Daycare Room Setup Ideas: Interior Design Tips for Infant and Toddler Spaces

Creating an inviting, functional, and safe environment is essential for delivering high-quality care in early childhood education. A thoughtful daycare room setup not only supports daily routines and smooth transitions, but also sparks exploration, learning, and a sense of security for young children.

Whether you're launching a new childcare program or updating an existing space, this article shares practical daycare room setup ideas for both infant and toddler classrooms. From layout tips to design inspiration, you'll find everything you need to create a nurturing, well-organized environment that meets the needs of children, families, and staff.

In this article, we'll cover the following topics:

How to decorate a daycare classroom by age group
Daycare room setup ideas for infants
Daycare room setup ideas for toddlers
Home daycare room ideas
Daycare classroom storage ideas
Safety and compliance tips
FAQ: Daycare room setup and supplies
Additional resources for daycare ideas

How to decorate a daycare classroom by age group

When it comes to daycare room setup ideas, one size doesn’t fit all. Children at different developmental stages have unique needs, and your classroom décor should reflect those differences. Below, we break down age-specific decoration strategies that promote safety, engagement, and learning while keeping your space warm and inviting.

Infants (0-12 months):

For the youngest age group, simplicity and comfort are key. Overstimulation can be overwhelming, so stick with soft tones and calming textures.

Use neutral or pastel color palettes to promote relaxation.
Incorporate nature themes with wall decals of trees, animals, or clouds.
Hang high-contrast black and white visuals near changing areas or cribs to support early visual development.
Add soft rugs and sensory panels at floor level for tactile exploration.
Keep décor minimal around cribs and sleep areas to avoid distractions.

Tip: Infants benefit from consistency—avoid frequent room changes and use familiar images or objects to create a sense of security.

Toddlers (1-3 years):

Toddlers are on the move and eager to explore. Your décor should support their curiosity while helping them learn boundaries.

Bright, cheerful colors like yellow, blue, and green stimulate learning and creativity.
Create themed zones (e.g., a reading nook, sensory corner, and dramatic play area) to organize the room visually.
Use low, wall-mounted mirrors so toddlers can see themselves and develop self-awareness.
Display photos of children, families, and caregivers to foster connection.
Introduce simple signage and labels with both words and pictures to encourage early literacy.

Tip: Rotate decorations seasonally or monthly to keep things fresh without overwhelming children with too much change at once.

If your childcare program uses the same rooms for mixed ages, you’ll need to include all these elements in your interior design plans.

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Daycare room setup ideas for infants

Designing an infant classroom requires thoughtful planning to support healthy development, ensure safety, and create a calm, nurturing environment for babies and caregivers alike. Below are key daycare room setup ideas to consider when creating a space for infants.

Natural lighting: Sunlight streaming through windows is the ideal lighting source for young children, helping regulate sleep and boosting mood. When natural light isn't available, opt for soft, warm artificial lighting to maintain a gentle atmosphere.
Crib area: Create a designated nap space with cribs that are safely spaced in accordance with state licensing rules. Be sure to follow AAP safe sleep guidelines, including firm mattresses, fitted sheets, and no loose bedding or stuffed animals. Use soft lighting and neutral tones to support restful naps.
Soothing sounds: Use white noise machines or soft instrumental music to help create a tranquil, sleep-friendly environment.
Tummy time zone: Provide a soft rug or mat with age-appropriate sensory toys to encourage early gross motor development and visual exploration.
Feeding area: Set up a quiet, cozy space for bottle-feeding with adult-sized furniture that provides proper back support for caregivers. Floor chairs are also a great option, allowing adults to be close to infants while maintaining comfort.

Diapering station: Place changing tables in well-lit, easy-to-supervise areas with direct access to supplies and a nearby handwashing sink. Design your station to allow uninterrupted supervision of all children, even during diaper changes.

Supervision and safety: Arrange all furniture—cribs, changing tables, feeding areas—to maintain clear sightlines throughout the room. Use only vetted, non-toxic materials and stay informed about product recalls. Make sure all items are easily sanitized and age-appropriate to reduce hazards.

Here are some successful daycare room setup ideas for infants. Take a look and see if they spark ideas for your own program.

Source: Pinterest

This infant room features ample crib space and an adjacent play area with soft flooring. Wall decals and hanging mobiles help to make the room warm and more inviting, similar to decor that you would find in a home.

