Kid's Room Storage and Decoration Ideas for Every Age

As a parent, choosing the right items for your kid’s room storage and decoration can be tricky. On the one hand, you want the furniture and decor to withstand years of use and be cohesive with your home’s design. On the other, you want the space to be an enjoyable, functional, and relaxing sanctuary for your kids to play, sleep, and study. To solve this common dilemma, we reached out to the founder of Little Crown Interiors, Naomi Coe, for her design expertise––and dreamed up some ideas of our own––to help you create a stylish and practical nursery and kid’s room that you and your kiddos will love at any age.

Meet the Designer

Naomi Coe is the founder of Little Crown Interiors in Irvine, CA, and author of “Your Perfect Nursery,” a beautifully designed and photographed nursery book that walks expecting parents through the entire nursery design process, from creating a floor plan to styling. She has been featured in Domino, Forbes, HGTV, MyDomaine, and other national publications.

In the Nursery (0–1 years)

Display Family Favorites on Floating Shelves 

“The nursery is as much about the parent as it is about the baby,” says Coe. “I love using floating shelves in nurseries because they give parents a space to display items that are special to them,” she says. “We usually style wall shelves with little trinkets, heirlooms, and books the family loves. As the baby ages, those items can be switched out for their favorite decorative toys, pictures, [and so on].”

Pick Up a Functional Dresser

“Every nursery should have a functional dresser,” says Coe. “At the nursery stage, the dresser [can] be used as a changing table,” Coe says. “It’s important to have one with enough storage for all the changing items; keeping things like diapers, lotions, and basic onesies close at hand makes a huge difference,” says Coe. “I usually recommend that clients keep these items in the top drawer so they can be easily accessed while the baby is on the changing table.”

Toddler Rooms (1–2 years)

Carve Out a Cozy Reading Nook

“Toddlers are on the move, so it’s a good idea to streamline their room and remove anything you don’t want them getting into, helping to create a calming environment,” says Coe. “Instead of focusing on play in their bedroom, some parents like to focus on ‘quiet time’ and snuggling to reinforce the idea that their room is a haven,” adds Coe. “Creating a reading or cuddling area can be great for toddlers, even if it’s just a pile of cozy pillows on the floor.” 

Keep Organized With a Large Storage Basket

“When designing a toddler’s room, organization becomes even more important because toddlers are at their height of curiosity; you can’t help but notice all the toys, books, and stuffed animals strewn about,” says Coe. “I’m a huge fan of baskets for this age, especially ones with lids [because] parents need a super quick spot [where] they can quickly throw things without having to organize them. 

“Having a large storage basket is perfect—just toss things in, put on the lid, and voila!” exclaims Coe. “It’s also a very easy way to help teach toddlers how to clean up without making it complicated or a chore for them.”

Preschool (3–4 years)

Color-Coded Bins Are Your Best Friend

As children begin preschool, they learn the alphabet, counting, the days of the week, and the weather, and they begin doing arts and crafts projects. Parents will find themselves buying more toys and supplies during preschool years. A fun way for kids to organize contents (picture cards, letters, numbers, small books) is with color-coded bins. Art supplies go in red bins, school supplies and books in yellow, games in blue, etcetera. 

Consider snapping photos of item contents as teachers do in classrooms to help your child learn the organizational system until it becomes second nature. You can slide bins into cubbies, bookcases, or storage units. 

Consider Cubby/Cabinet Storage

Selecting a storage unit with open cubbies on the top and closet cabinets below serves a dual purpose in a kid’s room. Display your kid’s favorite stuffed animals and artwork on top and items you want to hide behind cabinet doors. You can also store cubby items in decorative boxes, bins, and containers. Consider choosing a style or color that complements the room’s color palette and decor style.

Choose Multi-Purpose Furniture 

When you’re short on space, consider furniture that does double duty, such as a bedframe with underneath storage. After playtime, open the drawers and put the toys away. You can keep things organized for your kids by grouping similar items together. Create a drawer for dolls or army soldiers, one for legos or board games, and one for extra blankets for those cold nights.

It’s Elementary (5–10 years)

Pick Up a Sturdy Desk With Storage

By the time your kids enroll in elementary school, they’ll need a substantial desk for homework assignments, which means it’s time to switch out their kiddie play table for a solid piece of furniture. Ensure the desktop provides ample elbow room for textbooks and paper to solve math problems and for index cards used for book reports. You’ll also need to factor in space for educational tools such as calculators, rulers, and folders. Finding a desk with drawer storage is ideal to store the following school supplies:

• Notebook and computer paper
• Stapler
• Pens, pencils, and highlighters
• Markers
• Erasers
• Sticky notes

If the bedroom is on the smaller side, or if two children share a room, a loft bed desk combination can make a great option to conserve space. To maximize floor space, consider a floating desk.

Repurpose Old Furniture 

Do you have an old armoire in the garage? A wardrobe closet taking up space in an empty room? Consider doing a walkthrough around your home to see if you have existing pieces you can upcycle or repurpose. There’s no need to buy new furniture when all you’ll need is sandpaper and some paint or stain. If you don’t have items in your home, peruse the aisles of flea markets, thrift shops, and second-hand furniture stores for great finds.

Add Texture With Handwoven Baskets 

Handwoven baskets provide an excellent opportunity to add warmth and texture to a room while storing toys, extra clothes, blankets, and essentials. Baskets come in beautiful natural fibers such as rattan, wicker, and seagrass. You can find handwoven baskets in various shapes and silhouettes, such as animal silhouettes, pineapples, and even ice cream cones. Storing handwoven baskets on bookshelves provides a stylish storage solution while freeing up floor space.

Tweens and Teens (11–17 years)

When your child reaches middle school, they’ve likely vocalized their likes and dislikes about room design (and many other topics). They’re beginning to develop and express a strong sense of self. While it might be difficult for a parent to let go of control, try to take a step back and let your teen take the lead in choosing colors and pieces, within reason, of course. Painting a room all black from floor to ceiling might not be an option, but allow your son or daughter to select their preferred paint colors, patterns, textures, and fabrics, then provide your input. 

Remember that some girls opt for gender-neutral rooms while others prefer fabrics and textiles that are glam and girly, and not all boys love sports. Take your teen shopping or view bedding, furniture, textiles, and lighting together online. You can check off the favorites and come to a mutual decision that both of you can live with.

Elevate a Teen Room With Picture Frames

When you walk into your teen’s room, do you see sports or music posters scattered haphazardly around the space? You can take the look up a notch with matching picture frames. Choose frames in the same color that matches the room’s color palette or finishes, such as black, white, wood, or chrome. You can find frames for pennies on the dollar in thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets, and estate sales.

From newborns to infants––and toddlers to teens, you now have some storage and decoration ideas for the ultimate kids’ room at any age.