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21 Kids Room Paint Ideas That Are Bold and Playful

yellow stripe paint

Design by KLH Custom Homes / Photo by Diana Linea Photo

Dreaming up an imaginative space that will ignite your child's creativity, while also meeting certain functional needs is a difficult task.

Designer Cori Pfaff of the Austin-based Ashby Collective has a few suggestions when it comes to working with paint. For one, "Let the child be involved," she says. "Don't be afraid to go bold or the opposite and be calming."

Furthermore, she says the key is to make sure the room reflects the child's personality and that any finishes are washable or at least, wipeable.

Below are 21 kids room paint ideas to transform your child's room from basic to exciting.

  • 01 of 21

    Highlight One Shade

    teal teen's room

    Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

    Funky furnishings, vintage decor, and teal paint made this basement refresh feel airy and cool. Sometimes all it takes for a bedroom to feel young is a fresh coat of paint.

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  • 02 of 21

    Pick Primary Colors

    blue painted squiggle in kid's room

    Mendelson Group

    This graphic kid's room from the New York-based designers at Mendelson Group showcases primary colors like sky blue, navy, red, and yellow for a timeless yet vibrant palette. Plus, a painted ceiling makes it that much better.

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  • 03 of 21

    Create a Personalized Mural

    kid's mural

    Design by KLH Custom Homes / Photo by Linea Photo

    Liz Hoekzema of KLH Custom Homes in Michigan loves a mural for a kid's room. "This can be such a fun way to make a space truly personal and is just as easy as a solid wall to paint over later if there's a new homeowner to occupy the space," she says. 

    "It can be as simple as something freehanded or, in this case, we commissioned a local artist to create a piece full of moments personal to this kiddo/family, but an overall neutral palette to compliment the rest of the space."

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  • 04 of 21

    Pick Two Colors

    two-toned kid's room

    Design by Vanessa Scoffier / Photo by Hotel Henriette

    Designing your child's room with this clever paint trick will create a space they love. Split the room down the middle with two of their favorite colors. This is also a convenient way to switch things up if you have kids that share a room. This trick would also work for a guest room or bunk room.

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  • 05 of 21

    Paint the Floor

    painted floor in kid's room

    Design by KLH Custom Homes / Photo by Linea Photo

    Hoekzema is also a fan of another unique paint idea: painted floors. "We always look to walls, ceilings, and furniture when it comes to adding a colorful paint moment, but the floor can be so impactful too," she says.

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  • 06 of 21

    Keep It Light

    yellow and blue kid's room

    Design by Mendelson Group / Photo by Eric Piasecki

    Another Mendelson Group kid's room features an outlined mustard yellow ceiling paired with blue grasscloth wallpaper. The colors create plenty of contrast, but the design's classic details will ensure it ages well.

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  • 07 of 21

    Rethink Stripes

    kid's room with yellow stripes

    Design by KLH Custom Homes / Photo by Diana Linea Photo

    A final suggestion from Hoekzema is stripes. "Stripes are always a good time," she says. "They can be remixed a million ways in subtle and bold hues, and wide or narrow dimensions."

    In this room, white walls have a sunny pop with yellow stripes.

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  • 08 of 21

    Paint the Rainbow

    bright kid's play room

    Design by Britt Design Group / Photo by Ryann Ford

    Teals, greens, reds, yellows, and oranges paired with grays and taupes lay the perfect foundation for any kid's room," says designer Shaunn Quayle of Britt Design Group. "To add a pop, choose a more saturated tone for a vibrant and fun space."

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  • 09 of 21

    Pick a Moody Tone

    kids room with statement ceiling

    Joy Meets Home

    Add a unique and unexpected touch by painting the ceiling a bold color. Jasmine Crockett of Joy Meets Home loves Benjamin Moore's Dark Olive for a ceiling or accent wall. "It adds a sense of drama and elevates the overall design," she says. "Keep the walls and other elements in the room relatively neutral to allow the painted ceiling to steal the show."