Source: Pinterest

This infant room uses a low dividing wall to separate the sleeping area from the play area. Small shelves and mats create distinct activity spaces for infants to explore.

Source: Calbert Design

This center maximizes the play area space by pushing cribs and drawers against the walls. Colorful toys and furnishings make the room more stimulating for little ones.

Source: Pinterest

This daycare center includes a separate changing room that can accommodate multiple infants at the same time. Playful wall decals help to brighten the space and provide infants with something fun and colorful to look at while being changed.

Source: Pinterest

This layout uses strategic furniture placement to create a seamless transition from the play area to the crib area. The hanging cloth from the ceiling also helps to dim bright overhead lights and create a calm and peaceful ambiance in the room.

Source: Leport Schools

This infant play area is simple but effective, and can easily be a home daycare setup. It includes ample crawling space, a mirror that’s safely affixed to the wall, and materials that support the development of gross motor skills.

Source: Smart Kids Bilingual Daycare

In this center, a colorful foam mat covers the entire floor, creating a generous amount of safe space for crawling, playing, and learning. Child-size shelves with toys and materials support young children’s independence and exploration.

Daycare room setup ideas for toddlers

Toddlers thrive in environments that encourage movement, independence, and exploration. Your setup should balance structure and freedom while promoting skill-building and safe play.

Defined learning centers: Dramatic play, sensory bins, music, blocks, and art areas each serve a specific developmental purpose. By arranging these centers clearly within the room, you give toddlers visual and physical cues about where and how they can engage, which supports choice-making, focus, and early social-emotional skills.
Child-sized furniture: Small tables, chairs, and storage give toddlers the autonomy to sit, stand, and move without help. This not only builds self-confidence but also encourages participation in daily routines like meals, art projects, and group activities.
Low shelves: Make toys and materials easily accessible while promoting choice and independent play. Organizing materials in clear bins or labeled baskets helps toddlers develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility as they learn to choose and clean up on their own.
Visual schedules: Help toddlers understand routines and transitions using picture cards that represent daily activities like snack time, circle time, and outdoor play. Display these visual schedules at child height and refer to them often to promote comfort and familiarity with the daily rhythm.
Durable rugs and flooring: Provide safe play surfaces and reduce noise, making the environment calmer and more comfortable. Use rugs to visually define different activity areas and choose materials that are easy to clean and soft enough to cushion falls or active play.

Here are some successful daycare room setup ideas for toddlers that can help to inspire new ideas for your own facility.

Source: Guardian Newstead

This open floor concept ensures that active toddlers will have plenty of room for play and exploration.

Source: Early Childhood Fun 101

This daycare center uses simple decor, such as wall art and hanging planters, to create a peaceful, airy atmosphere. The table on the right doubles as additional storage space, as the two white lids can be removed to store toys and art supplies underneath.

Source: Clever

This childcare center features a colorful mural that brightens the entire room. A simple shelf is used to split the room into a reading and learning area and space for playtime and crafts.

Source: Apartment Therapy

This toddler play area is easy to set up in a home daycare. It uses wall art, green furniture, and other fun decorations to bring the outdoors inside.

Source: Project Nursery

This daycare center uses low shelving to create four distinct play areas: a cafe, a reading area, an art corner, and a manipulatives area.

Source: Pinterest

Wall decals and hanging stars make this nap room cozy and comforting for little ones. In addition, using rugs and carpets in nap areas can be effective noise absorbers for sounder sleep.

Source: Pinterest

This childcare center utilizes multiple shelves and storage units to stay organized and to create distinct activity areas in the room.

Daycare Ideas for Toddlers - brightwheel Source: Inhabitat

By using an entire wall for storage, this daycare center maximizes the amount of space available for children to play and do other activities.

Source: Pre-K Tweets

This daycare classroom setup has a cozy reading nook that includes a rug, a couple of chairs and pillows, and a bookshelf, giving the room a homey atmosphere.

Home daycare room ideas

Designing an in-home daycare program requires a little creativity and ingenuity to find ways to turn living spaces into safe and stimulating environments for children. However, in-home daycares have the advantage of having warm decor, soft lighting, and a variety of textures that are familiar and comfortable to a young child and are important for a sense of belonging.

