Whether you’re looking to give your little girl’s bedroom a makeover or are designing one from scratch, you’ve come to the right place for the best girls bedroom ideas.
Here at Ideal Home, we’ve toured and featured numerous stylish homes across the UK, many of which were family homes with children’s rooms to take inspiration from. Many of the featured girls’ bedrooms are charming and whimsical, filled with creative ideas that steer clear of cliches we all know all too well. ‘Designing a child's bedroom is one of the most enjoyable decorating projects in the home,’ says Cathryn Sanders, head of creative at Earthborn. ‘It offers an opportunity to be more playful with colour and creativity, while still creating a space that works for everyday life.’
But when it comes to a girl’s versus a boy’s bedroom ideas, these days the differences are very minimal as the approach to designing and decorating both is very similar, as we’ll see more below. ‘Ultimately, there doesn't need to be a significant distinction between designing a boy's or a girl's bedroom,’ says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director at Kelling Designs. ‘The approach remains the same: prioritise longevity, functionality, organisation and adaptability.’
1. Use your child’s personality as inspiration
‘Rather than designing around gender, it's more meaningful to create spaces that inspire, encourage independence and reflect each child's individual interests and personalities,’ Emma at Kelling Designs says.
The owner of this 1930s semi-detached house, Jenny took exactly this approach when decorating her daughter Sylvie’s bedroom. ‘I wanted this room to be fun and playful, as our daughter Sylvie loves animals, so this mural design was a real find as it perfectly encapsulates her style,' Jenny explains.
2. Add a whimsical wallpaper or mural
A girl’s bedroom is the perfect place to use some of your bolder and whimsical wallpaper ideas as they’re perfect for inspiring creativity and imaginative play. ‘Rather than focusing on trends or conventional stereotypes, creating a magical and imaginative environment that sparks creativity and storytelling should be the priority. Whimsical wallpapers, wall murals and tented ceilings can transform any bedroom into a space for exploration and play, regardless of age,’ Emma at Kelling Designs explains.
In their mid-century meets Japandi home in Leeds, Lucy and Andrew opted for a beautiful retro-style flowering wallpaper on all walls. ‘I wanted to use some pattern in the children’s rooms, to keep it a bit more fun,’ Lucy says.
3. Invest in versatile furniture
‘While a child’s room should express their personality and interests, it’s also a good idea to think about longevity and flexibility as your child grows,’ says Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at The Vawdrey House. ‘Start by ensuring the architectural decisions are timeless such as quality furniture.’
When selecting furniture for your daughter’s bedroom, it’s important to think about longevity and versatility and ask yourself whether these pieces can grow with her, plus extra points for designs that are multifunctional like this cabin bed (pictured above) in this colourful and patterned Surrey home. Designed by the homeowners for their nieces and nephew when they stay over, the cabin bed comes with built-in storage.
‘When it came to the front bedroom I saw a space for a cabin bed and seeing my little sketch come to life still blows my mind,’ the homeowner says.
4. Bring their interests and personality in with accessories and paint
In the name of longevity, it’s best to inject your child’s current interests and likes through the things that are easily changed up over time – from the likes of soft furnishings and wall art to the paint colour (or colours) on the walls.
‘By investing in timeless, solid foundations and allowing decor to be refreshed through paint, artwork or accessories, parents can create bedrooms that will feel relevant and enjoyable for many years to come,’ Emma at Kelling Designs advises.
In their home defined by neutrals with occasional pops of colour, the owners and parents used the same design ethos when it came to decorating their daughter’s bedroom. ‘We wanted a space that would grow with our daughter so kept the scheme neutral while adding pops of colour and playful touches without going overboard. We’ve kept it simple for now, which will encourage her to bring her own personality and interests into the space as she grows.’
5. Go for an alternative colour scheme to pink
For decades, a girl’s bedroom equaled a pink colour scheme. But this approach is slowly being left behind in favour of alternative colour choices and generally listening to the likes and wishes of the child that’s going to occupy the space.
