October 6, 2025
12 Pieces of Art for Kids
I recently walked over to the new Mr. Boddington stationery shop in Brooklyn. (How gorgeous is that paint color?) Their framed hand-written print, above, made me want to poke around online for lovely artworks for kids’ bedrooms…
Thoughts? What would you add?
P.S. 11 cool ways to display family photos, and 10 fun ideas for kids bedrooms. Plus, more affordable art.
Tags: affordable art
Comments
109 commentsHi what is the store wall color ? The plum and red are amazing
My beloved friend Anita Cheung does paper cut-out illustrations that are whimsical and fun (https://www.neets.art/shop-all) and she ALSO runs a pop-up art show for children each year– accepting submissions and then staging it all for maximum effect: https://neetsnotes.substack.com/p/the-making-of-a-childrens-art-gallery
Can anyone recommend whimsical/fun dinosaur art?
Coming back to report that I found exactly what I was looking for at https://sardinesstudio.com/collections/posters. I want one of almost every animal!
I’m sorry this is a little off-topic but when I saw the cars poster up there, I remembered I wanted to tell you (“you” being mostly Joanna who has car enthusiast kids but all folks with car loving littles in their lives) two littles in my life have birthdays the same week, I happen to have a Porsche Boxster. Each of the kids got a few hours with me in the car, top down, trip to Five Below for a shopping spree. I wish I could show you the absolute GRINS that I saw that day! The little one, turning six, strapped in her booster seat fully turns to me and asks, “Can we go as FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN…. legally?” Sufficed to say, we took the interstate back home that afternoon.
Oh my gosh, Erin – this would make my 4-year old car guy’s entire YEAR! You sound like the best-ever auntie/special adult. And a shopping spree to Five Below?! LIVING. My little enthusiast is obsessed with Ioniq 5’s, of all things, so my bestie and beloved auntie gives him the remote to hers and lets him lock and unlock the doors all day. It’s the little things :)
I love Lore Pemberton’s prints and have 1 in my boys’ bathroom: https://www.lorepemberton.com/, This print I got for their playroom: https://www.bicyclepie.com/products/boys-can-poster?srsltid=AfmBOorKwaRYtXsLICEpFmephQzw6bRD_J-ph4ScdVMrOwEoP6retY9- and this Etsy has cute stuff that I have in my son’s room: https://www.etsy.com/shop/bluedogrose
Geez I know I’m so uptight but please DONT THROW YOUR PHONE IN THE OCEAN! Plastic pollution! Heavy-metal contamination! Ick!
the title of the article is being cut-off on my desktop view. FYI!
Thanks we will look into!
My most favorite art is my children’s own art pieces. We have 2 abstract watercolor and salt prints that hang beautifully in my daughter’s bedroom. We have a self portrait and landscapes. Find a frame, trim to fit if needed and embrace the creativity of your family (or yourself!). Lastly, my son has a canvas wall hanging that says “Read More Books” and it’s just a good life philosophy. I think we got it from an Etsy shop. There are lots of options on-line.
Is the poster in the featured image available? I can’t find it on their site!
Just a small idea for incorporating more art into your family life. I have a basket of post cards as a lesson for my preschool students. They love to take a quiet moment and look at all the pretty and interesting cards. Sometimes we make a lesson with a particular card, like bright yellow sunflowers, and colored pencils or crayons or paints, some watercolor paper and a few little objects, like a mouse figure, so they can create their own card. I love it because, what do you do with your many post cards and faces of bday cards etc? I love to still get to use and see them, and the delight they bring the children.
I love collecting postcards on my travels. They’re like small, affordable art prints! They’re great for decor.
This one by Kadir Nelson https://store.kadirnelson.com/product/distantsummer/144?cs=true&cst=custom
That’s so wonderfully beautiful Kim.
Sophie Corrigan has adorable, playful, and often funny prints that appeal to a wide age range: https://www.redbubble.com/people/sophiecorrigan/shop
They’re all so good, but I might have to get my daughter that “Axolittle / axolotl” poster for Christmas.
