Baby Rooms

"Go for it! Have fun! It’s just paint" is officially a color month motto.

If only the universe were a little more accommodating, every time you added a new person to your family, a new room would magically be added to your abode. Alas, it is not so. But the good news is that, for a while at least, tiny people do not take up very much space, so in the same way that you can morph part of a living room into a home office or a closet into a (grown-up) bedroom, you can carve out a spot for your little one.

Lulu and Georgia have a best-selling wallpaper that is almost an exact match.

Even with nothing in it, this space felt dark and cramped — but a cheerful redo made it feel more spacious and inviting.

"Smoker’s yellow” walls get a rainbow revamp.

Tisdale posted photos of and wrote about Jupiter’s minimalist nursery, which she furnished with both high and low-end pieces that will grow alongside baby Jupiter.

Along with interior designer Eduardo Ardiles, Wade found plenty of inspiration in classic children’s books.

Is this retro home good making a comeback?

Form and function for the little ones!

Featuring an IKEA hack changing table!

Allswell's Littles collection just got bigger.

Decorating for littles can still be big on style and sophistication.

For your living room—even if you don't have kids!

Or toddler room!

Bunk beds are a great way to have two people share a bedroom, and they’re a great solution for small bedrooms as well. But as spectacular as bunk beds may be, they leave little room for organization. Unlike a regular bed setup, there are limited storage options for bunk beds, making it difficult to keep things like  books, glasses and water bottles next to the bed. Enter the bunk bed shelf.

From neutrals to pastels and beyond.

Having a baby is already hard work. Finding baby-proofing items that won’t ruin the aesthetic of your home shouldn’t have to be.

You don't need kids to want these pieces for your home.

Co-Founder of Wolf + Friends Carissa Tozzi shares this home with husband Dino, their six-year-old son Wolf, and their rescue pup, Pepito.

From sleepless nights spent caring for your crying baby to being on bottle and diaper duty 24/7, parenthood is one of the most challenging milestones you may ever experience—and the last thing a new parent should worry about is setting up the nursery. In a perfect world, you’d have an expansive wing for your bundle of joy to crawl, coo, and play in. But in reality? You’re probably working with a crammed room (if you’re lucky enough to have a dedicated room at all).

As Chrissy Teigen announced on Twitter, her son with John Legend is “herrrrrrre!” and the Internet is basically losing it with excitement. And while most people are focused on learning the new addition’s name, we can’t help but focus on something a little more design-y: his nursery. Unfortunately, it will probably be ages before we get a peek at what I can only assume is the world’s coolest nursery.

Kids rooms are always so much fun, perhaps because parents use their children’s spaces to fulfill inner fantasies. But, parents are still parents after all, and can’t entirely forget they also have to keep their kids both busy, and on an even keel. So, when you see great decor ideas that aren’t just creative, but also fun and functional, jump on them. Here are seven favorites that don’t just look good.

Is it just us, or are kids products getting cooler and cooler the further away we get from being kids ourselves? Such is the case with the latest nursery collection West Elm and Pottery Barn Kids. The two furniture retailers, both members of the Williams-Sonoma family brands, have teamed up to bring West Elm’s signature midcentury modern ascetic to the under-five set. The collection is available now at both West Elm and Pottery Barn Kids stores and websites.

Some rooms have a million flaws that need remedying; the problem with this nursery-to-be was there was no real there there. After months of sanding, painting, ripping out, and replacing by a very pregnant lady and her crew, this room was lovingly decorated for its tiny new occupant. The word for this nursery, created by Bridget Matkovich of The DIY Playbook, is dreamy.

When I saw the title of this reader submission, I braced myself for some The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe action, but it turned out to be less Narnia, more Lane Kim. Don’t let your teen see this makeover unless you’re prepared to build them a secret hideout — and you’ll probably be tempted to build one for yourself. Here we see Laura Medicus of The Colorado Nest‘s daughter stepping into a fairly magical vintage wardrobe . . .

Reader Tamera is having a baby — yay! Tamera’s rental apartment does not feature a room for a baby — boo! Fortunately, it does have a generously proportioned master closet, and Tamera had a vision to transform this space. This is so very sweet! The accent wall really makes it feel like a room, the pretty mirror adds natural light to the space, and every inch has been used so wisely.

When Robert and Samantha Garlow of Shedsistance designed and built their tiny home in the woods of Yakima, Washington, they created a super cool small space with an impressive amount of room for all of their outdoor gear. Fast forward a few months and they have to make room for another form of adventure: parenthood. The couple spent about $30,000 building the 24-foot long, eight-foot-six-inch-wide, 13-foot-five-inch-tall home.

Smart customizable options to solve a range of organization conundrums.

You're never too young (or old) for a sloth lamp.