When setting up a home daycare, consider these design elements in addition to what can be adapted from the recommendations shared for infant and toddler classrooms at a center-based program:

Zoning: Divide your space into clear areas using rugs, shelves, or baby gates.
Use portable or multi-use furniture: Find portable furniture or furniture that can be used in multiple ways to transition from one activity to another with ease and without having to transport younger children.

Create designated spaces for storage in your living space: Designate bins and shelves that remain as fixtures in the environment, so children can access them independently and safely as part of their daily routine.
Rearrange furniture for safety: Check all furniture for sharp corners and consider moving furniture that would be inviting for children to climb (i.e., coffee tables, dining room tables, etc.).
Clear separation from personal living space: Helps maintain professionalism and licensing compliance.

Here are some ideas you can use for your own home-based program.

Source: Pinterest

In this home daycare setup, the children’s furniture is portable and can easily be moved to change the utility of the space.

Source: Pinterest

This home daycare setup takes a different approach to design and uses the space behind the living room as a dedicated space for the children with gates to limit the children’s access to certain areas.

Source: Pinterest

This design works beautifully in a home. The space is inviting to both children and adults with movable materials such as rugs, bean bags, and pillows.

Daycare classroom storage ideas

Effective storage keeps your space organized, minimizes clutter, and supports smooth routines.

Label everything with words and pictures.
Use clear bins to make items visible to both children and teachers.
Low cubbies give children access to their belongings independently.
Add vertical storage with wall-mounted shelves or hooks.
Use daily rotation bins to keep toys fresh and reduce overstimulation.

Source: Pinterest

You can organize play stations, such as this toy kitchen area above, by using floating bins and shelves that are safely affixed to the wall.

Source: Create Play Travel

Themed clothes hooks can help to keep a dress-up station tidy and fun for children to use.

Source: Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station

This classroom uses a combination of shelving and colorful bins to keep toys and activity materials organized and easy to reach.

Source: Les Petits Gazette

Floating shelves and child-sized book bins can keep your reading corners clean and incentivize children to read more.

Source: Pinterest

This daycare cubby station includes multiple shelves for children’s belongings and hooks for backpacks and jackets. It’s a welcoming space with natural wood and a plant. It encourages children to be tidy and independent as their belongings are within reach.

Safety and compliance tips for daycare room setup

Safety should always come first in your daycare design. Review your local licensing requirements and follow best practices:

Maintain clear sight lines: Teachers should be able to see all children at all times.
Cover outlets and anchor furniture to walls.
Use non-toxic paint and materials throughout your space.
Post evacuation routes and emergency contact info.
Follow crib spacing and nap area guidelines per your state’s regulations.
Store cleaning supplies out of reach and behind childproof locks.

FAQ: Daycare room setup and supplies

Where can I find daycare decor?

You can find age-appropriate daycare décor at retailers like Lakeshore Learning, Kaplan Early Learning, Target, or Etsy. Look for educational posters, classroom labels, and theme kits.

What other supplies do I need when starting a daycare center?

Whether you’re operating a home daycare or a big, multi-location childcare business, you’ll need a variety of supplies to ensure smooth operations and compliance with your state’s childcare licensing requirements. Here’s a list of recommended supplies to start with:

Safety supplies, including first aid kits, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, outlet covers, fire extinguishers, and an emergency preparedness kit

Cleaning supplies, such as disinfectants, gloves, and hand sanitizer for your staff members
Age-appropriate and safe toys, including toys that promote cooperative play and help to develop gross and fine motor skills
Daycare technology to help you run your center efficiently and smoothly, such as brightwheel—an all-in-one early childcare solution that partners with educators to streamline their center’s operations and build a great reputation

How much space do I need for each child?

Most states require at least 35 square feet of indoor space per child, but check your local licensing requirements for specific guidelines.

Should I use themes in my classroom décor?

Yes! Monthly or seasonal themes keep your environment fresh and fun, and can support literacy, science, or social-emotional learning.

Can I combine age groups in one room?

In some cases, yes, but the setup must accommodate the youngest child present. Check licensing rules about mixed-age ratios and supervision requirements.

Final thoughts

Setting up your daycare space is more than just decoration—it’s an opportunity to support learning, nurture emotional development, and ensure every child feels safe and valued. Use these daycare room setup ideas as a guide, and don’t be afraid to adjust your space as your program evolves.