Decorating with Resene

Got a kids’ room in need of a makeover? Whether you need a beautiful nursery for a new baby, a refresh of your child’s bedroom, or a too-cool-for-school update of a teen’s room, Resene has the inspiration and colour to make it happen.

Be inspired with our pick of six of the best kids’ room themes, with mood boards, colours and room ideas to help you get the right look and mood for your child’s space.

Where the wild things slumber

This cheerful yet stylishly coloured bedroom is perfect for a younger tween (think ages seven to eleven), striking just the right balance between growing-up vibes and playful fun. It’s not too ‘little kid’ and not too ‘grown-up’—just the sweet spot! With its nods to animals, nature, camping, and adventure, it’s the kind of space where young explorers will feel totally at home.

Top Resene decorating tip: To further the connection to nature, the timber floor has been finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. While it has a whitening effect that brightens and uplifts the colour of the floor, its translucency allows the beauty of the wood’s natural grain to show through.

Mood board

Timber background in Resene Colorwood Whitewash with A4 drawdown paint swatches in (from left to right) Resene Frozen, Resene Schooner, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Apache and Resene Silver Sand, mountains in Resene Elephant and arrows in Resene Pirate Gold and Resene Apache.

Styling by Annick Larkin. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022

Warrior Matariki nursery

Many iwi share the beautiful story of Matariki as a mother surrounded by her daughters, making it a perfect and meaningful theme for a child’s room or nursery. It’s a lovely way to add a local touch to the classic starry or space-inspired look—while sparking a sense of wonder and a lifelong curiosity about our place in the universe.

Top Resene decorating tip: Kites also have significance to the Matariki story and making kites is a popular activity for kids to make at school or with their whanau in midwinter. Resene has given a nod to this tradition by creating a 3D kite mobile out of a craft hoop painted in Resene Proton, some glittering silver string and thick craft paper painted in Resene Reservoir, Resene Half Jumbo and Resene Black White.

Mood board

Background in Resene Zircon with Resene A4 drawdown paint swatches in (from right to left) Resene Warrior, Resene Reservoir, Resene Proton metallic and Resene Jumbo, star ornament in Resene Proton metallic, round vase in Resene Half Jumbo, wall hook and accent beads in Resene Reservoir and jug vase in Resene Hermitage. Crinkle blanket and star cushion from Kmart.

Project by Laura Lynn Johnston. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2022

Striped delight

Stripes are a playful and energetic way to add personality to your home with paint. Whether you go vertical, horizontal, or on a fun diagonal, the choice is yours. For something truly one-of-a-kind (and sure to wow the kids), why not create your own custom design? Try mixing more than two colours – tone-on-tone looks especially cool – and switch up the stripe widths to make it even more fun and eye-catching!

Top Resene decorating tip: Let the kids show off their artworks, stories, or certificates on their own DIY display board, painted in a diagonal striped design that matches the bedroom’s aesthetic. An art canvas provides the base for this project and can be painted in an eye-catching geometric pattern. Resene testpots are ideal for small projects like this.

Mood board

Background in Resene Truffle with A4 drawdown paint swatches (from left to right) in Resene Apache, Resene Ebb, Resene Soothe, Resene Merino, Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene Truffle, Resene Triple Truffle and Resene Brown Sugar, rainbow blocks in (from outer to inner) Resene Brown Sugar, Resene Apache, Resene Triple Truffle, Resene Soothe, Resene Quarter Truffle and Resene Merino and vase in Resene Soothe.

Project by Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2021

In harmony

Music has a magical way of bringing people together – and it’s an awesome jumping-off point when decorating your tween or teen’s room. If they’ve got a favourite band or artist, why not use a poster or album cover as inspiration for their new ‘grown-up’ chill space? Music becomes a big part of their world as they start discovering their own vibe (and leaving behind those car sing-alongs from a few years ago!). It’s all part of them figuring out who they are – and their room can reflect that journey.

Top Resene decorating tip: Be sure to use high-quality painter’s tape, which is available at your local Resene ColorShop, in order to get the cleanest lines.

Mood board

Background stained in Resene Colorwood Woody Bay with A4 drawdown paint swatches in Resene Rakaia, Resene Space Cadet and Resene Time Out, water bottle and wooden crate in Resene Spring Fever, plant pot in Resene Space Cadet with splatter effect in Resene Shakespeare and coasters in Resene Spring Fever, Resene Shakespeare and Resene Space Cadet.

Styling by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2020

Upbeat skate

Redecorating your teen’s room together is an awesome way to bond—and letting them choose their favourite Resene paint colours is a fun first step in making the space totally their own.

This room, with its cool aquas, splashy blues, and bold violet, brings major skater energy and a fresh, vibrant feel. It’s proof that even a mostly white room can be totally transformed with a few bursts of colour and personality!

Top Resene decorating tip: Got a trendy teen who wants to “paint it black”? Relent just a little and transform a tall bookshelf by painting the inside with Resene Blackjack to bring some contrast to the space. To tie it into the rest of the room, choose Resene Bismark for the sides and Resene Alabaster for the shelf fronts.

Mood board

Background in Resene Triple Alabaster, floor board in Resene Scandal, A4 sized drawdown painted swatches in (from top to bottom) Resene Eye Candy, Resene Bismark and Resene Freelance, skateboard deck in Resene Eye Candy, Resene Bismark and Resene Alabaster and box and headphones in Resene Eye Candy.   Accessories: Parker Chair in mint green from Cintesi; Skate Mates by Natasha Vermeulen from endemicworld. All other props are stylist’s own.

Styling by Kate Alexander. Photography by Bryce Carleton. 2019

They call it cubby love

Before becoming a parent, you really cannot comprehend how much stuff school kids come with – backpacks, coats, shoes, sports gear, swim bags, sunhats, drink bottles … the list goes on! And most of it needs to be easy to grab on your way out the door. That’s where this bold, block-striped mudroom with personalised cubbies comes in. It’s a fun, colourful way to bring some order to the usual before-and-after school chaos and avoid the dumping ground effect!

Top Resene decorating tip:The block stripes are painted with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, meaning they also work as a wipeable chalkboard. Write names, notes or reminders, or let your kids get creative decorating their space with white or coloured chalks. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen can be tinted to the colour of your choice, however, mid toned and deeper colours work best for chalkboard walls so that it’s easier to see your writing and artwork.

Mood board

Background in Resene Mountain Mist, A4 drawdown paint swatches in Resene Rice Cake, Resene Cello, Resene Enigma and Resene Quarter New Demin Blue. Accessories from The Warehouse.

Project by Annick Larkin. Images by Bryce Carleton. 2021

More kids ideas from Resene

• For more information on choosing colour for young people, see Resene’s colours for living and learning page.
• Keep little hands busy with Resene arts and crafts activities. Try out handy Resene testpots, available in a huge range of colours. Made using waterborne paint, they are ideal for arts and crafts projects.
• Resene testpots are available from your local Resene ColorShop or you can order online from the Resene website.

For more kids’ room inspiration and ideas, visit your local Resene ColorShop and view the habitat plus – kids’ spaces book online.