This Kid’s Groovy Bedroom Makes Me Feel Like I’m in the 70’s (in the Best Way!)

Bed on multi-colored rug and light green walls

From the nursery days to the teenage years, it can feel like children grow and change so quickly. The 5-year-old who was once obsessed with whimsical toys transforms (seemingly overnight!) into an individual with their own preferences and design desires. And there’s something so special about designing the same child’s room as they arrive at different life stages. Theresa Butler of Theresa Butler Interiors had that unique experience recently.

Bedroom with colorful blankets on bed and green walls

“The room was originally designed by Theresa Butler Interiors in 2016, featuring a navy, orange, and beige color scheme,” Theresa explains. “It was a great space, but it needed an update to better suit a growing teenager with evolving interests.”

When it came time to redecorate the room, the now 13-year-old client had some opinions about the redesign. For starters, it was important that their interests, like graphic novels, Legos, and favorite musicians (Biggie Smalls, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis), were reflected in the finished room.

Bedroom with colorful blankets on bed and light green walls

Theresa Butler Interiors follows a design process that goes like this: an initial consultation where the clients are asked about their needs, desires, and special requests, and based on that conversation, the team will present an outline of what the future room will look like. Their teenage client came ready with requests.

Bedroom with colorful blankets on bed and light green walls

“Before our presentation, he expressed a preference for green, turquoise, and blue shades and was excited about incorporating a lot of patterns,” Theresa says. “We provided a variety of fun wallpaper options and included elements to highlight his passion for jazz music.”

Brown leather chair in front of light green desk with neon art on wall

Luckily, Theresa’s concept was approved, and the team was able to get started on the redesign. The process took around seven weeks to complete, and rave reviews were received from the adult and teenage clients (the child even wrote Theresa a note expressing his gratitude).

Otto Studio’s “Chill Pill” wallpaper (in Emerald City) paired with Sherwin-Williams’s blue paint makes the space feel like a funk-inspired oasis that’s perfect for a teenager to grow into. It’s not just the wallpaper that’s reminiscent of the funkadelic period; there’s even a concert poster promoting a John Coltrane and Miles Davis concert. Theresa crafted wooden open containers on casters underneath the bed for Lego storage, making retrieving and cleaning up the toys easy.

“What I love most is that this room perfectly embodies what Theresa Butler Interiors represents. I am passionate about crafting unique spaces tailored to each client’s vision,” Theresa shares. “We excel at taking a few ideas from our clients’ imaginations and transforming them into spaces that make our clients say, ‘This is exactly what I wanted.’ That’s what truly excites me.”

Product List

  • Wallpaper — Otto Studios “Chill Pill”

  • Paint — Sherwin-Williams

  • Rug — Ruggable x Jonathan Adler

  • Block printed quilt — Etsy (JpurArtistCollective)

  • Neon Sign — Etsy (Neonglobal)

  • Music posters — Etsy (StudioMaxe and ArtZonePlus)

Further Reading

These 15 Kids’ Storage Beds Have Hidden Depths

We Tested 5 Ways to Get Slime Out of a Carpet and the Winner Left No Trace

49 Stylish Nursery Ideas for the Unique Baby Room of Your Dreams