If you have followed me for a while, you know I have twin girls and that their room is…well…super girly. You can check out their “big girl” room reveal here. But those that know me well know that I have a LOVE for boy room decor. I love the bold color palettes that lend themselves naturally to masculinity–orange and navy, lime green and navy, brown and light blue, red and mustard yellow, etc. So when my good friend Raquel asked me to help her design her adorable son's “big boy” room, I was thrilled to oblige! I initially put together two mood boards for her, and we both favored one of the boards, so we went with it, making some tweaks as we went along.
In the end, here is the mood board that I came up with. Isn't it fabulous?! This post contains some affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
I am so, so excited that Raquel loved the navy and orange color scheme AND that she loved that bookcase. Ahhhh, that bookcase {which is now sold out–sorry!} is so, so stunning. And now that I have seen it in person, I am even more impressed with it. And how beautiful is that nailhead trim bed? The bed was recently delivered to Raquel and I am dying to see a photo of it once it is assembled.
Once the room is all put together and finished, Raquel, fabulous friend {and photographer} that she is is going to allow me to put photos of it up on the blog! I can't wait to show you how the mood board comes to life :)
Now, before I share with you the source list, allow me to share with you some tips on designing a kid's space:
- Invest in quality furniture- Try to purchase furniture pieces that will grow with your child and that you will be able to use when they are teenagers. The classic upholstered, nailhead bed that we chose is a perfect example. Change the bedding and you will have a totally new look without having to purchase a new bed.
- Purchase one statement piece- In my opinion, it is always smart to splurge {if necessary} on one statement piece for the room and that INCLUDES a kid's room. For this little boy's room, that piece is the AH-MAZING bookcase. It is so unique and is handmade, crafted of durable teak and finished in light, airy blue on the exterior. It was not inexpensive {I believe it was around $850}, but Raquel and I both agree that this piece will probably remain in her family for decades. Here is a closer shot of the bookcase. I drool over it every time I look at it.
- Save money where you can, without sacrificing style- Because the bookcase was a splurge item, it was important to save money on other elements in the room. So, when I started hunting for art work, I knew it needed to be priced right. I knew the little guy who this room will belong to would LOVE car art, but I wanted Raquel and her husband to love it to, which eliminated Disney posters :) I thought vintage prints would fit the bill, so I googled “vintage car art” and after some digging, found some awesome vintage car prints on Amazon for only $13.00 each. Score!
- Make it a space that YOU will love, too- I 100% believe that your kid should love their bedroom since it is effectively their personal space. But I also believe that YOU, the adult, should love it as well. Does your child love dinosaurs? That doesn't mean you have to buy prints of cartoon dinosaurs for the walls. Why not find vintage black and white drawings of dinosaur skeletons? There is a balance you can strike to make it a space that both you and your child will love!
Okay, now if you want to check out specifics on any of the elements on this room board, below you can find the full source list for the boy room decor that is featured on the mood board.
Boy Room Decor Source List
- Orange and Navy Rugby Striped Bedding: Pottery Barn Teen
- Bardot Upholstered Bed, Navy: One Kings Lane
- Maureen Bookcase: One Kings Lane {sold out}
- Sara Orange Nightstand: World Market
- Rug: Rugs USA {no longer available}, but I LOVE these other options:
Urban Outfitters: Herringbone Handmade Rug
| Nate Berkus Navy Blue Rug |
- Curtains: Pottery Barn Kids
- Lamp: Land of Nod
- Artwork: Amazon
- Large Monogram Letters: I do not have a precise source for those letters that are shown on the mood board–I found that image on Pinterest. But, here is a good, affordable option for large letters:
What do you think? What tips do you have for designing a kid's room? What is your favorite element of this “big boy” room? Oh, and before I go, let me give a huge shout of of thanks to Raquel for letting me be involved in this project. I have loved every minute of it!
Room Reveals
Love your blog! Especially like the tips on where to buy things to decorate with! Looking for good priced dining room chairs. In need of 4 smaller chairs for a small round mesquite/turquoise inlaid table and 6 larger/regular chairs (2 being captain’s chairs) for a larger dining table (one side could even be a bench or love seat). Can’t wait to start getting your blog newsletter!
Thanks so much, Donna! Have you checked out World Market for chairs? They tend to have a great selection at a good price point. Thanks so much for reading my blog!
Wow. This room is a-w-e-s-o-m-e! I wish it was my room growing up!
Awww, thanks, Dave. Glad you, Raquel and most importantly FLETCHER love the room!
Love this mood board! I too, love the bold colors and patterns of boy’s rooms and I think they can work well for girls, too. And that bookcase is totally amazing!