‘We are increasingly seeing parents move away from the idea that certain colours belong to boys or girls. Instead, the focus is on creating spaces that reflect the individual child and how they want to use the room. Greens, blues, earthy neutrals, soft yellows and warm clay tones can all work beautifully in children's bedrooms regardless of age or gender. The most successful schemes tend to be those that focus on personality, comfort and longevity rather than traditional colour stereotypes,’ Cathryn at Earthborn says.
That’s exactly the approach Emily May took when decorating her children’s room in her Stafford family home. ‘I painted the children's bedroom green when my daughter was born, then changed it again when my son came along. Rather than creating two distinct looks in each half, I opted for a cosy neutral colour drench with a woodland and circus theme to please them both.’
6. Add a picture-height peg rail
Having enough storage in a child’s bedroom is key, whether it’s clothes or toy storage ideas. One of the most creative storage/display ideas we’ve come across is this picture-height peg rail that Vicky and Gareth Payne have added to their daughter’s bedroom in their Leigh-on-Sea family home.
‘We added a picture height peg rail around the room, which is great for displaying pieces of art, clothing and items we’ve collected from our holidays,’ Vicky says.
7. Don’t be afraid of an IKEA hack
There are several IKEA hacks out there that are perfect for updating, as well customising a girl’s bedroom. It’s a great way to get creative while keeping things budget-friendly. Jess and Oliver have employed this approach in their Hove family home and in their daughter’s bedroom.
‘For the built-in desk, we used IKEA storage units topped with a run of MDF, which I customised in the same peach and finished it with a delicate bobbin trim to elevate the design and add some character.’
8. Create a reading nook
Creating a space for your little one to engage in some reading is as important as a sleeping or a playing area. And the more comfortable and cosy it is, the more attractive it’s going to be for her to spend time in it.
When designing her daughter’s room in her Newton Abbot family home, Donya created a reading corner by adding a comfortable armchair with a frilly cushion framed by a pink canopy like this one from Amazon.
9. Add texture with wall panelling
Just like any other room or space in the house, a kid’s room also needs different textures to avoid it looking flat and boring. And wall panelling ideas are a great place to start.
And it doesn’t even have to cover all four walls – or even the entirety of a wall, as this child’s bedroom in a coastal Dorset family home proves. ‘We used panelling in our daughter's room as a feature wall, with a shelf above for her to display her art and other favourite pieces,’ the home owner says.
10. Make a feature out of stylish storage
We all know trying to keep on top of kids bedroom storage can be challenge, so try to make a feature out of their wares instead. Choose a slim shelving unit with a combination of doors and open shelving so you can choose what stays out on show.
Baskets are great for stashing away soft toys or dressing up clothes as part of girls bedroom decorating. And if you add a pot plant or two to the shelves, it will make it feel smarter and more of a feature in the room.
11. Mix and match colourful furniture
All kids love colour so where better to inject a rainbow of shades than in their own bedroom? Upcycled furniture ideas – such as painting them in complementary tones – create inviting girls bedroom ideas that feel cosy as well as uplifting.
This look suits period style properties perfectly, continue the theme with colourful artwork mounted in painted frames.
12. Calm with pastels
Pink bedroom ideas are probably the go-to when it comes to most colour schemes for girls. So, add a little originality to the look by teaming the sugary shade with gentle pastels for a less sickly look as Jaisie and Matt Needham have done in their daughter's room in their Scandi-inspired home.
'Pastel tones can work well as they help create a nurturing and calming atmosphere. Lighter tones will keep the bedroom feeling open and airy,' Emma at Kelling Designs says.
13. Jazz up walls with stickers
Little girls change their tastes as they grow into their tweens, so an easily adaptable backdrop will futureproof your scheme as a teenage girls bedroom idea.
Pretty wall stickers peel off easily. So sweet girly motifs such as butterflies, rainbows or stars, as in the case of Jo and Chris's daughter's bedroom in their coastal Essex home, can be swapped for more mature and funky polka dots later without compromising the rest of the scheme.
14. Focus on a fun bed
Inject a touch of Scandi cool into your girls bedroom ideas with a minimalist house-shaped bed. The roof-shaped frame becomes even more of a stunning feature when decorated with fairy lights, like these ones from Amazon, and colourful pom poms as these Amazon ones. A low-level option makes a smooth transition when moving from cot to bed.
