When decorating a child's room, the walls are often the last thing you get to. The bed is in place, the chest of drawers is assembled, and then there is that empty surface above it all. This is where posters make the difference. A few well-chosen prints can give the room an atmosphere that furniture alone cannot, and they can be swapped as your child grows.
Here are our best tips on posters for a child's room: how to choose prints, how high to hang them, how to mix sizes, and why one personal element can tie everything together.
Start with the room, not the poster
Before you choose any prints, look at what is already in the room. Which colours recur in the bedding, rug and furniture? Is the wood light or dark? Is the wall white, warm or coloured? The posters should work with what you have, not compete with it.
A simple rule of thumb: pick two or three colours from the room and let them recur in the prints or the frames. That way the wall reads as a whole, even if the motifs differ. If the room already has lots of patterns, calm prints with space around them bring balance. If the room is pared back and simple, the wall can take a little more character.
Think in zones
A child's room holds sleep, play and quiet moments, often within just a few square metres. Let the walls follow suit. By the bed, a few calm prints work best. Above the play corner there can be more life, and by the changing table or reading nook there is room for something you can look at and talk about together.
Children's posters that grow with your child
The baby who looks up from the changing table today will, in a couple of years, be pointing at the animals and asking about the letters. So choose children's posters that are not tied to one particular age. Graphic motifs, nature, letters and typography last longer than cartoon characters, which are quickly outgrown.
As your child gets older, it is a good idea to let them choose a print or two themselves. It gives them ownership of the room, and you can still keep a common thread by deciding on colours and frames.
How to hang the posters – heights and spacing
A classic mistake is hanging posters too high. In a child's room it makes sense to think in two heights: yours and your child's.
- Above a chest of drawers or changing table: Let the bottom edge of the frame sit about 20–30 cm above the furniture, so the poster and the furniture belong together.
- At your child's eye level: For slightly older children, a print placed lower, for example by the reading nook, can become part of everyday life. Choose a light format and hang it securely.
- Gallery wall: Keep the same spacing between frames all the way round, typically 5–8 cm. It makes even different formats look cohesive.
Above the bed and the cot, it is wise to hold back. Framed posters should not hang where a child can pull at them or have them fall on their head. Hang the main print above the chest of drawers or on the wall beside the bed instead, and always use sturdy fixings suited to the wall.
Mix sizes and formats with care
A wall of posters all the same size can feel rigid. Mix formats instead, but with a clear hierarchy:
- One main print that catches the eye first.
- One or two smaller posters that support it.
- Ideally one element that is not a poster: a small shelf, a wall basket or a piece of textile.
Lay everything out on the floor before you drill. Move things around until the composition feels right, and take a photo of it. Start by hanging the largest print and work outwards.
The frame is half the look
Frames set much of the mood. Light wood gives a light, Nordic feel. Dark wood adds depth and makes the wall feel more grown-up and warm. You don't need the same frame for every poster, but sticking to one or two types keeps the wall from looking busy.
Decorations for a child's room that don't take over
It is easy to fill a child's room. Bunting, fairy lights, figures and posters arrive bit by bit, and suddenly there is no calm anywhere. Decorations for a child's room work best when each thing has space around it.
Repeat materials rather than adding new ones. If there is a check in the bedding, a detail in the same check elsewhere in the room can tie it together. If there is lots of wood, let the frames follow suit. And remember safety: cords, fairy lights and loose cables must be out of your child's reach.
A name poster for children: the personal focal point
Among all the prints, one type of poster has a special role: the one that carries your child's name. A name poster says something about who the room belongs to, and it stays relevant whether your child is a newborn or at nursery. It works well as the main print on the wall, so the rest can be built around it.
Choose a simple design with good typography and a background that gives the name room to breathe. That way the poster sits well alongside other prints and lasts for many years. If the room is kept in warm, earthy colours, a name poster in the same tones can make the wall feel complete.
Our Cortado name poster was created with exactly that in mind. Your child's initial and name are set in timeless typography on an off-white background with a double border, and the motif is framed by our own Cortado cotton fabric, where brown and beige tones meet in a classic check. It measures 30 × 40 cm and arrives ready-framed in a dark wooden frame, ready to hang. You write the name yourself when you order, and it is printed exactly as you write it. If you would like to repeat the check elsewhere in the room, the Cortado pillowcase comes in the same pattern.
When the poster is a gift
A personalised poster is a gift that stays on the wall long after the party is over. It suits a christening, a naming day or a birthday, and it is a lovely alternative to yet another toy. If you need more ideas, read our guides to christening clothes and gifts, gifts for a newborn and birthday gifts for little ones.
If you are getting ready for a new little one, you will find more advice on creating a calm setting in Nesting: how to prepare for baby with calm and beauty and in our guide to bedding for babies and children.
Frequently asked questions about posters for a child's room
How many posters should there be in a child's room?
It depends on the wall, but two to four posters is a good starting point. It gives a clear look without feeling busy. Start with one main print and build from there once you have seen it on the wall.
How high should posters hang in a child's room?
Above a piece of furniture, the bottom edge typically sits 20–30 cm above the top of it. For older children, a print can hang lower so it is at their eye level. Avoid heavy framed posters directly above the cot.
What size poster suits a child's room?
Medium formats such as 30 × 40 cm are flexible and work both on their own above a chest of drawers and as the main print in a smaller gallery wall. Large formats need a bigger empty wall, while small formats work well in groups.
Do the posters need to match?
They don't need to be from the same series, but repeat two or three colours across the prints and stick to one or two types of frame. That way the wall hangs together.
What should I write on a name poster?
Write the name exactly as it should appear, and double-check the spelling, including capital and lower-case letters. On our Cortado name poster, the name is printed exactly as written, and the initial is part of the motif.