple. I’ve linked a similar 100% linen duvet cover and the pillow inserts I love from Amazon. The blue-and-white striped pillows can bring the wall color down onto the beds without making every textile in the room gingham.
Practical pieces can still be part of the design.
A shared kids’ room has to function, so some of my favorite pieces here are also the practical ones.
The woven baskets I’ve linked from Wayfair are perfect for all the things that somehow accumulate in a kids’ room, while still looking good sitting out. And I love the chunky wool rug I’ve linked from Pottery Barn Kids. A large neutral rug gives the beds a soft landing and lets the gingham remain the dominant pattern.
At the windows, I’d keep things simple with the TWOPAGES linen drapery panels I’ve linked here. Hanging them close to the crown and allowing them to fall all the way to the floor makes the windows—and really the entire room—feel taller.
I also linked the blue lamps from Target, adjustable drapery hardware from Rejuvenation, and the ceiling fan from Lowe’s to help recreate the smaller details.
That’s really what I love about this room. It has plenty of personality for two little boys now, but take away the toys someday and almost everything else can stay. And in a kids’ room, I consider that a win.
You May Also Like…
Love classic home design?
Get one beautifully designed newsletter each month featuring:
New virtual room designs
Designer styling tips
Curated collections
Exclusive decorating inspiration