15. Take inspiration from pretty vintage looks
Bring a touch of country charm to your little girls’ bedroom with shabby chic furniture and chintzy rose prints. It's a girls bedroom decorating idea that will suit both younger and older girls so makes a safe choice that will last.
Mel and Greig Sinclair gave their daughter's room in their Scotland family home a vintage charm with the choice of bed. 'We opted for a secondhand mid-riser bed to give her storage space underneath. It was black but I sprayed it gold,’ Mel says.
16. Take the plunge with a bright wall colour
Without a doubt there is a very strong chance your daughter will long for nothing more than a bright pink bedroom. Pick a vibrant coral or blush shade that will satisfying her pink craving but hopefully lasts into her teen years.
These gold circle wall stickers are perfect for spicing up a simple pink bedroom wall decor. However, if you find that your little girl does grow out of the pink shade don't worry, simply peel off the stickers and paint over the walls.
17. Choose a wallpaper that will grow with her
This is the sort of wallpaper that will grow with your daughter as she become a young woman. The playful retro print will be as magical to her now when she's singing along to Frozen, as it will when she's rocking out as a teenager.
All this room needs to make this leap is simply a switch from rag dolls to photos of friends.
18. Showcase personality with a gallery wall
Whatever their age, add some personality to their space with an art gallery-style wall display idea. For younger girls framing their favourite fictional characters, quotations or posters will make them more emotionally drawn to the space. Likewise for older teenage girls the same can be said for framed photos of loved ones. It's all about making sure the space reflects their developing personality.
For their daughter's room in their Scandi-style family home, Kat Collins and Toby Sealey created a beautiful display wall just above her bed.
19. Turn a chest of drawers into a work of art
Pick up a simple untreated chest of drawers – check out local furniture shops and flea markets or buy new from the likes of IKEA. Then pick out some tester pots, but stick to a palette or no more than four or five shades.
Paint freehand – or make life easier by creating a stencil from stiff card in simple geometric patterns.
20. Paint a backdrop to imaginative play
You don't have to have amazing art skills to paint a wall mural that will stimulate your little girl's imagination. Use Frog Tape, available at Amazon, to mask off triangular 'peaks', throw on some orange or green paint, and suddenly, you're up in the mountains thanks to this fun paint idea.
21. Add a roll-out bed for sleepovers
If space is an issue, a bed with drawers underneath works really well as you can never have enough storage in a child’s bedroom.
Alternatively, one that incorporates a pull-out bed underneath is ideal for sleepovers. If space is tight, try adding mirrors above a desk to give the illusion of more space.
FAQs
How do I decorate a girl's bedroom on a budget?
The first element to think about is the walls. 'Keep them pared back or age-neutral so the backdrop can remain as girls bedroom ideas change as they grow through themes and interests,' says Rachel Homer, interiors writer and mum of two. 'When it comes to furniture invest in a set that will again last them into their teens or update pre-loved furniture in their favourite colours.'
Think about ways to update the space with things you already have at home. Left over paint can be utilised to create a feature wall or 'headboard' on the wall. Excess fabric can be used to make new cushions for the bed and pieces of furniture that might not be quite right in other rooms of your home, might work better in your little girls room instead.
How do you make a girl's room pretty?
There are lots of ways to add pretty through girls bedroom decorating, like with cute accessories or with hanging lights. Opt to use floaty or embroidered fabrics for curtains and on cushions. Hang delicate fairy lights from walls or over the bed to create a twinkling canopy. Frame cut offs of floral wallpapers to create a cute gallery wall.
How do I keep a girl's bedroom tidy?
As well as usual storage such as shelves and furniture, make organising exciting by making fun labels with them for storage bins. Decorate and display pretty sweet or candy jars on open shelves to hold little 'knick-knacks' and accessories.
Another fun angle of girls bedroom ideas is to make belongings part of the decor, for instance, hats and jewellery will look decorative hung in a line on peg rails. Lastly, make storage easily accessible so your child can easily clean up on their own when asked.
‘Ultimately, a child's bedroom should be somewhere that sparks imagination, feels comfortable to spend time in and can evolve naturally as they grow,’ Cathryn at Earthborn concludes.
