Bedroom Design Plan For My Toddler (Little Boy’s Space)

My 3-year-old son is ready to ditch the toddler crib and hop into a full-sized bed. Here’s my design plan to take his space from baby to big boy!

In the fall, I revamped my daughter’s room into her dream big girl bedroom. It was a bittersweet experience, saying farewell to her lovely crib and blush rocker, as we welcomed a full-sized bed with “big girl” bedding.

Now, just a few months later, I find myself preparing for my son’s big boy bedroom. Ellis stayed in his crib until summer. Then we added the toddler rail around his third birthday, in September. He loved the newfound independence and lifting him into his crib was becoming increasingly challenging. He’s quite the big and heavy toddler!

However, after adding the toddler rail, we quickly realized a full-sized bed was necessary. He’s quite tall for his age and looked cramped in his crib. So, I’ve begun creating a design plan for his new room.

Ellis’ Nursery – The Evolution

First, let’s take a look at where things began for this space.

When we purchased our home in 2019, we did a phase one renovation. This involved painting every wall, replacing the millwork and doors, and removing the upstairs carpeting. His room went from a thin mint green to a deep dark green…

We painted the walls “Tarrytown Green” and the trim “Simply White.” This was our guest bedroom for three years until we welcomed Ellis in 2021. It was plain and simple, but it got the job done!

Once I found out I was pregnant, I started transforming our guest room into Ellis’ nursery. I kept the same color on the walls, but changed just about everything else.

Here’s a look at his nursery during the week we brought him home. It’s hard to believe he was ever that tiny!

His room looks almost exactly the same as it did when I first designed it three years ago. So, it will be fun to give it a new life with this big boy bedroom makeover!

My Vision for the Room

When brainstorming toddler room ideas for a boy, I wanted to ensure the space felt fun and functional while still growing with him over the years. My goal is to create a room that reflects his personality but doesn’t feel overly “baby.” Here are the key elements I’m planning to include:

• A Full-Sized Bed: Moving from a toddler bed to a full-sized bed is a big leap, but I want him to feel comfortable and have room to stretch out. I purchased the same full-sized mattress we got for Rory’s room. It’s such a cozy mattress, and he is going to love it.
• A Bookcase: While Rory has built-in bookcases in her room, Ellis doesn’t have a great spot for easy access to books. We’ve been using built-in storage shelves in his closet, but they’re cumbersome to reach. I purchased a bookcase with open shelving for books and display items, along with cabinets below for toys. I’ll also incorporate storage bins or wicker baskets for quick cleanups.
• Keeping It “Little Boy”: Ellis loves construction, sports, and dinosaurs. While I’m not a huge fan of themed kids’ rooms, I plan to reflect his interests through artwork, bedding, and decor. I’m thinking I may do a gallery wall over his dresser with fun wall art.
• Durable Furniture: Everything in a toddler’s room needs to be built to last. I’m opting for sturdy pieces that can handle a little roughhousing and still work well into his school years.
• Staying the Same: I’ll be keeping the deep dark green paint color, the durable rug, and the wood chest of drawers. I’ll likely keep the same window treatments, unless the curtain pattern is too distracting with the striped bed frame. Everything else will be updated or swapped out.

The Room’s Layout

Because this small space was a former guest bedroom, I already knew the likely placement for the bed. I used my floor planning software to try out a few various layouts, but this was the only one that made sense for a smaller bedroom.

• The Bed: It will be tucked into the corner of the far wall to maximize floor space. While I dislike beds against walls, because it’s hard to make the bed, this setup allows enough space for the dresser and bookcase.
• The Bookcase and Dresser: Across from the bed, the bookcase will hold books and toys, while the dresser will remain in its current location.

Ellis’ New Bedroom – Design Plan

I scooped up a striped bed on Black Friday for a great price, along with the mattress. Unfortunately, the bookcase never went on sale, so I paid full price. However, I know the quality will be worth it, and it will last for years.

To balance out the splurge, I saved on the nightstand by purchasing a small blue option from Target. Fingers crossed it’s not a nightmare to assemble!

I still need to source lighting and bedding, but I’ll wait until the larger pieces are in place before making those purchases. I want to see how everything comes together.

While working on the mood board for the space, Ellis decided to climb onto my lap to “help.” He insisted on adding toys, books, and lots of stuffed animals to the design. Here’s his revised version, featuring his “best toys.”

I have a feeling the final result will look more like Ellis’ vision than mine. Ha!

Let’s Get This Project Started!

I’m eager to bring my vision to life for Ellis. He keeps asking about his big boy bed and I know he is going to appreciate the room to spread out. Most of the furniture arrived over winter break, so I just need to set aside a day and get it done.

P.S. Ellis’ big boy bedroom is officially done! Come see this dark green boy’s bedroom and all of the special touches I added to personalize it for him!

More Children’s Bedrooms To Peruse