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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Katie Gregory

Best wall art for kids: Prints, neon lettering, murals and more

Nothing puts a finishing touch on a room quite like a well-chosen piece of wall art - and whether it’s a signed print or an embroidered flag, the best kids’ wall art is as playful as it’s aesthetically pleasing.

Get it right and your little one’s bedroom décor will come together faster than you can say ‘pass me the hammer’ – so it’s well worth spending a bit of time shopping around.

Framed art prints are a popular choice for kids’ bedrooms and instantly give a room a curated look. Framing can hike the price up, though, so it’s worth making sure your chosen print either comes with a frame or – if you need to add one – will see them through a few décor changes.

Posters can be a more affordable option, and a frame adds a high-end touch – and stops them from getting dog-eared or leaving Blu-Tack all over your freshly painted walls. Plus, if you build up a bit of a collection, you can create a gallery wall to add to as your child gets older.

Wall hangings are another good option, and they make a nice change from posters and prints. Embroidered flags and banners allow you to switch up your décor with colour, texture and typography, without needing to redecorate.

We’ve scoured the shops and picked out the best kids’ wall art for all ages, from nurseries to teenage hangouts. Our list includes things like light-up lettering, plush animal heads, and wall décor, and we’ve looked out for affordable options as well as classic pieces you’ll covet for your own bedroom.

Shop the best below

Sass and Belle Swallow Wall Decorations

This set of three Sass and Belle Swallow Wall Decorations is available in several colours – we tested the duck egg blue, which makes a pretty addition to a plain or pastel wall. There’s also a sunny yellow option that’s spot on if you want to add a pop of colour, and a white set that would work well over retro patterned wallpaper. The birds themselves are fairly small – the largest measures about 18cm across – so they’re not overpowering even in a small room. There’s a hole in the back of each one, which makes for easy hanging, and we can’t argue with the wallet-friendly price tag.

Buy now £13.00, Amazon

Hannah Carvell Large Hearts and Flowers print

We can’t get enough of Hannah Carvell’s Large Abstract Hearts and Flowers prints – each one is screen printed by hand, with layered and diluted inks to create different shades. There are all sorts of colours available – from punchy red and neon pink, to pretty blue and peach, and you can buy mini versions, too.

Each colourway is available in a limited run of prints that are signed and numbered by Carvell, so this feels like an extra-special purchase. Go the whole hog and add a frame with a neon spacer and mount (+ £100) to really see these vibrant prints pop.

Buy now £85.00, Hannah Carvell

Mamas & Papas Born To Be Wild Lion Head Wall Art

This Mamas & Papas Lion Head would make a sweet addition to any nursery. We love the neutral colours, which work well with any colour scheme, as well as the combination of textures – the face is made from linen, with a looped felt mane.

There’s a small hook on the back to hang it on your wall, although it does sit slightly proud thanks to generous padding. If you’re going to town with the theme, there are lots of matching items in the Mamas & Papas Born To Be Wild range. Pair it with the elephant head and you’re well on your way to spotting the Big Five.

Buy now £25.00, Mamas & Papas

Dunelm Hello Neon Sign

Neon wall signs can cost an absolute fortune, so we were pleased to find this speech bubble-style Hello Neon Sign from Dunelm at a great price. The sign has two pre-cut holes for hanging, and the LED tubing is powered by a USB cable. There are several more designs available including shapes like a rainbow, heart, and shooting star – perfect if your little one is building up a bit of a collection. There are ‘bar’ and ‘happy hour’ versions available too, if your neon sign love extends beyond the bedroom.

Buy now £15.00, Dunelm

Snoopy Going Skiing Vintage Playing Card

If you’re going for a retro vibe, this Snoopy Going Skiing Vintage Playing Card frame makes a sweet addition to a mantlepiece or wall. Each frame contains an original vintage Snoopy playing card – no reproductions – that’s double mounted into a black-wood box frame. There are all sorts of designs to choose from featuring the beloved beagle, Charlie Brown, and other Peanuts characters. Plus, they’re nice and compact at 15 x 18cm – so you can mix and match a few different designs.