See, now I want a poster that says TAKE MY SHOES OFF AND THROW THEM IN THE LAKE, which could be the all-time most fun Kate Bush lyric to sing aloud (and that’s saying something).
Magic stars and cozy quilts! https://www.etsy.com/listing/1894511525/pink-coastal-grandma-artwork-muted?click_key=586fbf7f30e7bb940a0f3f50603c31d9a3350e29%3A1894511525&click_sum=dae8317f&ref=shop_home_active_11&pro=1&frs=1&sts=1
Magic stars!!!
I was neighborhood auntie to my bestie’s kids many years ago. A few years ago, when the middle one was about 12, she painted a portrait of me “in the style of Picasso.” I look awful, but I love it. I eventually hung it in my own baby’s bedroom. Imagine my surprise a couple of days ago when I discovered—somehow for the first time—that the paint she used was glow in the dark!! My baby is 20 months old. He’s been staring at my glow in the dark Picasso portrait this whole time.
Congratulations, Sam, you’re raising an experimental memoirist!
My 9-year-old bought a piece of art from his friend’s art sale a couple summers ago. It proudly hangs in his room, and is the sweetest reminder of their genuinely supportive friendship. I love it so much.
My 7yo son has started collecting art, which just makes my heart swell as an art history major. He has bought pieces from a nonprofit local to us, Art Enables, which supports artists with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He also picked up a few postcards from the Osgemeos exhibition at the Hirshorn (he went four times!). It’s been a complete gift for my husband and I to see which art makes him feel excited and alive!
My skiing/mountain biking/surfing-obsessed little brother sent us Jonas Claesson’s Surfing Animals ABC book when I had my first baby. I Claesson does prints and other things too and we love his style! https://jonasclaesson.com/collections/prints-framed-prints
I love these!
I used some 3M clips and hung up one of the “playmap” silks from Sarah’s Silks on my preschooler’s wall and we love talking about all the magical things that might happen there! Such a nice large print for a great price too. https://www.sarahssilks.com/collections/playmaps
We have a couple prints from Meena Patel Studio. There is one of two girls hugging and when my youngest was a toddler, she would touch it before bed every night and say “Goodnight sisters”: https://www.meenalpatelstudio.com/collections/art-prints-all/products/sister-love-art-print. I never had a sister growing up and I’m so happy that my girls have each other. We also have this one is our playroom and it reminds me all the time of my oldest little bookworm: https://www.meenalpatelstudio.com/collections/art-prints-all/products/reading-girl-art-print.
Love these, and the story. So sweet.
My son is obsessed with monster trucks right now. Anyone have an idea for a visually appealing piece of monster truck art? ha!
Monster truck watercolors https://www.etsy.com/listing/1062785240/monster-truck-watercolor-art-prints?ls=r&external=1&rec_type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-1&sts=1&content_source=ef9cdacd16629a14925ba6a1885f4ea6%253A9ecaceb5fa78817cbad98c1bec8aae265eb462a7&logging_key=ef9cdacd16629a14925ba6a1885f4ea6%3A9ecaceb5fa78817cbad98c1bec8aae265eb462a7
Big and bold and bright! https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Drawing-Burst/792144/13175317/view
A childhood friend had this print by Matisse in his room. I’ve always loved it, and whenever I happen to see it, it still makes me smile, even after all this time!
This is beautiful!
My parents had this in my house growing up!
Thank you for posting about the new Mr. Boddington shop! I love this art and am beyond excited to get the free poster with my order.
http://phoebewahl.shop/ Like, unbelievably in touch with childhood magic. The sweetest little gnomes and scene of family and friends
I am obsessed with Phoebe Wahl! For several weeks my toddler wanted to read nothing but Little Witch Hazel, it was such a joy to settle in and pore over all the illustrations while he asked me, “what do they say? What are they doing? What is that?”
My favorite piece of art is an illustration from Winnie the Pooh, old and yellowed, that fell out of the paperback book when the whole thing fell apart. It’s Pooh and Piglet and Christopher Robin on the bridge playing Pooh Sticks and looking over the side of the rail. I framed it and it’s hung on the kids’ wall for 10+ years.
