Kara+Ian's First Big Kid Bedroom

People often ask me what my favorite type of space to design is, and while I love every type of room for different reasons, I have to be honest: it's kids' bedrooms. Children's rooms are just so fun. There's usually lots of color and texture and pattern, which is always exciting, but more than that, kids know how to use their spaces creatively. In adult rooms, we have clear rules: sofas for sitting, dressers for storage, beds for sleeping; pillows for lounging and decor on the fireplace mantel.

But kids don't have any such rules. They love soft pillows, which are used for forts or fights or tumbling mats as often as they are for lounging. They get to know all the surfaces in their rooms, they know what's beside and behind and beneath. Things get dragged around and upended and well used and well loved.

In Mason's bedroom, we wanted to make sure there was plenty of opportunity for him to be able to play, create, color, read, and dream. He's only just graduating to a big kid bed, and he's currently obsessed with airplanes, so we pulled together a room that reflects the things he loves. Here's the room before:

And after!

The airplane bed is just so fun; I love that it includes a little book shelf where his current favorites can be on display. We brought in a cozy beanbag chair that will grow with him, and a fun squiggle rug with lots of color. There are bookshelves for all his books and toys, and a table for coloring or projects. And lots and lots of airplanes.

We whipped up this airplane mobile for above his bed, creating a fun anchoring piece for that corner without having anything dangerous overhead while he sleeps.

Like I said—fun, color, pattern, whimsy. What's not to love?