BOYS’ BEDROOM IDEAS: HOW TO DESIGN & STYLE A ROOM THEY’LL LOVE
Designing a bedroom for a little boy is one thing. Designing one he’ll still love when he’s a teenager? Now THAT takes a little more thought.
At House 18, we had three boys, three new bedrooms and one goal: create rooms they’d love now but wouldn’t outgrow in a few years.
Because cute is cute... until your eight-year-old becomes a 14-year-old and suddenly wants absolutely nothing to do with the bedroom you painstakingly designed for him. 😬
Our approach is what Lou has coined teenage-proofing. Each room needed to be fun and full of personality, while the permanent finishes, furniture and overall design had to mature with the boys.
All three bedrooms are similar in size and share some foundational finishes, including warm EC Carpets underfoot and beautiful timber windows from Stegbar, yet each looks and feels completely different.
If you’re searching for boys’ bedroom ideas that can go the distance, come upstairs to House 18...
BOYS’ BEDROOM #1: BRING ON THE GREEN
This room proves a kid’s bedroom can have plenty of personality without relying on a theme.
The starting point is colour, with Dulux Grass Sands wrapping the walls in a gorgeous earthy green. It’s playful enough for a young boy but sophisticated enough to work beautifully in his teenage years.
But the real hero is the wall detailing.
We layered different Intrim profiles to create a cool combination of horizontal, vertical and fluted detailing. Because these upstairs bedrooms are part of House 18’s new extension, we couldn’t rely on original architectural details for character. We had to create it from scratch.
The wall treatment brings depth and interest without screaming KIDS’ ROOM! and can stay exactly where it is as his tastes change.
A neutral James Lane upholstered bed and Mocka bedside tables keep the larger furniture pieces versatile, while the fun comes through in things that are easier to change later: a green striped desk chair, colourful rattan wall lights, artwork, baskets and even a basketball hoop.
And because every growing boy needs somewhere to do homework, build Lego, draw, game or pretend he’s doing homework while actually gaming, there’s a built-in desk too.
The boys’ room idea to steal: Put personality into paint, artwork and accessories, but choose expensive or permanent pieces with the teenage years in mind.
BOYS’ BEDROOM #2: LOOK UP!
If Bedroom #1 is all about the walls, Bedroom #2 has a surprise overhead.
Wallpaper. On. The. Ceiling. 😍
We used Olive et Oriel’s Laguna Beach Horizontal Stripe wallpaper in Luxe Beige across the ceiling, creating a feature that feels playful and unexpected without making the room juvenile.
Dulux Ecru creates a warm neutral backdrop across the walls and joinery, while Intrim fluted detailing brings texture and character.
Then we layered in a James Lane bed in a similar ecru shade to the walls, natural travertine bedside tables and a mix of navy, rust and oatmeal through the bedding, cushions and artwork.
The result is colourful, but not colourful. You know what we mean? 😉
There’s enough going on to make the bedroom interesting now, but nothing that puts an expiry date on it.
We also gave each boy a double bed. It might seem generous while they’re little, but it’s another part of our teenage-proofing strategy. We’re designing for the boys they are today AND the lanky teenagers who’ll be sprawled across these beds before their parents know what hit them.
A custom built-in desk creates another dedicated zone, while Luxaflex Light Filtering Pirouette Shadings soften the natural light coming through the large timber window.
The boys’ room idea to steal: Don’t forget the fifth wall. Wallpapering a ceiling can bring fun and personality while allowing the rest of the room to grow up around it.
BOYS’ BEDROOM #3: STRIPES WITH STAYING POWER
Bedroom #3 belongs to the oldest boy and takes another completely different direction.
One of its best features is a beautiful wall of Stegbar windows framing a leafy outlook across the palms and treetops. With all that greenery outside, we wanted to draw the outdoors in.
We picked up those tones with Olive et Oriel’s Linen Double Stripe wallpaper in Deep Sage Green.
Stripes are one of our favourite boys’ bedroom decor tricks because they can feel playful without feeling babyish. The deeper sage gives this room a slightly more grown-up feel while connecting beautifully with the view.
We carried those earthy tones through the room with a chestnut upholstered James Lane bed, travertine bedside table and dark jade desk chair, then layered in Pony Rider bedding and cushions in olive, toffee, spice and natural tones.
Intrim detailing adds architectural interest, while EC Carpets Dawson Falls carpet in Sunlit and Luxaflex Light Filtering Pirouette Shadings repeat across the bedrooms.
That repetition matters. When you’re designing several kids’ bedrooms, they don’t need to match. In fact, we’d argue they shouldn’t! But repeating selected finishes helps the rooms speak the same design language and creates cohesion throughout the home.
The boys’ room idea to steal: If there’s a lovely view, take your colour cues from outside. Picking up tones from the landscape gives your palette a natural starting point.
HOW TO DESIGN A BOYS’ BEDROOM THAT GROWS WITH THEM
The biggest lesson from the House 18 boys’ bedrooms? Don’t design only for the child standing in front of you today.
Kids grow. Their interests change. Their favourite colour changes. And that dinosaur obsession you thought was going to last forever? Yeah... probably not.
Instead, think about what can stay and what can easily change.
Invest in the elements with longevity: good carpet, a generously sized bed, practical storage, a desk, quality window coverings and architectural details that give the room character. Then have fun with cushions, bedding, artwork and accessories that can be switched out as their tastes evolve.
And don’t be afraid of colour or pattern. Creating a room with longevity doesn’t mean making everything beige. Green paint, striped wallpaper, wall panelling and plenty of colour can absolutely grow with a child when they’re used thoughtfully.
Three boys. Three similarly sized bedrooms. Three completely different looks.
And, hopefully, three rooms they’ll still be happy to show their mates when the teenage years arrive. 🤞