Would love to see some more international art forms too.. for example these looks fantastic to me: https://indianfolkart.org/product/the-tota-maina-madhubani-painting-64-x-45-cm/ a bit splurgy but i am sure you can find a print: https://bluethumb.com.au/louise-numina/Artwork/bush-medicine-leaves-healing-leaves-bta24-80-a
These are really beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing them!
Yesss!!! And thanks for the great links, will browse around ;)
I am always saying, “I feel like tossing my phone in the river.” “Are you really going to mama?” My children reply. So my favorite is the lovely Toss Your Phone Into the Sea print. Does the stationary shop sell these prints? Thanks as ever. xo
When my kid was about six months old I stumbled upon this print by Rachel Brown of a camel. We were sharing a one bedroom apartment and our bedroom was also the nursery. This print helped carve out a corner of the room to make it feel like a nursery, but honestly I love this print and it is now the center piece of a large art wall going up my stairwell. https://rachelbrownart.com/collections/all/products/humphrey
What a great print! As my kiddos grew into teens, they were interested in swapping out art that was in their rooms since infancy. Quite a bit of it I still loved and just put elsewhere in the house! Win-win!
Anyone know what that paint color is? Or similar?
Hi Mia! I have actually been trying to decide between some similar colors for my mudroom. After seeing this post I decided to go with Cordial from Sherwin Williams.
It makes me think of Brinjal by Farrow and Ball.
Well, now all I want is that exact sign from Mr. Boddington. :)
One million percent! I am contemplating trying to make my own version for my house, since it sums up how we mostly feel about phones around here anyway!
Love so many of these! Marc Johns has quirky,simple, and fun drawings. Loved him since the early Pinterest days. https://johnsart.ca/collections/prints?sort_by=best-selling&fbclid=PAT01DUANRSh9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp_ioiXlBdGHC1UbECfCpThSbjg4dlgzibTLcW5X1ROeHtj5Hq_-T7jwt33_Z_aem_6aqIEOvKNN5pALzp9-Q6eA
Thanks for the shout out, Bekah! I loved those early Pinterest days :)
My daughter and I just picked out some new art for her room yesterday from Fond (https://fondprintedgoods.com). It made me tear up reading the messages.
Any fun baseball prints/art out there? My son is 10 and has outgrown the garbage truck/firetruck art in his room 🥹
Bronte Adam prints, especially this one: bronteadam.com/shop/p/mama-zoo-personalised-name-print
I love Audrey Helen Weber’s prints! They’ve also made some beautiful children’s books. https://www.audreyhelenweber.com/store/ https://www.audreyhelenweber.com/books-1
Can anyone tell me where to find that toss your phone into the sea print?!? I love it-and have teenagers-so it’s the perfect print for my house!
My son is obsessed with all things Disney Parks and so when I was redecorating his room I had these sketches of Disney rides framed. I loved the way they turned out.
Where do we find the art pictured?
We are big National Park lovers and always get a poster at the gift shop as a souvenir. All of ours are framed and hang in our home.
If anyone likes that print (Toss Your Phone into the Sea), I received an email from Mr. Boddington this morning saying that today only, any order you place online will receive a poster of it!
I’m an artist based in Queens, NYC and one of my proudest moments was the first time a mom told me she was buying one of my prints for her daughter’s room! Wow! The thought of someone wanting my work to be in such a precious realm… just really so touching. https://www.claramcclenon.com/prints
I love your work Clara
Thank you, Sasha!
Ikea frames and the kids own art work! My daughter was a prolific artist when younger (and still is, somewhat). Ikea frames can be fun colors and are inexpensive. I still have a few that are too precious to get rid of. She always gets a kick of seeing her work framed too!
My kids were lucky to have a few great art summer camp experiences and a wonderful HS art teacher too. I have so much of their art through the house, including ceramics. Now that they are grown it’s all a happy reminder of their creative selves through the years.
I don’t even have kids, but I’ve always loved Richard Scarry’s art in the story books, and would frame those pages in a heartbeat. They’re fun and happy.
