Kids' Room

This big-boy room is acres of fun. The farm-theme bedroom is also functional -- a play space and bedroom that can grow with its occupant. A window seat is a place to rest or play, and oodles of built-in shelves with cubbies stretch to the ceiling. An unfinished table and chairs were painted to match the room’s bright decor.

Duvets and pillows made from a bright toile and coordinating plaid bring the deep wall color to the beds. The prints also tone down the dazzling effect of white matelasse coverlets and furnishings. An oversize green check and medium stripe coordinate the shams and bed skirt.

This high-flying bedroom is a lively place for a young boy to spread his wings. A boy-friendly blue color palette is accented with red and white. The walls feature amazingly detailed drawings of painted clouds and biplanes, which are repeated in the bedding.

Embrace the bolder side of a classic pink-and-yellow palette with a vibrant nursery that's as fun as it is sweet. The crib, outfitted with floral fabrics, gets a starring role in the center of the room. A wide band of pink paint echoes the window treatments' two-tone design. It also adds a bit of fun and visual interest.

It's okay to saturate a tween's room with color. In this energetic space, peel-and-stick dots dress up the walls now, but can be removed if the occupant's taste changes. A large desk unit provides storage, and a toy box converted into a bench is a place to sit and read.

A class banner, a flag, and some snappy locker-look storage make a schoolhouse theme sing in this kids' playroom. Instead of desks and homework, lucky tots in this room get to flop into comfy chairs or have a blast playing on the hopscotch rug. Soaring in place of a window valance, felt pennants add a personal touch to the room.

Start with a great color on the walls, add lots of textures in furnishings, then drop in cool materials and accessories for a room that will keep a young boy happy through his teen years. Rugby-shirt stripes and madras were the inspiration for this colorful space.