Add crown moulding whenever and where-ever possible! LOL!

BUT skip the chair rails -- so that furniture like bookshelves and tables can fit flush against the wall.

Keep the walls simple with one color -- and add lots of bulletin boards so that there can be colorful posters and add a family photo display for each child's room. Bullein boards will also mean that posters can be easily switched -- and artworks can be added too!

Check the Pottery Barn Kids website for more ideas ......

Here is a link that might be useful: Pottery Barn kids website

Thanks, I didn't realize that about chair rails. I suppose I should skip it then.

If you have baseboards your furniture won't fit flush against the walls anyways chair rail or not. One reason I am not so wild about chair railings is that I've often just found a room split in two to be funny looking. That is unless one frames out squares or something underneath the railing w/ picture moulding to make it look like expensive paneling.

I agree w/ Teacats - if the option of crown moulding is available do it up! Excellent suggestions as usual from Teacats about the bulletin boards.

One thing that I am doing in my kids rooms is using the closet doors as a blackboard. I have to get custom doors made for them & I am going to have 1 paneled doors made & paint the inset w/ chalkboard paint.

I love decorating kids rooms. I always start with bedding and decorate around that. Here's a good link with tons of ideas. Of course you don't need to do a theme but it's a good starting point for inspiration.

Kids Room Theme ideas

You want the rooms to be consistent, and why wouldn't a boy's room have crown molding? He might grow up to be an architect!

I'd skip the chair rail in a 60s house, since you like modern.

I'm not such a fan of theme rooms, as their interests change so quickly, but picking the linens/rugs/curtains first does help with wall colors, etc. I'd go pretty neutral with the baby, so that you can keep using the same colors as he grows. Dwell Baby at Target has some fresh, modern designs that aren't typical.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dwell Studio

I agree with suggestion to skip the chair rail. Granted the base boards also stick out, but furniture may have to stick out further still to accomodate electrical cords; plus I feel it will make the small rooms appear smaller.

We also have small bedrooms and one of the keys to making it work is to make the most of your closet space with organizers, even closet drawers if there is room. You can add open shelving to store toys in plastic bins. If you can eliminate the need for a dresser it allows more space for a bookcase, desk, toy storge, etc. Considera bed with storage drawers below for toys or clothes when it comes time to choosing furniture.

Have you considered a mirrored closet door for your DD? I put them in in both my daughters rooms and they made the rooms appear bigger and brighter. As they grow older then can get ready in front on the mirror. My 6-year-old DD loves hers as well and practices her "dance moves" in front of it. Priceless!!

Thanks for the help everyone, looks like chair rails are out, and luckily, DD has the biggest closet in the house, so there is definitely room for clothing there, so I can eliminate a big dresser in the room. Plus the closet sliding doors are mirror.

Unfortunately, DS got the short end of the stick being the youngest, as his room is really tiny, and his closet is too, and no mirror closet doors for him. Hopefully the new paint job will make it seem larger.

Thanks everyone for your ideas, it helps a lot.