I don’t have kids either but I have two pages from my favorite children’s book framed in my kitchen. Bread and Jam for Frances. Makes me so happy.
They were the first books that really captivated my little one (artwork-wise). He just loved staring at the pages trying to see everything that was taking place on each page. We couldn’t turn the pages too soon, even if we had long ago finished reading the words.
Yes!!!!! I love Richard Scarry!!!
My 10-year-old daughter choose this lovely print of pressed flowers for her room: https://hopesteinle.com/products/serenity-blooms-print
When my son was younger we went to thrift shops for frames, art books and magazines that he picked out. At home he created the pixs he wanted to hang and I framed them. From time to time, he would switch them out for something new from his collection. Postcards or a series of postcards work nicely too.
This is a great idea :)
Might I suggest this gem, which I just found last night. https://justseeds.org/product/abcdefundice/
I can’t tell you how long I spent trying to understand Fun Dice. 🤦♀️
Well done. Really well done.
Ahhh, a gem indeed! hahahahaha! Thank you for this!
YES!
Love
Excellent
LOVE
Advice please!! My husband and I share a one-bedroom apartment with our 10-month-old. We live in an expensive city, so we are trying to make this work as long as possible. With that said, as the babe gets older (i.e. starts preschool, elementary school, etc), how do we incorporate kids art or decorate with her interests in mind without it feeling like we’re sleeping in a child’s room? If you are a small-space dweller raising a family, PLEASE share your insight!
Do you know Erin Boyle of Reading My Tea Leaves? She has three kids in a now slightly larger apartment, but she has great ideas/inspiration for living small with children.
Get a digital frame and take pics of most of the artwork so it can rotate but not take up room maybe? And frame a piece and just switch it out when you feel like it!
Kids can appreciate any art! You don’t need cartoons or the alphabet hanging up. Just decorate for yourselves and they will appreciate it and develop good taste. That said, for my son who loves soccer, we eventually did put up a nicely framed vintage b&w soccer photo, which he has grown to think is cooler than his friends’ Messi posters.
Hi Erica, Solidarity, sister! My husband and I share our one-bedroom with our 10-year-old and we continue to make it work by being flexible and always trying to be creative. We eventually gave kiddo the bedroom and have ourselves a Murphy bed in the living room. My advice is to incorporate decor that YOU want to see- you and the babe will share many interests and tastes over the years. But when they’re older, give them a small space that they can control and do your best to let that go. For us, that means letting kiddo decorate the walls around their loft bed. Good luck – you’ve got this! There are so, so many of us making it work in expensive cities. Laura Fenton and Erin Boyle are great resources so definitely check them out!
This was us! Our kid decor/art vibe was “colorful” so we incorporated prints from artists we loved and were messages we wanted to share with them. We got our son this: https://lisacongdon.com/products/protect-the-vulnerable-art-print And our daughter this: https://lisacongdon.com/products/be-gentle-with-yourself-art-print I’ve saved 2 sentimental pieces my oldest has made himself, but the rest gets hung on the wall w painters tape then stored in a box in the closet then recycled. By the time he’s made something new, the previous is already being cycled out. But the box in the closet gives him enough time to “say goodbye” to those pieces.
What about making some art together? She feels pride for being a part of it, but you can dictate the color scheme. Get a large-ish canvas or just posterboard that you later frame, use painter’s tape that peels off easily to make abstract lines, and grab a few paints in the same color family. We did something like that for a hard-to-please MIL and it was a hit. I agree that daycare art was pretty hit or miss, but some masterpieces have come home from elementary school!
Check out Alison and her website here! I’ve been following her for years. https://www.600sqft.com/
This may require a certain vibe, but we often hang up our daughter’s artwork with painters tape. We change it often and only hang one or two. Unless I’m feeling more sentimental than normal and then it’s a lot.
We hired an artist for an abstract ish family portrait and do fun animal art, but in modern styles we like. Also. Give the kid your room and get a Murphy bed.
