The Block's Josh & Jenna Share Their Best Tips for Styling Your Kids' Bedroom Décor
Kids' bedroom décor should be as fun as they are! Make your child's room an elevated haven of joy, colour and imagination.
If you cast your mind back, some of your first memories will often be set in your childhood bedroom. Maybe you had a gloriously bright wallpaper you can still vividly remember. Or perhaps it was a peak 90s bedroom with lava lamps, door beads, and an impressive collection of snow globes.
And when the full circle moment comes to style your own child's bedroom, there's no doubt you'll want to give your kids' bedroom décor a special touch that not only represents their unique personality but also will serve as an imprint in their own happy childhood memories.
We caught up with The Block favourites Josh and Jenna Densten, who are self-confessed 'serial renovators' and recently teamed up with Dulux to update their Rutherglen home in Victoria using the 2023 Dulux Colour Forecast and the use of the Balance palette. The husband and wife duo enjoyed experimenting with a much broader colour palette to pay homage to the architectural characteristics of their home and one of the key spaces they updated was their daughters' joint bedroom. Here, they share their best tips for styling your kids' bedroom décor.
Don't Be Afraid to Experiment With Different Colours
The renovation pros recommend workshopping with a mood board of potential colours as a starting point, and once you land on a colour scheme you'll have a base to work with.
"At the beginning of the process, creating a mood board can be really beneficial if it’s your first time experimenting with a variety of different colours," Josh and Jenna explain.
With their most recent project for their girls' bedroom, they played around with soft pastels. "It captured the balance between playful and modern to evoke a sense of nostalgia for the entire family," they reveal.
Trust Your Gut
If you're feeling overwhelmed with decision paralysis, take a step back and go with your gut instinct — especially if a particular colour evokes a happy memory.
"Colour experimentation should be fun, so it's important to take the pressure off and stick true to your instincts about what will be a perfect fit for your family and the rest of your home," Josh and Jenna share.
"Dulux Mornington, in particular, really brought us back to the fun-filled days of sharing a childhood room with our siblings, and we used that as a basis when we began incorporating other elements into the space," they explain.
Involve Them in the Process
Once you've narrowed down your colour palette to the final few, and if your child is old enough, involve them in the process of picking the colour — it's their bedroom after all and you're going to want them to love it.
"They'll feel like they have played a key role in the renovation process (even though you have narrowed the colour pool to shades that you know will work well!!), and it can be a truly rewarding family activity," the pair reflect.
Curation is Key
When it comes to getting your kids' bedroom décor just right, Josh and Jenna recommend curating a collection of trinkets and objects that are both old and new.
"We have been collecting ceramics, vintage art and furniture for over ten years, as we know how important unique pieces are in creating the character of a new space. We’re huge fans of rehoming old objects that can add new colours and textures to a space," they say.
If you're on a budget and not able to collect fresh pieces, nothing beats a fresh lick of paint.
"Painting over much-loved objects in your child's bedroom with a fresh, new colour can add a polished twist, and be just what is needed to better complement the space," they note.
Form vs. Function
If you're wondering how to strike the perfect balance between practical elements and more stylish aspects, Josh and Jenna say there's no reason you can't incorporate both.
"Having books and toys they’ll actually use that will encourage reading or imaginary play is always a smart move," they share, before revealing if your child's room has something like a fireplace in it, you can turn that space into a toy storage area or a dress-up clothes display.
Invest in Versatile Pieces that Will Work Down the Track
We all know that kids change their minds, a lot! How many times did you decide to 'redecorate' your bedroom as a kid (even if it just meant shuffling around your Spice Girls posters)?
Josh and Jenna suggest investing in pieces that are adaptable and will see you through to the future stages of life, too.
Whether that's removing a single bed once your children no longer share a room together and using it in another space as a 'chill zone', or making sure you incorporate a desk into their room for when they'll need to study.
And if you want an instant refresh without drastic leg work, they have a simple trick — mix up the linen! "By changing up the bed linen you can drastically change the look of a room," they say.
Kids' Bedroom Décor We Love...
Now you've got Josh and Jenna's styling tips up your sleeve, let's do a little shopping, shall we? Here are our top picks for hardworking, versatile kids' bedroom décor items that are seriously worthy of adding to your cart...
The Twinny in Blush, Mustard Made
We love a hard-working yet chic piece of furniture and this adorable Twinny locker from Mustard Made would work for any and every age group. Whether you're storing tiny baby clothes or using it for your toddler's dress-up wardrobe, The Twinny, which comes in a huge range of gorgeous colours, is all about flexibility.
Brady White Boucle Blanket Box, Adairs
A textured toy box that doubles as a seat is a must-have in your kids' bedroom décor list. And this Adairs design, which is wrapped in a soft and textural boucle, will be a cute addition to any child's room.
French Flax Linen Sheet Set, Marine Blue Stripe, I Love Linen
Any parent knows sleep is worth its absolute weight in gold, so it pays to invest in good quality linen that creates a cosy and comfortable place for your little one to rest their head. Good quality linen only gets better over time.
Shop here, single sheet set from $331
Sitchu tip: This set is currently on sale down to $251.25!
Skyfari Hot Air Balloons Decal Set, Olive Et Oriel
Removable wall decals are a super simple way to inject some colour into your child's room, and then once they age out of it, you can peel them off and move it onto your next baby's room.
Pod Desk, Fantastic Furniture
The perfect first desk for your primary schooler. Sleek, stylish and practical, they'll find it hard to put off doing their homework thanks to this cosy little number.
Jooyes Kids' Single-Sided Display Bookcase, Temple & Webster
Parents will know just how frustrating it is when you buy a flimsy bookcase that can't actually hold the weight of your child's books. But this sturdy Temple & Webster design, made from birch plywood, will not only display your books perfectly, but the inviting layout will have your little one turning the pages at a rapid rate.
Rainbow Love Organic Cotton Quilt Cover, Kip & Co
This rainbow quilt cover will pack an instant punch of joy and colour in your little one's room. We love the simple yet bright print and it's a doona cover you can use from toddlerhood and beyond.
Project Credits:
Styling: Josh and Jenna Densten.
Photographer: Eve Wilson
Dulux Colour Forecast 2023: Balance palette
Finished reading The Block's Josh and Jenna's best tips for styling your kids' bedroom decor and now want to style the rest of your home? Check out our round-up of the best new homewares and furniture to buy this month. Or maybe you want to take your kids on a family-friendly holiday to make some special core memories? We've got you covered!
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