How to Create an Adventure-Themed Bedroom for Boys

Guest Blogger #636, Entry #1512, August 25, 2012

When it comes to creating a boy’s bedroom design that is just as unique as your son, you need look no further than the adventures that populate his pretend games. While some boys are content to play with trucks or dig in the dirt, others depart on heady missions to capture the scoundrel that has been leaving mice on the doorstep (your cat) or unearth the buried treasure that they know is hidden somewhere in the backyard. In any case, you can use your son’s love of adventure to create a fun and funky bedroom that speaks to his boyhood fantasies. Here are a few themes you might want to try.

Create a bedroom your boy’s will love!

Image via

Old West.

The allure of the cowboy is not surprising since the position has been much romanticized in pop culture. And aside from getting your son a hat and boots you can take his fantasy even further by turning his room into an old west hideout. Wood paneling was de rigueur, but you can get the look with paint. For the bed, think about creating either a covered wagon or a teepee by using a canopy. And add the finishing touches with an oak barrel for storage (instead of a toy chest), lamps with faux-hide shades, and perhaps even a few Native American style throws or a couple of faux-fur rugs.

Recreate the old west in their bedroom

Pirates.

While you can’t exactly let your kid swing from the rafters in true swashbuckling style, you can easily turn his bedroom into an old-school captain’s quarters. Dark wood is a must (for flooring and possibly even walls) and the furniture should have an antique feel to it, with plenty of detailing. As for linens you could either go traditional with heavy velvets or make it a bit more kid-friendly with something in a pirate print (oceanic or skull-and-crossbones, for example). For the finishing touches add some fishing nets, hanging lanterns, a treasure chest, and of course, a pirate flag.

Explorer.

It’s hard to imagine a boy alive today who didn’t want to be Indiana Jones at some point (most of them still do). And if you want to encourage your son to explore his curious nature, think about turning his room into an adventurous space worthy of Indiana Jones (sans the snakes). Include a treasure chest or display case to house his artifacts, paint the walls to look like the inside of an old temple (emulate stone blocks), and install wall-sconces with lighting fixtures that look like torches. If you want to get really wild you could even throw in some booby traps.

Safari.

Some boys are keen on the notion of stalking wild game. If your son falls into this camp, it’s simple enough to turn his bedroom into an outback safari. Use woven mats for flooring and think about attaching them to the walls and ceiling as well to create a rustic bungalow aesthetic. Put mosquito netting around his bed, faux animal heads on the walls (if he likes that sort of thing) and faux fur throws or rugs on furniture and flooring. You might even get an alarm clock that makes wild animal noises.

Let your little man have an exploring bedroom!

Image via

Army.

What could be cooler than outfitting your son’s room with camouflage items galore (like the bedding sets found at http://www.camotrading.com and other targeted outlets)? If your kid’s favorite toys are his army men and he can most often be found in his backyard tree fort, wearing a combat helmet covered in leaves and using his walkie-talkie to communicate with the neighborhood boys in a daring game of “capture the flag”, then perhaps you should extend his love of all things armed forces to his bedroom décor. You can hang up camo netting, purchase a set bunk beds that looks like a fort (yes, this actually exists), and even order some custom wall decals of foliage from Blik Surface Graphics (whatisblik.com).

For more kids’ room ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

For more bedroom & living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.