This Once-Plain Kid’s Bedroom Got a Bold Color-Drenched Makeover
A carefully selected paint color can completely change how a room feels — especially in a kid’s space. Kara Hobbs, an interior designer, was tasked with creating a cozy, fun, and engaging bedroom for a young girl. With every client, she starts by getting to know them. In this case, the parents wanted it to reflect the “young daughter’s personality, interests, and needs, as well as their family’s general love of color and artistic design sense,” Kara explains.
The space looked like a kid’s room, but it wasn’t vibrant or engaging enough for the family that lived in color. “It was functional and fun enough on a basic level, but not as delightful as it could be with a little intentional design magic!” Kara expresses.
A New Design Doesn’t Mean Getting Rid of Existing Elements
The client wanted to repurpose a few core pieces, and Kara made sure to capture those in the new design concept. “There were a few colorful elements like artwork, a bold rug, and rainbow-patterned bedding that my clients wanted to keep in the new design scheme,” Kara says.
When she created a floor plan, Kara edited out the items that were discarded and shifted the orientation of the pieces that worked. It opened up new areas for efficient storage and left room to add more color for the young girl.
The goal was to give the bedroom a vibrant refresh and use the pieces they already had and loved. By incorporating pieces that fit with the new vision, Kara was able to understand her clients more and help the daughter feel more comfortable in the new space.
Vibrant Color-Drenching Completely Transformed This Room’s Vibe
“The room had plain white walls except for one accent wall with subtle whimsical wallpaper in a neutral black and white palette,” Kara describes. With the client wanting a bold color palette, Kara chose coral tones to complement the bold rug and rainbow bed set that were staying in the space.
She painted the walls Sherwin-Williams’ Koral Kicks and added a fun detail to the trim by painting it Sherwin-Williams’ Charisma. Her clients instantly loved the vibrant coral palette that brought warmth and a cozy energy to the room.
By refreshing the bedroom with bright colors, it completely maximized the feel and energy — instantly creating an exciting place for the daughter to rest and play.
The Designer Created Unexpected Storage Solutions
There’s no such thing as too much storage. And in this room, there’s a variety of clever storage pieces to help manage the daughter’s toys, books, and stuffies. “We got creative and turned wall planters into stuffie storage over the bed,” Kara explains. Adding another IKEA bookshelf to the three already in the space, along with a new Mustard Made yellow cabinet, organized the daughter’s books while adding more color and ease for the young girl.
The new floor plan also opened up areas for storage and play in unexpected ways. “We maximized the space under the bed with a large trundle bin on wheels that [the daughter] could easily move on her own,” Kara says. She also added a floating bedside table, which allowed for the rug to be moved into the center of the room — creating a cozy play space on the floor and a fun visual focal point.
Kara worked with the client to surprise their daughter, and “added a few other practical elements that gave the room the sprinkle of whimsy”: a reading sconce above the bed with scalloped edges, a step stool by the closet in a fun teal color, flower wall hooks, and a rainbow ceiling mobile over the reading nook.
“Layering all of these fun new elements over the coral-drenched walls, and trim was the perfect mix,” Kara shares.