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  • 10 of 21

    Go for Painted Bunks

    blue bunk room

     Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

    We love a good bunk room, and this snoozy blue one from Chango & Co. hits the mark with a well-designed, kid-centered space. Instead of focusing on adding color through just bedding, paint the bunks themselves.

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  • 11 of 21

    Pick Out a Wild Color

    neon bunks

     Design by INC Architecture & Design  / Photo by Annie Schlechter

    Another creative bunk room idea takes cues from outer space with carved wooden bunks and a neon green interior. Personal reading lamps and patterned bedding make it a crowd-pleaser.

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  • 12 of 21

    Make Way for Scallops

    blue scallops in kid's room

    Design by KLH Custom Homes / Photo by Linea Photo

    Do you want something less common than stripes? Go for scallops. "Scallops feel less overt than circus tent stripes but give the same whimsical feel and atmosphere," Hoekzema says. "It can also read like waves if you look at it the other way."

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  • 13 of 21

    Get Festive With Florals

    floral kid's room

    Design bv Emily Henderson/ Photo by Sara Liggoria-Tramp

    While decorating this little one's room, Emily Henderson infused some whimsical details. This magical kid's room features a scalloped purple headboard, a pastel midcentury-inspired chandelier, and a hand-painted floral mural.

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  • 14 of 21

    Paint a Cheerful Focal Point

    yellow kid's bedroom

    Joy Meets Home

    Create a striking focal point in your child's room with an accent wall painted in Sherwin Williams' Lemon Twist," says Jasmine Crockett of Joy Meets Home

    "Lemon Twist will bring energetic and cheerful vibes, will make the wall pop, and will create a captivating backdrop for the room," she says. "Choose a wall that serves as a backdrop for a specific area, such as the bed or play area. Surround the accent wall with lighter complementary colors to make it stand out even more."

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  • 15 of 21

    Use Their Favorite Color

    pink kid's room

    Mary Patton Design

    Houston-based designer Mary Patton had plenty of fun designing her daughter's suite, featuring a pink bedroom and purple bathroom. Pale pink walls make a lovely, almost neutral, backdrop for vintage furnishings, a four-poster bed, and relaxed Roman shades.

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  • 16 of 21

    Lean Nautical

    blue striped kid's room

    Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Jacob Snavely Photography

    Striped textiles and cozy blue striped walls bring a charming edge to this kid's bedroom from Chango & Co. With classic colors and elevated furniture, this room will grow with your child.

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  • 17 of 21

    Paint a Built-in

    children's playroom

    Design by Ashby Collective / Photo by Clay Grier

    This playroom doesn't feature bright tones but is still family-friendly with a comfortable couch, concealed and open storage, and adorable children's chairs.

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  • 18 of 21

    Paint the Beams

    bunk room with blue and white

     Christina Kim Interior Design

    This neutral kid's space gets a lively touch of color with sea-toned beams. Throw in a surfboard, seafoam pillows, and textured neutrals for an ocean-inspired theme.

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  • 19 of 21

    Add a Picket Fence

    black-and-white bedroom

    Ghislaine Vinas

    These kids are sure to grow up chic. Black-and-white paint, striped bedding, and a white picket fence make for a classic New York bedroom.

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  • 20 of 21

    Delineate With Color-Blocking

    color-blocked kid's room

    Fantastic Frank

    This modern kid's room features a one-of-a-kind spin with color-blocked storage. Clothing storage is blue, while open shelving, hangers, and toys sit against neon yellow.

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  • 21 of 21

    Paint Custom Wallpaper

    painted wallpaper in nursery

    A Beautiful Mess

    Are you having trouble finding a wallpaper print unique enough for your child's room or new baby's nursery? This painted wallpaper idea from A Beautiful Mess is a pretty easy DIY. It features a ton of personal symbols outlined in baby pink paint.