Before and After: Welcome to the Batcave
Brothers get a room designed around their favorite superhero that can transition with them as they get older
A California couple purchased a home and wanted to transform a teen’s bright-colored bedroom into a Batman-themed room for their two boys, ages 4 and 6. The transformation took four months to complete.
After: The gray walls and ceiling turn the room into the Batcave the parents had in mind for their boys.
Theme: Designer Louisa Lam and her clients knew a Batcave look could be fun for the boys, who love superheroes. “I always advise that we start with a neutral base when creating a themed room,” Lam says. In this case, they went with a gray base and added on Batman accessories.
Layout: The parents plan to have the boys share the bedroom for a while, so they wanted to use two full-size beds. They considered bunkbeds and twin beds, but they opted to go for beds that would suit them for years to come.
A bed centered under each window was the best layout option because they wanted to keep the window seat and not block the door, which is located where this photo is taken.
They added yellow padded storage boxes at the end of each bed. The boys can sit on them and stash toys inside. They didn’t need a ton of storage because they have a walk-in closet and a separate toy room.
Wall paint: Functional Gray, Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Gauntlet Gray, Sherwin-Williams; carpet: Slate 808, Mont Blanc, Lexmark Carpet Mills; ceiling fan: original to room; Batman car: Pottery Barn Kids
Theme: Designer Louisa Lam and her clients knew a Batcave look could be fun for the boys, who love superheroes. “I always advise that we start with a neutral base when creating a themed room,” Lam says. In this case, they went with a gray base and added on Batman accessories.
Layout: The parents plan to have the boys share the bedroom for a while, so they wanted to use two full-size beds. They considered bunkbeds and twin beds, but they opted to go for beds that would suit them for years to come.
A bed centered under each window was the best layout option because they wanted to keep the window seat and not block the door, which is located where this photo is taken.
They added yellow padded storage boxes at the end of each bed. The boys can sit on them and stash toys inside. They didn’t need a ton of storage because they have a walk-in closet and a separate toy room.
Wall paint: Functional Gray, Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Gauntlet Gray, Sherwin-Williams; carpet: Slate 808, Mont Blanc, Lexmark Carpet Mills; ceiling fan: original to room; Batman car: Pottery Barn Kids
Before: The bed was centered between the windows, which didn’t have light-blocking shades.
After: A bridge shelf, gray nightstand, Bat Signal and cityscape mural transform the wall behind the bed into a miniature version of Gotham City, the home of Batman.
Mural: The client’s cousin painted the cityscape mural on the wall, using various shades of gray so the window treatments blend into the design. “The wall mural ended up the coolest feature in this room,” Lam says.
Bat Signal: They mounted a light on a tripod above the door on the other side of the room. The light shines across the room and lands in the sky alongside the skyscrapers.
Batman accessories: Batman appears on the bridge shelf in action-figure form, and again on the bedding. “It was luckily really easy to find Batman stuff,” Lam says. All of the themed items are accessories, so they can easily be swapped out for something else when — or if — the boys outgrow Batman.
Fish tank: The boys’ fish tank sits between them on the nightstand. The light gives off a fun, soft glow that fits in well with the theme, Lam says. It plugs into the wall outlet behind the nightstand.
Nightstand: Homelegance; headboard: Skyline Furniture; window shades: roller shades, Hunter Douglas; bridge, signal light and bedding: Pottery Barn Kids
Browse superhero kids’ bedding
Mural: The client’s cousin painted the cityscape mural on the wall, using various shades of gray so the window treatments blend into the design. “The wall mural ended up the coolest feature in this room,” Lam says.
Bat Signal: They mounted a light on a tripod above the door on the other side of the room. The light shines across the room and lands in the sky alongside the skyscrapers.
Batman accessories: Batman appears on the bridge shelf in action-figure form, and again on the bedding. “It was luckily really easy to find Batman stuff,” Lam says. All of the themed items are accessories, so they can easily be swapped out for something else when — or if — the boys outgrow Batman.
Fish tank: The boys’ fish tank sits between them on the nightstand. The light gives off a fun, soft glow that fits in well with the theme, Lam says. It plugs into the wall outlet behind the nightstand.
Nightstand: Homelegance; headboard: Skyline Furniture; window shades: roller shades, Hunter Douglas; bridge, signal light and bedding: Pottery Barn Kids
Browse superhero kids’ bedding
Before: The window seat area had been added by the previous family and didn’t need any updating, other than wall paint and new pillows.
After: A handful of Batman pillows line the window seat, and a cardboard movie poster Batman stands in the corner.
Before: The previous teenage occupant had a dresser across from her bed and a TV.
After: The boys share this dresser, which matches the nightstand.
Dresser: Homelegance; shelf: Pottery Barn Kids; boxes and candlesticks: Imax
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Dresser: Homelegance; shelf: Pottery Barn Kids; boxes and candlesticks: Imax
More
Read more stories about kid spaces
Shop for kids’ furniture
Kids’ Bedroom at a Glance
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Size: 231 square feet (21.5 square meters)
Designer: Louisa Lam, senior lead designer at 27 Diamonds Interior Design
Before: The bedroom had been for a teenage girl and had bright-blue walls.