Behind the Design of Sailor’s Room
As our youngest and only girl, I wanted Sailor’s room to feel like a little world created entirely for her. A space that felt feminine, imaginative and dreamy, where she could be surrounded by the things she loves most and simply enjoy being six.
Sailor is incredibly creative. She loves pink in every shade, flowers, ballet, fashion, reading, playing with her dolls and using her imagination. I wanted those pieces of her personality to guide the design rather than creating a room that simply felt like a beautiful “girl’s room.”
The result is playful and whimsical, but there’s intention behind every layer. Some pieces were chosen to grow with her, while others are here simply because they make this season of childhood feel a little more magical.
Live in the Era You’re In
One thing I often tell our clients when we’re designing children’s spaces is: live in the era you’re in.
It can be tempting to design several years ahead because children grow and change so quickly. And while I absolutely believe in investing in forever pieces that can evolve with them, I also believe there is something really special about creating a room that celebrates exactly who they are right now.
Sailor won’t sleep in a castle bed forever. But I hope she remembers what it felt like to climb into a castle every night, fall asleep surrounded by beautiful wallpaper and have a room that gave her permission to dream and imagine.
I still remember wallpaper from rooms I spent time in as a child. Those patterns become part of the background of our memories in ways we don’t always realize until much later.
DESIGN TIP: DESIGN FOR THE SEASON YOU’RE IN
Choose foundational pieces with longevity, then give yourself permission to layer in playful elements that celebrate your child’s current age, interests and imagination. A well-designed children’s room can grow with them without skipping over the magic of where they are today.
Build the Room Layer by Layer
One of the things I love about Sailor’s room is that we didn’t have to start completely over to make it feel entirely new.
The existing wall paneling was something I knew I wanted to keep. It already gave the room beautiful architectural character and is part of the design history of our home. From there, we replaced the carpet with a wood-look LVP from Lucida Surfaces, which gave us a clean, functional foundation that still has the warmth of wood. I especially love this type of flooring in children’s rooms and secondary bedrooms because it feels elevated while still standing up beautifully to everyday life.
Then came the layers that brought Sailor into the room.
We partnered with York Wallcoverings x Rifle Paper Co. on the floral wallpaper, replacing the more neutral pattern that had previously been in the space with something colorful, cheerful and dreamy. Sailor loves flowers, gardening and painting flowers, so it felt like such a natural way to connect the design back to something she genuinely loves.
Against the existing white paneling, the wallpaper brings in pattern and personality while still allowing the architectural details to have their moment. Together, the flooring, millwork and wallpaper created the foundation we needed to begin layering in all of the more playful pieces that make the room feel uniquely hers.
DESIGN TIP: DON’T SKIP THE DESIGN LAYERS IN CHILDREN’S SPACES
Children’s rooms and secondary bedrooms deserve the same thoughtful details as the rest of your home. Millwork, wallpaper, flooring and specialty lighting can take a room to an entirely different level—and those foundational layers can often remain even as the room evolves with them.
Let Their Personality Build the Palette
When I’m designing a child’s room, I love looking at the “color palette of their life.”
What do they wear? What colors are they naturally drawn to? What do they collect? What are their hobbies? What makes them excited?
For Sailor, the answers were everywhere: shades of pink, tutus, sparkles, flowers and all things feminine and playful.
The vintage rug became an early foundation for the room. I found it when Sailor was still a baby and immediately knew it belonged to her. Its colors, tones and playfulness felt like something that could stay with her for years, and we truly built so much of the room’s palette from there.
DESIGN TIP: START WITH THE RUG
A rug can give you a roadmap for the rest of a room. Pull from its colors, tones and overall feeling as you select wallpaper, textiles, lighting and accessories. It’s one of my favorite ways to create a layered space that still feels connected.
Create Space for Imagination
The castle bed was one of those pieces that instantly made sense for this room. It’s functional, but more importantly, it brings such a sense of playfulness and imagination.
The space underneath creates its own little play zone where Sailor can keep her dolls, stroller, vanity and favorite toys. When friends come over, they immediately want to play in the castle.
I love creating an atmosphere that quietly says, be creative, use your imagination.
There will be plenty of time for grown-up furniture later. Right now, there can be castles.
The hot air balloons floating overhead carry that feeling upward. I wanted something magical and lighthearted above the chair—another unexpected detail she can look up at that adds to the feeling of being inside her own little world.
Let Lighting Be Part of the Color Story
Lighting became another opportunity to have fun with color.
So many fixtures naturally lean toward neutral materials and metal finishes, which made the pink detail in Sailor’s central light fixture feel especially fun. It plays beautifully against the floral wallpaper and white paneling while bringing another little moment of color into the room.
We echoed that detail with pink glass sconces on the castle bed. They add function at bedtime while also becoming part of the playful design.
DESIGN TIP: USE LIGHTING AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COLOR
When you’re looking for places to introduce a pop of color, don’t forget the lighting. A colored glass shade or unexpected finish can add personality without requiring another piece of furniture or textile.
Make Their Favorite Things Part of the Design
Some of my favorite “art” in Sailor’s room isn’t art at all.
We hung her ballet shoes, a special tutu she wears while performing The Nutcracker for our family at Christmas and dresses connected to sweet childhood memories. Instead of choosing something simply to fill the wall, these pieces tell us something about the little girl who lives here.
They also bring another layer of texture through tulle, lace, fabric and woven hangers.
Her pinboard serves a similar purpose. It gives Sailor a place to collect Polaroids, postcards from our travels, ribbons, notes from her grandparents and little memories with friends. The best part is that she gets to interact with it and change it herself.
DESIGN TIP: THINK BEYOND TRADITIONAL ART
A favorite dress, ballet shoes, a collection or another sentimental object can become beautiful wall decor while adding texture and meaning. In a child’s room especially, displaying the things they love can help the space feel truly theirs.
Design for How the Room Will Be Lived In
As playful as Sailor’s room is, I still wanted every piece to support how she actually uses the space.
The rattan swivel chair gives us a comfortable place to sit together, whether one of her brothers is coming in to read with her or Sailor and I are talking, playing or dancing. Her castle bed creates a world for imaginative play, but at the end of the day, it still needs to be a cozy place to sleep.
We partnered with Beddy’s and chose their Monroe Luxe Bedding for the castle bed. It’s incredibly soft and cozy, while the signature zippered design makes the bed functional enough for Sailor to easily make herself—a detail I especially love for a bed like this one.
I always invest in good bedding for children because their bed is where they begin and end their days. I want it to feel layered, soft and comforting—the same way I want the rest of their room to feel like a place where they can settle in and be completely themselves.
And I think that’s what I love most about this room. It feels joyful. It feels playful and whimsical. It feels like an imagination zone where Sailor can dance and twirl, read, play with her dolls, invite her friends into her castle or simply climb into bed at the end of the day.
More than anything, it celebrates who she is in this exact season of her life. And to me, that’s what joyful living is all about.
DESIGN TIP: THINK BEYOND HOW THE ROOM LOOKS
Especially in children’s spaces, think about how the room will feel and function throughout the day. Create places to play, rest, gather and connect, and choose pieces that make those everyday moments more comfortable and enjoyable.
Create a Space That Feels Like Home
Whether we’re designing a space for the entire family or a room created around one child’s personality, our goal at House Sprucing is always to create a home that feels personal, beautiful and designed for the way you actually live.
If you’re dreaming about what your own home could become, we’d love to help you create a space that feels more like you.
Inquire about House Sprucing design services to get started on your project. Visit the House Sprucing showroom from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday, or call or text us at 214-471-0917.