Buy now £25.00, Etsy

Mamas & Papas Hello Word Art

We love the mustard yellow colour of this Mamas & Papas Hello Word Art wall decoration, which looks fab against a crisp white wall. It’s super simple – the ‘hello’ is knitted and strengthened with wire, and measures 30cm wide by about 12cm tall. There are no fixing supplied, so we just hung ours over a nail at either end. If you’re trying to avoid putting holes in the wall, it looks just as cute propped on a shelf. Just make sure it’s well away from curious little fingers.

Buy now £12.00, Mamas & Papas

Dunelm Watercolour Florals Mural

Going big? Prepared to do some wallpapering? Dunelm’s Watercolour Florals Mural makes it easy to create a striking feature wall, providing you don’t mind rolling your sleeves up. We tested the largest size, which covers a 350cm x 280cm space across seven 50cm-wide strips. It’s paste-the-wall paper, so you’ll need to buy adhesive and all the usual tools. But the effect is really striking, and the mural is designed to repeat if you want to keep going. Plus, there are lots more designs if you don’t fancy florals. Just be sure to triple-check the length if you’ve got sky-high ceilings.

Buy now £50.00, Dunelm

The Noochkin I’ve Got My Eye On You art print

Every print from The Noochkin is hand-painted by an artist in watercolours, then reproduced by a family-run printing company in the UK. This I’ve Got My Eye On You print is our favourite, and was inspired by a photograph taken by the owner, Olga, who snapped a great shot of a kudu antelope while travelling in South Africa.

Colourful florals give it a playful feel, and it makes a cute addition to a safari-themed room. Unframed prints are available in 18x24cm, 30x40cm and 40x50cm sizes, and the pretty packaging makes this one a nice gift.

Buy now £25.00, The Noochkin

IKEA GALLERISKOG wall decorations

If you thought hanging plates was a thing of the past, these IKEA GALLERISKOG wall decorations will have you thinking again. There are three melamine plates in the pack with quirky motifs created by Swedish designer Lisa Bengtsson – the biggest measures 32cm wide, and the other two are 27cm. Hang them either way round with the plastic fittings provided and use them to add a playful edge to any space.

Buy now £13.00, IKEA

Sam Gilbey Sonic The Hedgehog Limited Edition Poster

Young and old gamers alike will love Sam Gilbey’s Sonic The Hedgehog Limited Edition Poster. Officially released in partnership with SEGA, it celebrates 30 years of everyone’s favourite daredevil hedgehog in a burst of movement and colour.

The hand-numbered posters measure 46cm x 61cm and there are only 200 available, so snap one up before they disappear. Team this with more colourful pop culture posters to create a gaming den, or brighten up a boring bedroom wall.

Buy now £39.99, Moor Art Gallery

Jane Foster Dog With Heart signed art print

We love the playful, childlike style of Jane Foster’s striking designs – including this Dog With Heart signed art print. The bold red heart stands out against a monochrome background, and the friendly little pup has a distinctly retro feel. Available in A4 and A3 sizes, this signed art print is most definitely a framer and would bring a bit of joy to any room of the house.

Buy now £15.00, Jane Foster

Next Lit Love Green Foliage Wall Art

This Lit Love Green Foliage Wall Art plaque from Next is a fun way to create a selfie wall in a tween’s bedroom. The foliage comes as one folded panel and it’s certainly no shrinking violet at 100cm x 100cm, so you’ll need a wall space big enough to take it. The ‘love’ light comes separately and needs to be attached with cable ties looped from the back of the plaque. It plugs into the mains via a transformer, gives off a nice warm-white light, and has a decent length cable that gives you plenty of options for positioning.

Buy now £95.00, Next

Verdict

Sass and Belle’s set of three Swallow Wall Decorations are hard to beat for a cheap and cheerful way to bring a weary wall to life. If it’s an investment piece you’re after, it’s got to be Hannah Carvell’s Large Hearts and Flowers – these vibrant prints will transfer from their childhood bedroom to any adult space, so they’re well worth the extra spend.

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