We love to see a design overhaul that realizes the complete potential of a space. Architecture company Wutopia Lab recently accomplished that feat by transforming a three-bedroom, two-bath apartment in Shanghai into an open floor plan filled with soothing neutrals that encourage rest and relaxation, and kid-friendly accessories that invite the tiny ones to let loose and play. That sounds like a difficult balance to achieve, but the results make it look like a fun, effortless endeavor.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Aldi has now made it possible to flatter the hell out of the royal family. The bargain grocery/everything store is in the midst of its Baby and Toddler Event and eagle eyed consumers have pointed out that a few of the items closely resemble the style of Silver Cross, one of Will and Kate’s brands of choice. Currently only available in the UK, the Aldi Mamia nursery set includes a wardrobe, cot bed and changing table unit for £349.

Here’s something fun; Budget Direct put together a series of imagined and extravagant nurseries inspired by writers. Now we’re certainly not suggesting you should run out to give your nursery a full Dr. Seuss makeover, because these rooms are certainly extra, but it is certainly fun to see how the trademark style of all of these authors translates into the rooms. They do offer suggestions for elements from each photo that could be pulled into a real nursery for a whimsical look.

You’ve heard it before: kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. And while kitchens and baths are great neither is actually Joanna Gaines’ favorite room in a home to make over. So which room is it? The Fixer Upper star and queen of shabby-chic recently dished to Apartment Therapy that she much prefers designing nurseries.

Traveling with kids isn’t easy. Among the challenges that come from being away from your own home and routine, dealing with your family-closet-on-the-move, (that is, your suitcase) is high on the list. But preparing beforehand and having the right tools can prevent you from spending your precious time away from home digging for clothes in a tangled mess made of four people’s maybe-clean, maybe-not wardrobes.

If family is your priority, it makes sense to want to live somewhere known for being family-friendly, right? Whether you’re planning a family in the future — or you already have kids and are looking to make a move — you may be curious about your best options.

Small rooms with big ideas for little people.

If you ask a feng shui expert about the space under a bed, they’re going to tell you to keep it clear — that putting anything in that space will block energy from circulating around your body when you sleep. So, basically, they’re going to tell you the exact opposite of what I’m about to suggest. But as a mother of two little ones, I find the space under kids’ beds to be prime real estate.

Living in the city—any city—has a way of instilling a certain sense of pride in a person. And I don’t mean the endearing kind of pride, like an excitable sports fan or a doting parent. I mean the kind of self-righteous, sneering pride that makes promises it can’t keep simply to uphold its reputation. My promise as a city-dweller was that I would never, ever move my (yet-to-be-established) family to the suburbs.

Project by: Jessica Davis of Nest Studio Location: South Orange, New Jersey Jessica wanted to give her daughter’s room a new look, something age-appropriate but not overly precious or childish. A large room with good light, the possibilities were endless, but she settled on a rich color for the walls and timeless furniture that her daughter can grow with.

Ashlee Gadd is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs and the author of “The Magic of Motherhood: The Good Stuff, the Hard Stuff, and Everything In Between.” We ordered bunk beds yesterday. It was an inevitable purchase, I suppose, after having two boys in two and a half years. When we found out our second baby was another boy, I remember thinking: Someday they’ll share a room, probably bunk beds.

When Jessica and her husband moved into their home they knew that they would need to do some serious updating. They took off the Beetlejuice wallpaper in their guest room and when it came time to turn it into a nursery they decided to go full fun. A little bit of Memphis, a sprinkling of Facts of Life, a dash of FAO Schwartz and you have a super cute, very unique nursery.

Convinced you don't have room for a dedicated study space for your kiddos? Think again.

One of the greatest intersections of design happens when function and taste meet. Even more so is finding the sweet spot between functional kid-friendly toys and tasteful decor. In an age full of plastic, heavily-branded games, and now fidget spinners and glitter slime, it’s hard to imagine a world where toys and games can double as home decor. Unless, that is, you purchase an expensive artisanal alternative, or make your own.

Project by: Alana Chernecki of Brillante Location: East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada Alana, a school teacher turned designer, blended both of her realms of knowledge in creating a playroom for her daughters. A mix of style and pedagogy, the space is designed to foster creativity and imaginative play, while still looking sleek and age-appropriate.

Earlier today, tennis champ Serena Williams and her fiancé, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, announced their baby girl, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on Instagram with a sweet video. In it, there are moments from Williams’ pregnancy, along with photos and clips of the couple with the newborn. We also get a sneak peek of the making of the nursery, and while not much is actually in the room at the time, we believe we’ve identified the crib the new parents have chosen.

You know what’s so great about kids’ clothes? Aside from the fact they are so darn cute you kind of wish they came in your size too, they don’t take up a lot of room. If your kid’s room has at least one large-ish dresser, you’ve pretty much got storage for their clothing covered. And that, crafty mamas, means you can use the storage space in your kid’s closet in a fun way.

