Choosing the right wall hangings for kids isn't just about filling a blank space on a wall. It’s about creating a little world where your child feels safe, inspired, and completely at home. As a parent, you know that a thoughtful piece of decor can turn a simple room into a personal sanctuary, sparking their imagination and even supporting those important developmental milestones.
Creating a Magical Space Your Child Will Love
You're not just a decorator; you're the chief architect of your child’s very first universe. The colours, textures, and themes you pick for their walls become the backdrop for bedtime stories, make-believe games, and those quiet moments of wonder. This is where wall art stops being just "decoration" and starts playing an active role in their childhood.
This guide is here to help you on this exciting journey. We get it – the whole process can feel a bit overwhelming. You want something beautiful that your child will adore, but it also needs to be safe, durable, and maybe even a little bit educational. Let's put the stress aside and break it all down into simple, easy steps.
More Than Just Decoration
Think of your child’s room as a blank canvas for their budding personality. The right wall hangings can do so much more than just look pretty; they have a real job to do in creating a nurturing and stimulating atmosphere.
- Sparking Imagination: A whimsical map of the stars or a parade of cheerful jungle animals can kickstart countless adventures and stories right in their own room.
- Supporting Development: For your baby, high-contrast patterns can help with visual development. For your toddler, alphabet or number charts make learning a natural part of their day.
- Creating a Sense of Ownership: When your child sees their favourite things reflected on the walls, it makes them feel seen and helps the space feel like it’s truly theirs.
A child’s room is their first classroom, playground, and sanctuary. The decor you choose should nurture all three, creating a foundation for creativity, comfort, and learning right from the start.
Your Roadmap to the Perfect Room
Diving into the world of children's decor doesn't have to be a chore. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to make choices you feel great about. We’ll cover how to pick themes that can grow with your child, why material safety is an absolute must, and how to arrange your chosen pieces for a gorgeous, designer-quality look.
So, whether you're setting up a nursery for a new arrival, giving a toddler's room a much-needed refresh, or hunting for the perfect gift, you're in the right place. Let’s get started on the wonderful process of creating a beautiful, stimulating, and safe haven your child will absolutely adore.
Finding the Perfect Theme for Your Child's Room
Choosing a theme is easily one of the most exciting parts of decorating your child's room. It’s your chance to create a little world that captures their blossoming personality and fits right in with your family’s style. Think of a theme not as a rigid rulebook, but more like a gentle storyteller, weaving together colour, art, and texture to create a space that feels just right.
A good theme can turn a simple bedroom into a magical woodland, a deep-sea adventure, or a calming safari. It really sets the emotional tone of the room. Are you aiming for a soothing, calm atmosphere for your new nursery, or a bright, playful space for your energetic toddler? The goal is to land on a concept that both you and your little one will adore as they grow.
This desire to create beautiful, personalised spaces is a growing trend across the UK. The kids' furniture market, which includes all those lovely decorative pieces like wall hangings kids fall in love with, was valued at a whopping USD 2.01 billion in 2023. It's projected to grow by 21.3% each year until 2030, which just goes to show how many parents like you are investing in rooms that feel special and help nurture their children's imagination.
Timeless Themes and Modern Aesthetics
As you start looking, you'll find a wonderful mix of classic ideas and more contemporary styles. Timeless themes are often inspired by nature and adventure—worlds that are instantly relatable and captivating for children.
Modern aesthetics, on the other hand, focus more on a feeling or a design philosophy. They create a sophisticated backdrop that can easily be updated as your child's tastes change. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular options out there.
Popular Wall Hanging Themes and Their Key Features
To help you decide, we've put together a quick comparison of the most loved themes. Think about your child's personality and the feeling you want to create in their room.
| Theme/Style | Core Elements | Best For | Typical Colour Palette |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle Safari | Lions, elephants, giraffes, lush leaves, animal prints | Adventurous minds and animal lovers | Earthy greens, warm browns, ochre, touches of orange |
| Woodland Wonderland | Foxes, deer, bears, mushrooms, forest trees | Creating a calm, gentle, and magical space | Muted greens, soft browns, grey, cream, burnt orange |
| Outer Space | Rockets, planets, stars, astronauts, moons | Inspiring curiosity and a sense of wonder | Deep blues, black, silver, with pops of bright colour |
| Scandinavian (Scandi) | Clean lines, simple shapes, minimalist animal figures | A bright, uncluttered, and tranquil feel | White, grey, light wood, soft pastels, monochrome |
| Bohemian (Boho) | Woven textures, botanicals, rainbows, sun motifs | A warm, eclectic, and free-spirited atmosphere | Terracotta, mustard, sage green, cream, natural tones |
Each of these themes offers a unique starting point. The key is to choose one that feels inspiring and leaves plenty of room for your child's own personality to shine through.
