Designing rooms for babes and kids can be some of the most fun and exciting spaces to design, but take it from this mama – they can also be the most challenging (especially when you’re starting from scratch before you even know this tiny human!). You strive to create this timeless space that is also set up for stellar development, maximum childhood enjoyment and ties into the style of your home overall. That can feel like a tall order for sure.

Today, we’ve invited Erica Bryen – who has designed plenty of gorgeous nurseries and kids’ rooms – to talk give us a few pointers on creating a space that will grow with your little one in a beautiful and thoughtful way.

We love all of the kids’ rooms you’ve designed! Tell us about the process of working with little ones.

Thank you! I love designing kids’ rooms and it is fun to see their reactions when they walk into their brand new room. To start, I always ask them what their favorite color is and sometimes we’ll look on Pinterest to see what they gravitate toward as far as color schemes go.

How do you go about incorporating their favorite things/colors in the room?

I like to start with a neutral palette for the furniture – the changing table, rocker, bed, crib etc, and then we can have fun with a wallpapered accent wall, pillows, bedding – easy things to change out if the child changes their ‘favorite’ color in the next few years, or in some cases, months!

Also, I usually incorporate some sort of book shelf and accessorize it with the child’s favorite books, toys, stuffed animals, action figures, dolls – you name it!

How do you transition nurseries to big kids rooms?

I try to encourage clients’ to select a dresser for the changing table, that way when the child is out of diapers you can put frames, books, accessories on top of the dresser. Also, it is worth splurging on a great chair or rocker – because even when the child is older, it is a nice spot for them to curl up and read. For the crib, I make sure there is enough room for a bed where the crib goes – and usually the cribs we select transition to toddler beds, or a twin/queen bed.

What do the parents usually request when you’re designing the kids’ rooms?

They all want rooms that can age with their kids and rooms they won’t have to redesign every couple years; rooms that are youthful, but timeless and still reflect the design of the rest of the home. They want their children’s rooms to be a place for them to learn, grow, rest, and be inspired. Creating a beautiful space, I think definitely encourages all of those things!

What are some of the trends you’re seeing in kids’ rooms right now?

Large scale murals or wallpaper in the room are really on trend right now. It breaks up having all white walls and adds some color to the room. It can also be a reflection of the child’s interests – like doing a huge mural of the ocean or beach if they love swimming. We also always have fun incorporating chandeliers, window coverings (black out blinds!), and rugs.

What are some of your favorite ways to hide all of the clutter and toys?

Baskets! There are never enough baskets for a kids’ room. I love Serena & Lily’s baskets – three of them together look great and you can use them for laundry, toys, stuffed animals, and more. I also try to put storage cabinets under the beds – you can hide a ton in there, too!

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Interior Design: Erica Bryen | Photography: Ryan Garvin | Builder: Gonterman Construction