Ahh, back to school. The heady smells of crisp notebook paper and waxy crayons are in the air, which means it’s time to figure out where your kiddos’ lunch will be served out of when it’s time to put those pencils down and beeline toward the cafeteria. Here, we rounded up 12 top-rated picks for kids of all ages, from of-the-moment-but-really-useful bento boxes to easy-to-carry top-handle bags.

Life comes at you fast. Lisa had been considering this room for a makeover when she found out she was pregnant and suddenly on a whole new unexpected timeline. After gutting the room they got to work adding classic elements to the structure of the room so it was more in line with the rest of the house as well as, you know, getting it ready for a baby.

Allison stepped in to help her sister-in-law set up her baby nursery after the passing of her mother. Her act of love and kindness led to one adorable space for the new baby, with a beautifully bittersweet story. From Allison: After my mother-in-law passed away, I decided to step in to help my sister-in-law with her nursery for her baby girl on the way.

Meera knew she was going to have to get extremely crafty with her son’s new room. The previous owners had made some questionable (and potentially dangerous) choices that needed to be fixed immediately, and Meera was able to do so with some very cool DIYs and brilliant money-saving fixes. From Meera: The walls and ceilings were covered in poorly-hung textured wallpaper and the room was a DIY mess.

Project by: Louise Bradberry of Cait’s Room Interiors Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Transformations aren’t always about knocking down walls or elaborate IKEA hacks. Sometimes they’re about looking at your space with new eyes and giving it a new purpose. Louise did just that for her clients. Wanting to supplement limited outdoor play space for their child, they tasked Louise with creating a play nook for their daughter in a corner of their living room.

When you think about toy storage, what comes to mind? Bright primary colors and lots of plastic are usually the default, but if that’s not your style, it doesn’t mean you’re limited to storage solutions that don’t fit in with the rest of your decor. There are plenty of stylish toy storage options out there that you can buy or DIY to keep your kids’ toys in check without changing your entire aesthetic.

Hey new moms and dads (and aunts, uncles, grandparents….), Target just made setting up a nursery even easier—and cuter. The retailer is launching a new brand called Cloud Island, and it is as dreamy as its name. As if Target wasn’t already a one stop shop for new parents, they’re really going all in with this collection.

When Danielle and her family moved into their home, they knew which room they wanted for their daughters nursery but felt it needed some major restyling. After switching up the color scheme with paint and wallpaper, replacing the chandelier with something a little more kid friendly and adding all of the cute touches that make a nursery, they have an adorable space for their daughter that is a fry cry from the original room.

Name: Connor ( Two months) Location: Houston, Texas Connor’s nursery is chock full of impressive DIY projects, smart storage solutions and very cool chalk art. Designed with Connor’s future in mind, the room is perfectly playful while cool enough to last well into his toddlerhood and beyond. From Courtney & Brent: When we found out we were having a boy we decided we wanted to design an outdoor themed nursery.

Name: The Three Amigos (3 year old, and twin 5 year olds) Location: Vancouver, Canada After Melissa snatched up a pretty cute playhouse from Costco, she started dreaming up an adorable upgrade. Life got in the way, as it so often does, so it took awhile for the playhouse to get an upgrade. Combine one weekend, a super creative mom, white paint and elbow grease and you get the kind of playhouse that childhood dreams are made of.

Name: Marra (Newborn) Location: Fort Meyers, Florida The nursery was designed to flow with the existing decor in our master bedroom since we are sharing a space with our little girl. We live in a two-bedroom townhouse and often have guests so we wanted to keep our guest room for hosting. We needed to find a way to create a kid friendly space that still had a sophistication to work in an adult space as well. We also wanted to forgo a crib and follow a Montessori nursery style with a floor bed.

If you like your kid’s collections with a fashion pedigree, look no further. Pottery Barn Kids has tapped designer Margherita Missoni for their latest collaboration, available starting today. Margherita Maccapani Missoni Amos is the creator of children’s clothing line Margherita Kids and the granddaughter of the founders of the Missoni fashion house.

Be prepared, upon diving into this slideshow, to be uncomfortably jealous of babies, toddlers, and teenagers. These 15 rooms, home to kids of all ages, are utterly delightful: playful yet sophisticated, orderly yet inviting, and lovingly designed without being fussy. The thoughtfulness of the decor means that these nurseries and kids’ rooms will accommodate their young occupants as they grow—and that there are plenty of design ideas to steal for our own grown-up rooms.

Project by: Meena Location: Ashbury Heights — San Francisco, California This converted bedroom project comes from first-time parents who recently bought a house in San Francisco. After spending nearly 10 years on the East Coast, they returned back home to the Bay Area in January to raise their daughter. The family moved in the home when the baby was just two weeks old, so needless to say it was an exhausting and whirlwind experience.