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Jungle Safari Adventure: This one’s a firm favourite with parents and kids alike, and it’s easy to see why! It’s packed with friendly animals like lions, elephants, and giraffes, all set against a backdrop of lush greens and earthy tones. It’s a theme that sparks curiosity about nature and opens the door to endless bedtime stories. For more ideas, have a look at our guide to creating the perfect jungle theme nursery.
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Whimsical Woodland Wonderland: Imagine a quiet forest filled with gentle creatures like foxes, deer, and friendly bears. This theme uses a soft, natural colour palette—think browns, greens, and muted oranges—to create a magical and incredibly calming environment. It's a wonderful way to foster a love for the great outdoors from a very early age.
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Dreamy Outer Space Exploration: For the little astronaut in your life, a space theme with stars, planets, and rockets can be so inspiring. With its deep blues, shimmering silvers, and pops of bright colour, it can make a room feel both exciting and as peaceful as a clear night sky.
A great theme is like a good storybook; it has a clear beginning but leaves plenty of room for your child's imagination to write the rest of the chapters. Choose a concept that feels broad and inspiring, not restrictive.
Scandinavian Simplicity and Bohemian Warmth
If you'd rather go for a more subtle look, modern design styles are a fantastic alternative to story-driven themes. These aesthetics are all about creating a specific mood through colour palettes, materials, and minimalist design.
The Scandinavian (or Scandi) style is loved by parents for its clean lines, focus on function, and deep connection to nature. It typically starts with a base of neutral colours—whites, greys, and light woods—and then adds accents of soft pastels or bold monochrome prints. For Scandi wall hangings kids rooms, think simple geometric shapes or minimalist animal illustrations. It all comes together to create a space that feels bright, uncluttered, and beautifully tranquil.
Bohemian (or Boho), in contrast, is all about warmth, texture, and a free-spirited vibe. It's a style that loves to layer natural materials like macramé, rattan, and linen with earthy colours like terracotta, mustard, and sage green. Boho wall decor often features woven tapestries and botanical prints, creating a cosy, eclectic room that feels lovingly put-together and full of personality.
A Parent's Guide to Safe Materials and Secure Installation
When you're decorating your child's room, it’s easy to get caught up in the fun part—choosing adorable wall hangings kids will love. But as a parent, your top priority is always safety. Let’s walk through what really matters, from picking the right materials to hanging everything securely, so you can have complete peace of mind.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t build a house on shaky ground, and the same idea applies here. Every little choice, right down to the type of paint on a wooden sign or the screw used to hang it, helps create a truly safe space for your little one.
This isn’t just about preventing bumps or scrapes; it's about creating a healthy room. Babies and toddlers are far more sensitive to their environment, so choosing natural, non-toxic materials can make a huge difference to the air they breathe every day.
Choosing Child-Safe Materials
The materials used in your child's decor are your first line of defence. Always look for items made from natural, breathable, and non-toxic materials. They're not only kinder to the planet but much gentler on your child, too.
A great place to start is with natural fibres. There’s a reason these materials have been used for centuries—they’re generally safe, durable, and don’t have the harsh chemicals you often find in synthetic alternatives.
Here are some of the best materials to look for:
- 100% Cotton: Soft, breathable, and hypoallergenic. Cotton is a fantastic choice for fabric banners, tapestries, and printed art on canvas. Plus, it’s a breeze to clean, which is always a win for busy parents.
- Wool: Naturally flame-resistant and super durable, wool is perfect for adding texture with things like felt mobiles or woven art. It instantly makes a space feel warm and cosy.
- Lightweight Wood: Keep an eye out for sustainably sourced woods like pine or birch for name signs or little decorative shelves. The most important thing is making sure they are finished with non-toxic, water-based paints or sealants. If something has a strong chemical smell, that’s a red flag for high levels of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
Safety First Rule: Always read the product description carefully. Good sellers are open about the materials they use. If you’re not sure about something, just ask! You can often find detailed info on a seller’s website, just like in our Pompom Prints FAQ section.
Secure Installation for Total Peace of Mind
Once you’ve found the perfect, safe wall decor, the next step is getting it on the wall securely. An item that isn't properly attached can be a real hazard, especially in a nursery or a curious toddler's room.
The golden rule for nurseries is simple: keep everything well out of reach. Never, ever hang anything heavy directly over a cot or changing table. Even things that feel secure can become a temptation for little hands to pull at once they learn to stand.
