Stylist Aimee Tarulli’s big boy room for toddler son Leo

We’ve brought you a lot of nursery and kids room inspiration lately, but what better than an interior stylist’s real life project for her very own little man? With a new baby due in May, Aimee Tarulli needed to create a ‘big boy room’ for her son Leo, two.

“When I’m designing rooms for children, I really like them not be too gender or age specific,” she says. “I think a kids space should just be really cool and include lots of things that evoke their imagination and interest . I’m so happy with this room as it’s really suitable for Leo now being two, but will also see him right through to those teen years, when I’m sure he’ll want to put up Hawks footy posters instead (thanks Dad!).”

The bed was an important decision and prompted by Aimee’s love of choosing minimal contemporary furniture pieces that will last the test of time, then adding lots of colour through accessories and art. “The Biscuit bed in lime washed ply from Mark Tuckey was an easy choice. This is my favourite bed for kids, whether it’s a boy or a girl. It’s just so simple and natural and something they can’t get sick of! A king single is also the way to go to ensure lots of room for reading together at night and again, it will see them through until they need to go up to a queen.”

Aimee dressed the bed in dreamy pale blue and grey linen from Cultiver to balance out all the colour and pattern happening in the room. “It needed to just be really soft and subtle. The coverlet is from Urban Home Republic and doubles as a heavyweight doona cover. The quirky mix of cushions are from Norsu (lion), Ourlieu (evil eye) and Leo and Bella (glow in the dark ghost!).

“I choose the matching bedside also from Mark Tuckey as I just loved the open shelf for books at the bottom and the square shape meant books and a lamp sat nicely on the top, as opposed to a round stool where it’s sometimes hard to get everything on top easily. A handmade twin hunter tribe from A Boy Named Aaron sits above the bed and is a sculptural piece that adds another element. The lamp is from Bungalow Trading Co.

“Leo is really into dinosaurs at the moment and I came across this amazing original vintage poster from The Galerie. I absolutely fell in love with it and I was lucky enough that Michelle at The Galarie was able to source it for me. It’s really the hero of the room and makes such an impact to the space. I just love that it’s so unique and not seen everywhere. It’s such a cool piece and one that we’ll all love forever.”

When decorating spaces, Aimee always aims to find unique products that really make them someone’s own. “I love to find out more about my clients and what they like so I can ensure I am designing a space that really connects with them and is unique.”

Leo’s other love is books and the Ubabub clear Perspex Booksee shelves are a fun way to display them. “The low shelves mean Leo can reach the books easily and they’re a magnet for him.” To create a comfy reading nook, Aimee found the perfect floor cushion from Into The Fold. “This cushion is called Big Maude and is so lush and comfy and means we can cuddle up and read stories together. I paired this with some really cool cushions from Jai Vasicek.”

Taking inspiration from some diamond bunting she had, Aimee had diamond shapes painted on the wall that wrap around the corner (painted by Christopher Watterston, who paints the Dulux colour campaigns). “This just adds interest to an otherwise white corner of the room and draws your eye down into the bookshelves. It’s quite the optical illusion as the angles change when you walk around the room,” says Aimee.

Layout has also been carefully considered with the bed up against one wall to open up floor space for play. Aimee used a Down to the Woods felt ball rug on the floor and a Puku ottoman from Coco Flip. The Oeuf Mini Library in birch from The Secret Room is a great space for Leo to keep all his little dinosaurs and toys. “I’m sure in time it will become filled with Lego structures!”Above the shelf unit hangs a framed Rachel Castle tea towel (great affordable art!) and a small Emily Besser artwork sits on top next to a cluster of felt mushrooms amongst other nick knacks.

“I really love Leo’s new space and find myself sometimes just walking past and looking in. It’s a really cool place to be.”

Photography by Martina Gemmola.