I’d for sure not worry about it! Hang what brings you joy; I can’t imagine it would be stuffy art that a kid would hate. The author CS Lewis said that the mark of a good book is that it’s liked by people whether they’re 5 or 60. The same is probably true for art! So don’t feel like you need to include “childish” art for her to feel at home. When she’s 6 or 8 or even 10, you can ask if there’s a particular corner she’d like to give input on. But mostly I tell my kids what my mom told me when I was full of ideas for my childhood house: When you’re the grownup, you can do whatever you want to your space!
Honestly, most kids don’t care about their room decor & their line of sight is way lower than you are hanging art. Find a compromise with things they like and you like, or let them go wild in another area, like clothes. Also, if you have other areas around your house, like a little reading nook with their books & soft toys, or a small table for drawing, you can make those corners ‘theirs’. I don’t think it’s the art that will get to you… it’s all the stuff kids start collecting! So much stuff. Have fun!
Alison Mazurek (@600sqftandababy) is a small space expert and actually does consultations to help people make small spaces work for their families. I believe she’s been featured on CoJ before too. I think she would have lots of good suggestions for you!
https://www.600sqft.com/ This blog has a lot of great ideas on making a small space work for a family. For your question though, I think that a small amount of kids art/interest goes a long way and honestly both my girls (5 and 9) don’t really care what their room looks like. I enjoy hanging their art in the kitchen and bathroom. They like to rotate it out with new art. Other than that though it is just artwork that I love.
I think all art has the potential to appeal to children. What art do you like? Your kid probably can enjoy it too. Good rugs and ottomans can take the place of kid specific furniture.
Tips we have (2 adults + a 4-year old in a city): – buy nice baskets/bins/cabinets to store kid toys in so you can hide stuff when they go to bed or when you want to reduce visual clutter. Most of mine are from estate sales/thrifts. For example, I have a cool old tackle box on our TV stand with her car collection and a vintage basket that stores little wood people. – I bought a nice play kitchen (wood, from Tender Leaf Toys) for the corner of our living room and made that a bit of a book with some of her toys. The play kitchen is great for storing all the toy food/teapots/etc. – I put up some art but go through her art often, keeping the special ones in a box in the closet and tossing the rest (or pulling off pom poms/string to reuse for other projects). I also use a lot of her art for wrapping paper and greeting cards. – Keep the bulk of toys in a closet and rotate things out in main areas to keep them fresh and also have less clutter. – finally – don’t stress about it! I was worried about my house looking too kid-centric when she was a baby. Now, I’ve changed my mind. She is one-third of the residents in this apartment! Just like my husband and I get to choose things we live with, so should she. It’s kind of nice to embrace sharing spaces instead of just putting all her stuff into a playroom out of sight!
Thank you, everyone! These are fantastic ideas!
We are lucky enough to live near breathtakingly beautiful (especially the back country and off season!) Yosemite National Park – we have this print that always makes me laugh https://ambersharedesign.com/collections/frontpage?filter.v.option.national+park=Yosemite
Love this graphic designer! We get her calendars every year!
beautiful!
Thank you for this! We just took a trip and there was one particular park hike that was fraught with mishap and mud. My adult kids are each getting a framed postcard in their stocking!!
Nicole, I would be so delighted if I saw “Fraught with mishap & mud” as a review comment on a hiking trail.
Oh my gosh, thanks for introducing us to this artist! I have lots of gag gifts to add to my list now :)
I love the shop ‘Fox and the Magpie’ on Etsy. Her drawing of mice driving a car with a croissant strapped to the roof is in my son’s room. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1734981660/pistachio-croissant-signed-a5-fine-art?ref=shop_home_active_9&crt=1&sts=1&logging_key=855cf353d4c5470e972c97b3567b5c7df35137d2%3A1734981660
Her prints are so cute!! Thank you for sharing!
A world map is always a good one, or a diagram of the solar system. I think I used framed posters from Barefoot Books to decorate my son’s room when he was little. I wonder if they still sell posters?
Got each of my kids a Lisa Congdon tiger print when they were born. Yet to hang them almost 5 and 1 year later but still! 😆