Follow these simple steps for a secure installation every time:
- Pick the Right Hardware: A single nail just won’t cut it. Use screws and wall plugs (sometimes called anchors) that are right for your wall type—plasterboard, brick, or plaster all need different fittings to be truly secure.
- Find the Wall Studs: For anything with a bit of weight, always try to screw directly into a wall stud. These wooden beams behind the plasterboard are the strongest anchor points. A cheap electronic stud finder makes this job super easy.
- Do a Wiggle Test: After you’ve hung your piece, give it a gentle but firm tug. Does it wobble? If there’s any movement at all, take it down and start again.
- Think About Placement: Position wall hangings away from high-traffic play areas. Art hung above a bookshelf or dresser is generally much safer than art next to a play tent where it could get knocked about during a game.
How to Arrange Wall Decor Like a Designer
Ready to create a display that looks effortlessly stylish? Arranging wall decor your kids will love is less about strict rules and more about understanding a few simple design principles. It’s about making your chosen pieces feel perfectly at home, creating a look that’s balanced, personal, and full of charm.
Thinking like a designer really just starts with scale and proportion. This just means picking pieces that are the right size for both the wall and the furniture around them. A tiny print will look completely lost above a big cot, while a huge tapestry might just overwhelm a small reading nook. The goal is to create a visual harmony where every piece feels just right.
This sense of balance is exactly what creates those inviting, stylish kids' rooms we're seeing more and more of. In fact, the UK wall art market, which includes beautiful hangings for children's spaces, hit USD 3.32 billion in 2024. And while paintings are still popular, versatile fabric and macramé hangings are having a real moment, especially for gallery walls, which now feature in 25% of installations. You can discover more about the rising trends in the UK wall art market if you're curious.
Mastering Scale and Proportion
Getting the scale right is the secret to a professional-looking room. Before you even think about picking up a hammer, just take a moment to look at your space.
- For Large, Blank Walls: This is your chance to make a statement! A single, large-scale piece, like a fabric world map or a big animal tapestry, can anchor the entire room and create a stunning focal point.
- Above Furniture: When hanging art above a cot, bed, or dresser, a good rule of thumb is to choose a piece (or a collection of pieces) that is about two-thirds the width of the furniture below it. This creates a really pleasing visual connection.
- In Cosy Nooks: For smaller areas like a reading corner, a vertical arrangement of several small prints can draw the eye upwards, which cleverly makes the space feel taller and more defined.
Think of your main piece of furniture as the anchor. The wall decor above it should feel like its natural partner—not too big and not too small—creating a sense of balance that is calming and easy on the eye.
Creating the Perfect Gallery Wall Step by Step
A gallery wall is a fantastic way to tell your family’s story. It’s a personal, evolving collection that can mix professional prints with handmade items and even your child's own artistic masterpieces. Here’s how to create one with confidence.
- Gather Your Collection: Start by collecting all the pieces you want to hang. Don't be afraid to mix and match! Combine framed prints with woven hangings, wooden signs, and maybe even a few of your little one’s proudest paintings.
- Plan on the Floor: This is the ultimate designer trick. Before making any holes in the wall, lay everything out on the floor. You can use a big sheet of paper or just the floorboards to represent your wall space.
- Arrange and Rearrange: Now for the fun part! Move the pieces around until you find a layout you love. A great tip is to start with your largest piece, placing it slightly off-centre, and then build the smaller items around it. Aim for consistent spacing—about 2-3 inches between each frame—for a cohesive look.
- Trace and Transfer: Once you’re happy with the arrangement, trace around each piece onto paper, mark where the nail should go, and then tape these paper templates to the wall. This lets you see exactly how it will look before you commit.
- Hang with Confidence: With your templates in place, you can hammer or drill directly through the marked spots. Then, simply tear away the paper and hang your beautiful art.
This simple infographic below outlines the key stages for a secure installation, ensuring every piece in your gallery wall is safe for your little one.
This visual guide reinforces that a successful installation starts with the right materials and ends with a secure fastening, keeping your display both beautiful and safe.
Adding a Personal Touch with Custom Decor
It’s the little, personal details that really turn a child’s room from just a decorated space into their own special sanctuary. While themes and colours set the stage, it’s the wall hangings kids can see themselves in that make a room feel truly theirs. These pieces tell a story—their own unique story.
From a beautiful wooden sign with their name hanging over the cot to a framed print celebrating their date of birth, custom decor adds a layer of love that you just can't get from off-the-shelf items. It gives them a sense of belonging and shows your child just how celebrated they are. This is exactly why personalised art makes such a thoughtful and memorable gift for baby showers, birthdays, or christenings.
