There’s something about gingham that spells fun in kids’ spaces. Whether you call it checkerboard, plaid or plain old checks, there’s something about this geometric design that belongs in kids’ nurseries and bedrooms.
There’s order in its appearance yet a mischievous quality that injects an undeniable personality. Draft it in via textiles, wallpaper, canopies or curtains, but be warned – checks are contagious, as you’ll see in these undisputed projects of plaid-pleasing perfection.
@hibou_home
The humble but essential canopy gets a personality upgrade with a dose of two-toned checks by @projektityny in a sweet lavender and apricot combo. It works well against a colour-blocked wall of Cuisse de Nymphe Emue by @edwardbulmerpaint, teamed with Slaked Lime by @littlegreenepaintcompany. There’s something of the corner candy shop about this pretty yet stylish interior design, and we can’t get enough of it.
@jessiikawilson
It’s gingham galore in Bowie’s big boy room. This delightful room scheme takes the checks a little more permanent, but it’s still a peel-and-stick wallpaper courtesy of @oliveetoriel. The neutral pastel pistachio tones keep the coast clear for a burst of Bungalow Green IKEA hack magic. Yes, that stunning chest of drawers started life as a Hemnes 3-drawer chest. A lick of Taubman’s water-based paint and the addition of new handles by @coralandbrass lend it a new lease of life.
@annastathakiphoto
We’re accustomed to seeing canopies creating reading corners or encasing the head of a bed, so it’s a welcome sight to see this pretty chequered number by @projektityny shrouding the inviting wicker sofa. Its olive and peach tones are a perfect combo to sync with the pistachio wood-panelled walls behind. There’s a sense of antiquity in the traditional gingham fabric paired with exposed floorboards and a traditional role-play sweet store.
@hibou_home
Similarly, checks are introduced in a transitory fashion in this cinnamon-tinged nursery of dreams. Note how the checks are layered and of varying sizes, adding a sense of depth and volume to the linen composition. It conjures up tales of the Princess & The Pea and echoes one of the morals of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fable. Little things can make a big difference!
@jordina_fontrodona
Simple wins the day in Matteo’s pared-back Barca bedroom. Sandy checks on a cane bedframe sit stylishly against a bare wall. It’s sparse, but deliberately so, the design ethos intended to put each carefully selected accessory in the spotlight.
This is city living straight out of the pages of a modern interior magazine.
@liberty.Interiors
Glorious green gingham creates a sense of luscious vegetation in this subtly dino-themed room. The wallpaper by @miltonandking plays the starring role in Mason’s room – it’s hand-painted plaid design created by wallpaper design supremo @bethany_linz. Bethany’s technique employs hand-painted stripes that are made transparent and overlayed so that the design appears textured, painterly and dimensional. The Canazon Dinosaur art print by @jacqui-turk is perfect, adding a complementary splash of salmon that chimes with the green.
@littleneedham
Gingham’s reputation is often boastful, disruptive, and even a little shouty, but not here in Zac’s tranquil bedroom. The natural checkerboard linen by @sleepsociety fits the neutral bill perfectly and is the perfect hue for an abundance of rattan, wicker and untreated wood. There’s a sun-soaked coastal vibe that’s reinforced by that sumptuous shaft of sunlight and the equally apt hanging banner by @imanicollective
@life.on.the.bright.side
Gingham wallpaper adds a playful touch to the walls in Esme’s Barbie-inspired bedroom. Coupled with a bloom of appliqued flower-power bedlinen and crocheted daisies, it creates a wonderfully feminine feel with a touch of seventies retro. The Barbie wall art is divine, and we’re almost certain that there’s a whole heap of Barbie logo decals skilfully applied to that feature wall. We love it!
@mariska_home
It’s all the C’s in this jungle-inspired interior design project. Compact, cosy, chic and, of course, composed checks. The space might be small, but the impact is considerable. How the creator packed so much detail into one corner without overwhelming is a testament to their skill.
@no_9designs
Well, Jesse’s room indeed measures up when it comes to gingham gorgeousness – the height chart and navy plaid bedlinen both courtesy of @hmhome
The classic colours in this room add to the overall beauty of this space, creating a timelessness that allows for easy transformation. How lovely are the serene green ceiling and top part of the wall? It’s Farrow & Ball’s Mizzle – a lovely soft grey-green named after West Country evening skies when there is a mix of both mist and drizzle. How cool is that?
@projektityyny
It’s all the fun of the fair, and the gymnasium, in this action-packed corner of Rupert’s room. A circus-inspired, big-top checkerboard canopy brings an air of playfulness matched by a climbing frame and rings. The earthy colour palette brings things back to earth and invokes a feeling that’s grounded and homely – so much so that an elegant swan has taken up residence on the bed!
@sanna.emelie
Such a beguiling room with a touch of artful boho and stately Victoriana. Opulent wallpaper adds drama to this otherwise dainty boudoir with its collection of welcoming soft furnishings. There’s practicality, too, in a family of rattan storage baskets conveniently nesting beneath the four-poster bed. And when the beauty becomes too much, one has simply to release the gingham curtains from their tiebacks and call time on today.
@liberty.interiors
Nicole works her magic again with a makeover for Mason’s twin brothers’ room (see green-checked genius earlier in this post). This time it’s Milton and King’s navy buffalo check that frames the sleeping quarters for Harley. Another @jaqui_turk print complements the space with a funky, tonal LA skateboard print. Bedlinen is a reserved affair by @ilovelinen, but rightly so. There’s a time, and a place for pattern clash and Harley’s room is not it. The styling, palette and composition all make for a timeless space that’s sophisticated and enduring.
@thefrenchfolk
Oh, Margaux. You say, ‘kinda colourful, kinda beautiful’. We say inspired! Mix and match need not look thrown together, as this image verifies. Plaid gets playful with colourful Albana bedlinen by @sageandclare. Even the website description serves up a generous helping of childlike fun in the colour description. Macadamia, citron, apple, poppy, flamingo, cobalt and sage. These sheets are the stuff that slumber parties are made of!
@keekshuis
Keet’s contemporary room design is a vision of layered pattern clash, yet the skilfully selected colour palette results in a clean, uncluttered result. The grounding foundations are set by Room Blush’s graphic Leavables wallpaper in a delicate blue-grey. Next comes the simple lilac duvet cover from @ikeanederland atop a cascade of burgundy seashells by @swedishlinens. The final vibrant sign-off comes in the form of an oversized checked cushion by @sissyboy1982.
Have you also decorated a nursery or kid’s room recently? We would love to see it! Add the tag @kidsinteriors_com on your Instagram post to get it noticed and #kidsinteriors_com for an extra chance of it being considered for a repost.
