Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the web’s best products. If you purchase through our links, we may receive a commission. Our editorial team is independent and only endorses products we believe in.
It seems nursery tours and reveals dominate the internet – but what happens after the baby outgrows the nursery? In my *humble* opinion, designing a great toddler room might just be more important than creating the perfect nursery. While nurseries are amazing, toddlers and kids require the perfect blend of fun and functional in their space. As a not-quite-beige mom, I also was hoping to strike the balance of not-too-grown-up but also not full of ugly characters (sorry, not sorry!). So, over the past month or so, I got to work designing and implementing the perfect “big boy room.” Read on to see how it went and for the before and after!
We like
We don't like
The Nursery Before
When our son came home last year via adoption, we had less than 4 days notice. Going from a basically unused guest room to a nursery in a few days meant that we had to get creative and buy things very quickly. I think overall considering the situation, I’m proud of how his space turned out, but it definitely wasn’t the space I had imagined we’d have for our first child.
I love the fun wall art we’d gotten from McKenzie Fisk (that was actually purchased well before kids!), so I knew we’d keep that and animals as a central theme for the big boy room. I also was acutely aware when designing the space that we were working with a small space. We live in a very urban setting in a 110-year-old home, meaning space is limited and we’d have to get creative about layout and products. We also are hoping to eventually move our son’s baby brother in the room with him, so that was yet again another consideration in our design.
The Big Ticket Items
Selecting the bigger ticket items for my son’s room was a little overwhelming. I wasn’t sure how “big boy” to get. What would he grow out of? What was too old for his age? I landed on what I think is a healthy mix of big boy, but not too big! One of my key pieces was the Babyletto Yuzu 3-Drawer Dresser. I know what you’re thinking: Babyletto? Isn’t that for babies? Yes – and no. This dresser is intended for a nursery, but it also has a removable changing station for the glorious day they are potty trainer. I felt it was sophisticated enough to keep around for a while – and the quality is great, too.
I also went for the Newton Kids’ Twin Mattress. As a long time user of the crib mattress (check out my full review here!), this felt like a no-brainer for his room upgrade. I know his suffocation risk has gone down greatly, but my mama heart still worries. Plus, in these messy times of potty training, it is still the best washable mattress on the market, no question. As for the bed, I ended up going with a cheaper option from JOYMOR, this Low Twin Over Twin Bunk Bed. While I’m generally happy with the way it looks, installation could not have sucked more. My husband, a pretty competent guy who renovated our house top to bottom, struggled immensely for nearly 7 hours on this one. Woof…. If I were to do it again (with deeper pockets), I’d get the Oeuf Perch Bunk Bed ($1,980).
We like
We don't like
The Cozy Items
I knew the cozy items would be a huge part of how this room came together, perhaps even more so than the big-ticket items, so I sought out some advice from a pro: Kylie Katich. A self-taught DIYer represented by Parker Talent Management, Kylie had this to say to me about this upgrade: “Boys deserve beautiful rooms just as much as little girls! I think the wow-factor for a child’s room lives in all the little details: pops of color, woven baskets full of toys, art framed on the wall or maybe even a special jersey/sweater hung up with care on a darling hook. If I were to prioritize one thing about a big boy room it would be to make storage available and accessible for play!”
Thus, being play-accessible became my goal. What’s more play-accesssible than the Nugget couch? I’d argue that the brand’s new launch, the Chunk Play Ottoman might just be! This ottoman solidified Nugget’s place in our home forever. It looks great in the room and they absolutely love to use it for all sorts of imaginative play! Speaking of play, we swapped out our rug for Totter & Tumble’s Harvester Play Mat… and what an upgrade this has been. In the age of daring tricks and “Mom! Watch this,” I love the extra padding as they explore in a way only boys can. The reversible mat is very easy to clean with a simple spray and wipe, giving me another reason to love it. Finally, by recommendation from another TQE Editor, we went with the Percale Duvet Cover from UK-based brand Piglet in Bed for it. I wish this thing was on my bed. It feels so incredibly luxurious, yet perfectly lived in.
We like
We don't like
We like
We don't like
The Details
And what would design be without details? Answer: nothing. I upgraded our crappy little baby monitor for the VAVA Baby Monitor with Split Screen, because let’s be real: toddlers still need baby monitors… maybe even more than babies themselves. I thought I wouldn’t like the big 10” screen, but really, I don’t know how I lived without this. With the capability to add more than one camera with split screens, this monitor and I might not ever separate… like ever.
In the spirit of teaching my son to put away his dirty clothes, I got the Open Spaces x Onsen collaboration for their Laundry Hamper. It is so sleek and just well-designed. It has a removable drawstring bag with a carrying handle. In other words, he might take this to college with him. My final detail is one I haven’t yet pulled the trigger on: a Montessori stacking shelf. I really love this one from Piccalio. I have their kitchen helper tower and it is so great, so I imagine this shelf is nothing less. Our books are a bit out of reach right now for my son and I want him to be able to access them freely in this new phase!
We like
We don't like
Putting the “Fun” in Functional
Though I had only a small space to work with (big city, small living!), I am so geeked with how my son’s room turned out. It’s not perfect, by any means, but it is full of special things that are both functional and playful. And as a partially-beige mom, I love the way it looks, too. I’d say this project has been a win all around! Here’s to many more years of fun and function in this room.