The Joy of Bespoke Gifts
When you choose a personalised gift, you're giving something that will be treasured for years to come. It’s a keepsake that captures a moment in time, and its sentimental value only grows as the child does.
- Custom Name Banners: A classic for a reason. They immediately make a space feel special and personal.
- Birth Stat Prints: Art that features a child’s name, birth date, weight, and time is a beautiful way to celebrate their arrival.
- Initial Monograms: A simple, elegant option that can grow with the child, looking just as stylish in a teen's room as it does in a nursery.
You can explore a whole range of beautifully designed options in our collection of personalised printed gifts, perfect for finding that one-of-a-kind, heartfelt present.
The move towards creating unique, handmade decor has seen a huge rise in the UK. After the pandemic, the arts and crafts market grew, partly because people were looking for ways to improve their wellness. A recent report found that 45% of parents use DIY decor to help their children 'switch off' from screens. With craft subjects declining in schools, creativity at home is more important than ever, and 65% of parents now buy or create wall hangings with personal touches. You can read more about this trend in Mintel's arts and crafts market report.
Keeping Cherished Pieces Looking Their Best
Once you have these special pieces, you’ll want to make sure they last. Looking after them is simple and doesn’t take much time, but it makes all the difference in preserving these treasures for years.
A little care goes a long way. Think of it as preserving a memory. Just a few simple habits will keep your child’s personalised art looking as special as the day it was hung.
Regular, gentle maintenance is the key. For fabric wall hangings, like banners or tapestries, it’s best to avoid the washing machine. Instead, spot-clean any marks with a damp cloth and a mild, colour-safe detergent. For delicate wooden art or framed prints, a weekly dusting with a soft, dry microfibre cloth is usually all you need to stop dust from building up.
Finally, to protect prints from fading, try to hang them out of direct, prolonged sunlight. UV rays are the main culprit behind fading colours, so being mindful of where you place them can massively extend the life and vibrancy of your art, ensuring it remains a beloved part of your child’s room.
Common Questions from Parents
Picking out the perfect wall hangings kids will love is one of the best parts of decorating their room, but it naturally brings up a few questions. We get it! To help you feel confident in your choices, here are some straightforward answers to the queries we hear most from parents just like you.
How High Should I Hang Decor in a Nursery?
When it comes to a nursery, safety is absolutely everything. Any wall hangings need to be fastened securely and kept well out of your baby's reach – whether they're in the cot, on the changing table, or on any furniture they might one day decide to climb.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure the bottom of any frame or hanging is at least three feet above the cot mattress. For other art in the room, hanging it at a grown-up's eye level is fine, but never place anything directly over the cot where it could fall. Always use the right hardware for your wall type, and don't rely on a single nail for anything with a bit of weight to it.
What Are the Best Wall Hangings for a Small Kids Room?
In a smaller room, you want to add character without making things feel cluttered. Often, a single, larger statement piece works much better than lots of little ones, as it can make the space feel bigger and less busy.
- Go Vertical: Banners or our popular height charts are brilliant for drawing the eye upwards, which gives the illusion of higher ceilings.
- Keep it Light: Choosing lighter colours and minimalist styles also helps a room feel more open and airy.
- Think Multi-functional: Why not consider decor that's also practical? Artistic wall hooks, for example, can merge style with everyday use.
How Do I Pick a Theme My Child Won't Outgrow Quickly?
This is a classic parental dilemma! The secret here is to think in broad, timeless concepts rather than something tied to a specific TV character or a passing fad. So, instead of a theme based on one cartoon, think 'woodland creatures', 'celestial exploration', or 'jungle adventure'.
A flexible theme can grow right alongside your child. You can use a neutral, calming colour palette for the main decor and then bring in age-specific touches through accessories like cushions or small prints that are easy to swap out.
This approach keeps the room's foundation classic and lovely, while still letting it feel fresh and fun for your child at every new stage.
How Can I Make Wall Decor Interactive and Fun?
The best rooms are the ones that invite play! You can make the decor part of the fun by thinking about how to engage your child's senses and curiosity. A magnetic world map where they can place animal figures, a fabric height chart to mark how much they've grown, or even a little chalkboard panel for scribbling are all fantastic ideas.
Wall decals that can be moved around are another great, low-commitment way for kids to put their own stamp on their space. The goal is to create a room that isn't just looked at, but one that is truly lived in, played in, and loved every single day.
At Pompom Prints, we design beautiful, safe, and timeless wall art that grows with your child. Discover our curated collections and find the perfect pieces to create a magical space your little one will treasure. Explore our full range of nursery and children's wall art at Pompom Prints.