When One Kid Couldn’t Decide Between Wallpapers, They Hung *Both* in Their Bedroom Side by Side

Bold pattern mixing is having a moment in the interior design world, and it’s no wonder: When you layer colorful, vibrant patterns that work well together, you essentially joy-max a space. In fact, joy maxxing is the perfect way to describe the feeling you’ll get when you see one of the kids’ bedrooms in the Nashville home of interior designer Mary Kathryn Wells, of Mary Kathryn Wells Interior Design. 

This particular bedroom makeover was part of a whole-home renovation. (Mary Kathryn’s kids actually swapped bedrooms as part of the reno.) “We designed it around that child’s personality, favorite colors, and the way they actually use their room,” she explains. “It needed to feel cozy for sleep, but also fun and expressive for play.” 

And so, when her kid couldn’t decide between two wallpaper patterns, “instead of choosing one, we used both intentionally,” Mary Kathryn says. “Keeping the trim and ceiling crisp white gave the patterns breathing room, so it feels joyful and layered, not chaotic.”

The dual wallpaper — Wallshoppe’s “El Quijote” and “Townhouse” — complement each other so well that it almost feels like magic, adding the brightest, happiest vibe to the space. 

The room is mostly used for playtime and sleeping, and what makes it even cozier are the Anthropologie blackout curtains that frame the windows and serve as a canopy over the beds. The curtains around the bed are one of the child’s favorite things about the room — Mary Kathryn says closing them makes it feel “cozy and safe” at bedtime. 

Mary Kathryn’s kid’s bedroom is proof that mixing patterns doesn’t mean a space will feel overwhelming. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: This room is a joyful oasis that promotes playfulness and rest. 

To see more of this bright, layered home, visit the full House Tour on Apartment Therapy.