Boy’s Bedroom Is a Colorful Place for Music, Learning and Fun
Bold hues, custom artwork and a corner where a 7-year-old can rock out on the drums add up to a cool bedroom hangout
With a musician for a dad and an interior designer for a mom, perhaps it was inevitable that this little boy would have a bedroom bursting with color, creativity and inspiration. When it came time to upgrade her son from a toddler’s bed to a twin-size bed, designer Christy Allen took the opportunity to give his whole room a colorful update that reflects his current interests but still leaves him plenty of space to grow.
Against the ardent warnings of well-meaning friends and family, Allen and her husband bought their son a drum kit when he was a toddler. Four years later — an eternity for a child — he still plays and loves it. To make room for his budding interest, they brought his drums up from the living room to replace the old rocking chair where Allen and her son used to snuggle together for story time. She can’t take credit for the sticker decorations on the drum, though — that was all him.
The designer didn’t want to do a lot of pattern for the window coverings because there’s a lot of pattern and color everywhere else, so she ordered a custom Roman shade in a tailored silhouette and neutral fabric. It’s a neutral element to the room that he can have for years. Keeping the space from feeling too childish was important to her from the start; she wanted it to grow with him. “Past nursery age, it’s good to think about longevity in terms of design,” Allen says.
The designer didn’t want to do a lot of pattern for the window coverings because there’s a lot of pattern and color everywhere else, so she ordered a custom Roman shade in a tailored silhouette and neutral fabric. It’s a neutral element to the room that he can have for years. Keeping the space from feeling too childish was important to her from the start; she wanted it to grow with him. “Past nursery age, it’s good to think about longevity in terms of design,” Allen says.
Much of the room’s sentimental decor has surrounded the little one for his entire life. The mobile above his new “big boy” bed was the first thing his mother purchased for him when she was pregnant. Even after repainting and decorating, the mobile still worked well with everything else, so it stayed.
A metal nightstand from The Land of Nod does more than just store his books: It hides a heat vent without blocking access or creating a fire hazard.
A metal nightstand from The Land of Nod does more than just store his books: It hides a heat vent without blocking access or creating a fire hazard.
Atop the dresser is an old vintage radio that once lulled Allen’s son to sleep with classical music, though it no longer functions. Above that are several artworks Allen bought before her son was born from Creativity Explored, a studio and gallery for people with developmental disabilities of which the Allens are passionate supporters.
More
Trending Now: 15 Bedrooms That Kids Won’t Mind Sharing
9 Unexpected Cool Color Schemes for Boys’ Rooms
More
Trending Now: 15 Bedrooms That Kids Won’t Mind Sharing
9 Unexpected Cool Color Schemes for Boys’ Rooms
Bedroom at a Glance
Who lives here: The designer’s 7-year-old son
Location: San Francisco
Size: About 140 square feet (about 13 square meters)
Designer: Christy Allen Designs
This project drew its initial inspiration from a vintage map that interior designer Christy Allen and her husband received as a gift many years ago. They knew they wanted the room to be colorful, and the map gave them plenty to work with. Allen really wanted to do dark walls, and though her husband needed some persuading, her son loved the idea. Kids can be pretty fearless about color, but grown-ups often worry that dark walls will make the space feel gloomy and cramped. But with plenty of light coming in, the dark paint on these walls looks rich and deep.
Reading, playing with Lego sets and making music are a big part of Allen’s 7-year-old son’s life. Ikea bookshelves are the perfect height for him to display his toy dinosaurs and access his books, and an ideal spot for his mom to add a lamp, artwork and baskets that keep clutter at bay. “I’m a big fan of bins in kids’ rooms,” Allen says. “They can be filled with anything, and they make it easy for kids to learn to put their toys away.”
Find felt storage baskets for your home