DIY: How to create a neutral child's room with pops of colour

DIY: How to create a neutral child’s room with pops of colour

Make a cute picture the focal point of the room by sticking to a fairly neutral palette with the odd hit of colour

Photography by: Melanie Jenkins/Flash Studios

Inspired by a bird painting, the child’s room’s palette is mostly neutral, allowing the artwork to sing. Splashes of colour on the bookshelf and bedhead trim tie the colours of the wall art into the room’s colour scheme.

This neutral child's bedroom is painted in Resene Half Milk Punch with accent colours of yellow, blue and red — Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Milk Punch. Floor painted in Resene Walk-on in Resene Half Milk Punch. Bedhead painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Half Milk Punch and shelving trim in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Ziggurat. Charles’ bedside table, $49, from Kmart, is painted in Resene Corvette with the feet and arch painted in Resene Jacko Bean. Beth Xia Tūī art print, $89, from Endemicworld. ON BED Kip & Co Limoncello Stripe duvet, $245; and pillowcases, $85; both from Allium Interiors. Bloomingville cushion, $149; Olli Ella toy, $89; Cam Cam moon light, $85; and Olli Ella lamp, $189; all from Little Whimsy.

Bedhead

Create a neutral child’s room bedhead by recycling old cardboard tubes. We used high-density recycled cores (ours were 1200mm long, $5 each, from Auckland Paper Tubes). Prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer UnderCoat. When dry, paint two coats of Resene Half Milk Punch, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly. Line the tubes up and either use bulldog clips to secure them together at the top and bottom, or for a more permanent fixture, lightly nail them directly to the wall. Finish the look by painting a pre-cut piece of untreated pine. We used Resene Ziggurat as a contrast, then rested it on top of the tubes. Attach to the wall using brackets.

The bookshelf is painted in Resene Mexican Red and pops in this neutral child's room, but the colours tie in with the artwork — Shelving painted in Resene Mexican Red. Olli Ella Petal lamp, $189; Liewood Kylian storage box, $89; Little Axel’s Axolotl book, $16.79; The Body Book, $22.99; A Life Song book, $24; Recycling Day book, $27.99; and pouffe, $89; all from Little Whimsy. Corduroy lion toy, $69; and Puddle goose toy, $62.90; both from Allium Interiors. Emile Holmewood Inu Hariko art print, $169 (medium, unframed), from Endemicworld. Studio Roof wall art beetle, $44.95 (A4), from Father Rabbit.

Shelving

Choose one of the strong colours from the featured piece of art to paint your room’s bookshelves in. We decided to play up the red. Prep by cleaning and lightly sanding the shelves, then prime with Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer UnderCoat. Paint two coats of Resene Mexican Red, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.