When the London-based designer Matilda Goad shared a photo of her daughter Domino’s bedroom on Instagram recently, as a 35-year-old woman I felt no shortage of bedroom envy. The attic room was cosseted in floral wallpaper by the Swedish designer Josef Frank (both walls and the ceiling, for extra cosiness) and featured joinery painted with Edward Bulmer Paint in French Blue (it’s not available in Ireland, but try Designers Guild Perfect Eggshell in Forget Me Not; from €37 at Stillorgan Decor) that was finished with bamboo handles from Goad’s hardware collection (from €15; matildagoad.com). Chic, to say the least.
The best kids’ rooms, however, have wonder at the heart of them. They’re a retreat. A place in which to build forts or to pluck a book from a heaving shelf on a rainy day. A place for fairy lights, crayons (just not on the fancy wallpaper), cuddly toys and all sorts of magic. The greatest interior schemes lean into this, leaving room for those little idiosyncrasies and personalisations, rather than decorating according to a set of rules.
If you’re looking for inspiration, I’d recommend Elfie London (elfielondon.com), the brand co-founded by Rebecca Guinness that sells prints for the home and throws back to much-loved children’s illustrators such as Elsa Beskow and Richard Scarry (remember him?). For a visual feast, follow Emma Diaz Santiago (@emmapigsandroses), founder of the Spanish kidswear brand Pigs & Roses (pigsandroses.com) — the decor in her house rivals a Wes Anderson tableau.
Siobhan McFadden (@home__stead), a colour consultant from Co Donegal, who lives in Edinburgh with her family, designed her six-year-old daughter Úna’s bedroom with nostalgia in mind. She eschewed new buys, finding vintage pieces from charity shops and eBay, and upcycling furniture found at a local salvage yard. Her tip? Don’t scrimp on soft furnishings: “Lots of pretty blankets and pillows feel cosy,” she says. McFadden recommends Habitat and Dunnes Stores for everyday pieces, and the US site Willaby (willabyshop.com)
for a splurge.
When it comes to pretty things, there are so many to be had. Jane Carroll in Blackrock, Co Dublin, stocks beautiful quilts that can be personalised (from €98; janecarolldesign.com). Les Trois Enfants is home to tasteful play mats for toddlers by Toddlekind (€115; lestroisenfants.ie).
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Meanwhile, Barn on Exchequer Street, Dublin 2 notes how Ferm Living’s hand-carved wall hooks in animal shapes (€21 each; wearebarn.com) are best-sellers for longevity: kids won’t grow out of them as they get bigger.
If my obsession continues, perhaps I’ll take a cue from Amy Green — the sister of Rachel Green on Friends, played by Christina Applegate, who declared herself an aspiring baby stylist — and attempt a side hustle as a baby interior decorator. My first job? Purchasing elaborate wallpaper and scallop-trim home accessories — all in the name of research, of course.
Round up toys in a woven basket with a scallop trim, €15.99; zarahome.com
Yaya Studio prints will add fun to any bedroom, from €17.14 for an A4 print; yayastudio.co.uk, or shop a selection at Les Trois Enfants; lestroisenfants.ie
A kids’ room or den area is the perfect excuse to go adventurous with wallpaper. The Hollyhocks wallpaper, from €210 per roll, by House of Hackney is an investment that will stand the test of time; houseofhackney. com
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Siobhan McFadden’s daughter’s bedroom, with a swan wall fixture by Sew Heart Felt (sewheartfelt.co.uk), Piglet In Bed linens (pigletinbed.com), an Ikea book rack and Uppark wallpaper by Farrow & Ball. Email enquiries@studiohomestead.co.uk
This mini-lamp with a metal base and cotton floral lampshade punches above its €49.99 price tag; zarahome.com
Neutral wall hangings work well in boys’ and girls’ bedrooms, €14.99; hm.com
A linen stork made to order by Love Me Decoration and available at Les Trois Enfants, €55; lestroisenfants.ie
