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You guys have been asking me to illustrate dinosaur art for a couple of years(!) – and now the prints are finally here, it seems fitting that I provide some ideas on how to style a beautiful dinosaur inspired kids bedroom.
 
The colours in my prehistoric wall art are all inspired by the earthy tones of Farrow & Ball – my all time favourite paint brand. These beautiful shades are perfect for creating a Scandinavian inspired child’s bedroom, with bare natural wood finishes and modern, paired back accessories.
 
In this blog, I will show two décor options – one for those on a budget, and also an inspiring dream Dino room, for those who want to splurge. You can, of course, mix n match between the two – the cheaper products definitely don’t compromise on quality, and, as is often the way with kiddies, the bedroom décor they want this week, will likely change in a matter of months… it’s why I often avoid themed bedding and wallpaper, allowing the smaller, easier to amend accessories to lead the theme.

Right, first up, it’s our budget busting prehistoric room… I’ve kept it very simple – you can shop this entire look at H&M, with the exception of my art. I adore H&M Home for kids rooms – especially their bedding offerings, and I will show you my picks for a designer neutral Dino room a bit further on, but for now, here’s the mood board for a cheaper, but oh-so lovely raaawwsome room. Just to be clear, this blog isn’t sponsored by H&M, I’m just obsessed with them, and think what they offer, and for the price is blummin’ amazing;How cute is the wicker toy storage basket! It’s a great mix of traditional and modern – and will suit practically any bedroom design. I have the blue and ochre floor cushions, and they’re gorgeous – the fabric is a soft self-check cotton, perfect for play areas and reading nooks.
 
If there’s one thing H&M do well, it’s offer great value soft toys – this T-Rex and Brontosaurus plushies are under £25 each! Kids will love having large Dino toys to role play with. The cream spotted rug has something Flintstone about it to me, and at £39.99 for a 90x130cm rug, I felt it was money well spent.

One of my favourite products is the H&M wooden peg rail – this simple birch hanging rail is only £12.99, which is a bargain! Join several together for a super stylish place to hang toy storage bags, keeping the play area tidy, but still accessible for little hands. They also offer a shorter version at £8.99. If bare wood isn’t your style, you can easily paint these with the same colour as your walls, or mask off the ends and use tester pots to add a different colour to each peg (see images below). Eggshell paint will work best, or apply a matt clear varnish over emulsion paints, for durability.

Speaking of paints - I’ve provided the HEX numbers on the budget moodboard for some shades you might like. Most paint mixing shops can reproduce from the HEX number, or can convert into whichever profile they use. You can then have designer paint, on a budget.
 
Ok, so, bedding…. Should you go themed? If your little one has their heart set on themed bedding, then you may have to give in, however, if not, then your pennies will be better spent on bed linen which will last the 50,000 different themes your mini bundle of joy will be into over the coming years. Below are my top picks for H&M bed linen, which will set your Dino room off perfectly – if you opt for plain bedding, accessorise with cushions and toys to create the theme... oh, and I've added a fun pair of slippers to make your kids go "raahh!' - because they were just too cute not to!

I know, the OEUF Perch bunk bed, on the ultimate mood board, is dreamy… but I have to say, being a huge fan of IKEA hacks, the loft bed transformations below by @rock.my.day and @fine.blossom__ are so inspiring! They show you how to easily hack the MYDAL and KURA beds – I adore these easy peasy DIY projects, that are also kind to the budget!

Next up, it’s the ultimate Dino room mood board… this is a celebration of all those independent and boutique Scandi brands out there – design led toys and accessories, which will last a lifetime. As much as big shops like H&M are convenient, and easy on the purse strings, they don't rival the quality, finish and attention to detail from the brands featured below.

So, my absolute fave item from this board is the large dinosaur toys by BigStuffed – they are simply beautiful! I’ve linked to the giant versions here, but they do offer a smaller size too – either way, they are incredibly well made, and tasteful to boot! They’re the ultimate accessories for any Scandinavian styled bedroom… I realise I’ll be encouraging you to shop more, but their entire range of animals are just as amazing – I have the giant octopus, which kids adore!

I love a touch of wood, to any child’s room - there’s something so tactile about it. The first wooden accessory is this cute rainbow nightlight by Ooh My Light – they also offer a dinosaur one too – I struggled to choose! I’d have both if I could!

These beautifully carved wooden dinosaur toys from Bobby Rabbit are adorable – great for encouraging open ended play, team with wooden blocks so kiddies use their imagination to create an imaginative Jurassic adventure.

Got an empty space on your wall that needs filling? Dinosaur heads are an easy way of adding some personality to a room. I’ve gone for this felt triceratops head for this mood board, but there are lots of options out there – including some DIY ideas, I’ve shown some of my faves below. Make dinosaur hooks or drawer pulls from plastic toys, cut dino footprints out of wood, or buy this amazing giant dinosaur cut out from Cut It Now.

I’m a huge fan of lots of soft furnishings in any room – they add a sense of comfort. The Lorena Canals world map pouf is a favourite of mine as it goes with almost any theme. It’s also a great perch for parents for bedtime story telling.

Accessorise with leaf, cactus and snake cushions, throw in a monstera leaf rug for good measure!

Storage is an important aspect of any child’s room, nursery or playroom. Make life easier for yourself and have plenty of boxes, like these folding Aykasa crates to hand – great for throwing all the toys in and place in a cabinet out of sight… or even under the bed! When they’re not needed, fold flat and pop away.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Mustard Made Lowdown | Mustard Made Crates | Aykasa Crates | IKEA Trofast | Bellybambino Dino Basket | Liewood Weston Crates

This Perch bed by OEUF is a beaut – I adore its simple, clean and modern lines. The bottom bed can offset, or tucked underneath. Got a small room? Simply buy the bunk part of the bed, and this frees up the floor space underneath for either a play area, or space for a desk / homework hub.

I’m a big fan of beds like this – that grow with your child. Other designer brands which does this well are Oliver Furniture and Rafa Kids. Here are a few of my faves:

Sooooo bed linen… there are so many beautiful bed linen brands out there – I always end up gravitating towards Camomile London, as they tend to have the colours and textures I like. However, I’ll try and mix it up for you a bit, and give you a variety of options:

LEFT TO RIGHT: Ivory/Clay Check Duvet Cover | Ochre Check Bed Linen | Gauze Blankets | Quilted Blankets | Wave Knit Blanket | Washed Linen Comforter | Washed Linen Quilt Cover | Off-White Check Bed Linen

Last but not least, it’s paints… if you’re keen to have a splash of colour on the walls, for this theme, stick to earthy tones. Below are a selection of my top picks - I’ve also provided the HEX numbers for a few of the shades, if you’re not a fan of Farrow & Ball or Lick (but they are amazing paints – I won’t use anything else!).

So hopefully, that’s sparked your imagination on how to create a stylish, Scandi inspired Dino room. Themed bedrooms for kids don’t have to be tacky and tasteless to be fun.

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