Children's wallpaper

Which wallpaper suits a children's room?

A good wallpaper for a children's room has a motif that works with play, rest and furniture that changes over time. Choose the scale according to the size of the room and how closely the motif will be seen. Stars Wallpaper is an example of a clear yet easy-to-read motif. It is also worth comparing animal wallpapers and spotted wallpapers before settling on a direction.

Will a children's motif last as the child grows older?

A children's motif lasts longer when the colour palette and form are broader than a short-lived favourite. Nature, stars, birds and graphic shapes tend to be easier to combine if the bed, storage and textiles are replaced later on. Bird Song Wallpaper and Nautilus Wallpaper show two routes where the motif can feel playful without becoming too tied to a particular age.

Is wallpaper in a children's room washable?

How hard-wearing and wipeable a wallpaper is depends on the material and surface finish, so always check the care instructions on the product page. In a children's room it is wise to think especially carefully about walls near the bed, play areas and storage. If you want to complement with textiles, child-friendly fabrics may be a better choice for surfaces exposed to more direct contact.

Should you wallpaper one wall or the whole children's room?

A feature wall works when the motif is large or colourful and you want to keep the rest of the room calmer, whereas a small-scale pattern can often work on every wall. Mickey In the Clouds Wallpaper can carry a striking feature wall, while a calmer pattern can create better coherence around the whole room. Let the furniture layout decide which wall is actually seen.

Which colours work in a nursery?

In a nursery, muted colours often work better than sharp contrasts, since the room has to cope with rest, bedtime and play alike. That does not have to mean beige: soft greens, blues, yellows and powdery tones can be just as calming. Try the colour in the room's own light and compare with Sanderson wallpapers and Designers Guild wallpapers.

Children's room wallpaper: start with scale and longevity

When choosing wallpaper for a children's room it is easy to start with the motif and forget how the surface actually needs to work. A large pattern can be calmer than a small-scale one when the repeat has room to breathe and the colour contrast is soft. Equally, a small motif can become quite intense if it is repeated densely across four walls. So look at the room's wall widths, the placement of the furniture and the distance from which the wallpaper will most often be seen. Stars Wallpaper, Mickey In the Clouds Wallpaper and Nautilus Wallpaper show three entirely different ways of working with scale.

Children's rooms change quickly. A good choice therefore needs to work even when the cot becomes a junior bed, the play corner becomes a desk and the storage changes shape. That is one reason why motifs featuring nature, sky, animals or graphic rhythm are often easier to live with for a long time than a very specific character. For those who want a more narrative expression there are, for example, Cabaret Wallpaper and Mediterranea Wallpaper. If you would rather keep the wall calmer, the textiles can carry more of the colour.

Fabrics in a children's room are welcome to do a practical job

Textiles in a children's room can be used to soften sound, filter daylight and create smaller zones within the room. Little Georgette Dot Fabric gives a graphic expression, while Parrot And Palm Fabric and Chimney Swallows Fabric work more with motifs. For a distinctly child's-eye perspective there are also Sanderson Minnie On the Move Fabric and Sanderson Bambi Fabric. Always check the recommended use of the material if the fabric is to sit on a piece of furniture that is used every day.

It is rarely necessary for everything in the room to share the same theme. If the wallpaper is narrative, the curtain can be simpler. If the wall is graphic, a patterned fabric can add more personality. On the fabrics page and the page for child-friendly fabrics you can compare expressions without turning the room into one big family of motifs.

Feature wall or four walls?

A feature wall is most justified when it has a clear architectural role: behind the bed, by a reading corner or on a wall that is seen straight from the door. It does not need to be the default solution simply because the room is a children's room. In many cases, wallpaper around the whole room gives a calmer result, since the motif becomes a backdrop rather than a lone effect. If you are considering a feature wall, spotted wallpapers, striped wallpapers and animal wallpapers offer clear comparisons of different pattern rhythms.

Light, furniture and the next room in the house

A children's room needs both general light and lower light sources for reading and evenings. A wall lamp such as the Farfalle Wall Lamp Large can provide a fixed point of light without taking up floor space. At the same time, keep walkways clear and let the larger pieces of furniture determine where the most vulnerable wallpaper surfaces end up. If you need more furniture options, furniture and lighting are available as separate entry points.

A children's room also needs to work with the rest of the home. Try linking colours or materials to the bedroom or the living room rather than making the children's room entirely detached. When logged in, you can visualise wallpaper and fabric from the product page in the room before you order. You can then bring photos and measurements to the showroom at Sturegatan 20 in Stockholm for free consultation and to compare samples.

Try the pattern where the child actually sees it

A wallpaper sample should stay on the wall for a few days before you decide. Look at it from the bed, from the floor and from the doorway, since a children's room is used at different heights from an adult's room. A motif that feels small in the hand can become prominent across a whole wall. Compare it against the floor, storage and the textiles that are staying. If you are choosing between wallpaper and fabric in the same colour family, it is better to let the shades be related rather than exactly identical.

For a room that is going to change, it is wise to build a stable base and let the most age-specific details be replaceable. Wallpaper can be the base if the pattern is broad enough in expression; otherwise the wall can stay calm and the motif can move to a curtain, cushion or throw. That way the child's interests can take their place without every new phase requiring the whole room to be redone.