Kid’s Room Contest: Accessories that don’t sacrifice style

Decorate with these nine playful yet functional pieces.

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"Sometimes I encourage parents to splurge on smaller items that carry a lot of punch design-wise, like a terrific bolster pillow that really pulls things together," says Nancy Twomey, a Kid’s Room Contest judge and principal designer of Finnian’s Moon Interiors, a design firm in Alexandra that specializes in children’s rooms. DwellStudio’s Bookshelf Bus ($124) in orange has enough design punch to take center stage on a dresser or bookshelf.

DwellStudio /

Want to avoid the hassle of painting? Use wall decals instead. You can find examples to complement almost any color scheme or decorating theme, but Blik’s new Keith Haring Pattern Wall Tiles ($50) in black or white are abstract enough to work with all styles. Two 24-inch-by-48-inch tiles will get you started on invigorating a blank wall.

Stella S. Lee Photography / Blik

Mobiles are popular for hanging over cribs in nurseries, but they’re also making a comeback in rooms inhabited by older children and grown-ups. The Shoal of Fish mobile by Flensted Mobiles ($49) pleases old and young with eight swimming fish and a worm on a hook.

2Modern

Make organization fun with Pottery Barn Kids’ Mini Lazy Susan, ($39) which will spin art supplies your kids’ way when they’re practicing to become the next Picasso. In blue, white, red, yellow, green and pink.

Pottery Barn Kids

Every good children’s room has a reading spot, whether it’s a cozy chair or a fanciful tent. Stash favorite reading-time books in a <a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.giggle.com/nursery-decor/decor/Mouse-Storage-Caddy/SPR555,default,pd.html?start=23&cgid=nursery-decor-d%C3%A9cor'>mouse-embellished caddy</a> ($22) for easy access. The caddy has handles for when the young reader goes outside or to the library.

Every good children’s room has a reading spot, whether it’s a cozy chair or a fanciful tent. Stash favorite reading-time books in a mouse-embellished caddy ($22) for easy access. The caddy has handles for when the young reader goes outside or to the library.

Giggle

Land of Nod’s I Could’ve Bin a Container ($21.95) art caddy in pink, blue, lime or aqua can help organize sidewalk chalk, markers, paintbrushes, pencils and more on a desk or art table. (It’s also good for picking up Barbie shoes, Legos and other knickknacks around the house.)

Land of Nod

Furniture with longevity can come from unexpected places: A thrift-store dresser, painted anew and outfitted with knobs, can be a changing table, then a dresser, and then an entryway piece. Ikea’s PS 2012 ($549) chest in pine is also a good find: Painted, stained or left alone, it offers a quirky element to a room, and a fun place to store headbands and toy cars.

Bjorn Dahlgren / Ikea

<a data-xslt='_http' href='http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80215346/'>Ikea’s PS 2012 Collection</a> ($49.99 to 59.99) features linen duvet covers and pillowcases with delightful multicolored dots that, according to Ikea designer Maria Vinka, “are energetic and spread joy.” What better for a kid’s room than energy and joy?

Ikea’s PS 2012 Collection ($49.99 to 59.99) features linen duvet covers and pillowcases with delightful multicolored dots that, according to Ikea designer Maria Vinka, “are energetic and spread joy.” What better for a kid’s room than energy and joy?

Merete Karlsson / Ikea

“Don’t limit yourself just to kids’ stores — shop where you like to shop first,” says Apartment Therapy’s family editor, Carrie McBride. That said, when you do kid-centric offerings, McBride recommends 2Modern, Room & Board, Giggle and Unison Home. Find Charles and Ray Eames’s iconic polypropolene elephant chair at AllModern, ($320) another online shopping site that caters to both you and your kids.

Marc Eggimann

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Kid’s Room Contest: Accessories that don’t sacrifice style

Decorate with these nine playful yet functional pieces.

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