Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications such as Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately... More »
If there's one spot in your house that practically begs for decorating fun, it's a kids' bathroom. The possibilities are many and tantalizing: exuberant tile, bright linens, quirky fixtures and candy-colored art. Trouble is, eventually the little ones grow up — and you don't want to invest a lost of cash in a room that will be forever stuck in the toddler years.
Your strategy: Keep the bones of the space simple and clean, then overlay them with whimsical accents and tot-friendly colors. Check out these 8 great kids' bathrooms for inspiration.
Between the brightly patterned rug, the colorful tile and the cool mirror string art, this bath broadcasts fun. But start stripping back the playful layers, and you're left with a sleek space that gets a little edge from the bright palette and the strong geometry.
The lesson: Creating a foundation that has staying power doesn't always mean you have to go neutral.
Pretty and fresh, this cottage-style bath feels just as right for a young woman as for a little girl. One simple, youthful touch — the floral shower curtain — completely changes the feel of the space. Although it wouldn't be out of place in an adult's bathroom, it could easily be exchanged for a more restrained pattern or tailored style.
Round mirrors and rugs arranged polka-dot style riff on the circular shape of the penny tiles that dress every surface of this space.
Little ones would love its playfulness, but if you swapped out the colorful accents for stylish, minimalist accessories, it would morph from sweet to sophisticated in a flash.
At first glance, this setup couldn't look simpler. But the tile treatment here is no easy feat: The homeowners managed to add a grid of pastel colors that stops just short of feeling childish.
The look works great for kids, but with a few artful additions, the tile walls could lend an almost pointillist look.
Proof in the power of accessories: A few brightly checkered towels, a quirky towel basket, a stuffed bunny, and this ultra-minimalist bath suddenly feels perfect for little ones. Now picture it with a sleek vase in place of the basket, crisp white linens and a piece of modern art propped at the end of the tub: a dramatic makeover with next to no sweat equity.
Picture this bath with simple brushed-nickel or pewter cabinet knobs instead of the chunky blue ones. It grows up instantly, right? Not only can something as minor as hardware transform the look of a room, small touches like this are a great approach to bringing whimsy into a kids' bath because they're so easy to undo down the road.
What tween wouldn't be all over this sizzling space? Hot color, a shot of pattern and a hint of glamour make for an irresistible combo. The saturated fuchsia feels much more adult than the paler pinks of girlhood.
