Designing Spaces for Kids & Teens

In the Spring 2026 issue of WellesleyWeston Magazine, Jacob Lilley shares practical ways of creating warm, timeless, kid-friendly spaces

Designing spaces for kids and teens requires a thoughtful balance of imagination, comfort, function, and flexibility. 

Kids grow fast, and their tastes change even faster. 'The challenge is that they go through different phases, so spaces need to maintain some degree of design flexibility,' Jacob Lilley, principal architect and founder of Jacob Lilley Architects, says. 'Floating bunks are whimsical, and the design details are not overly fussy or too child-like. With queen beds on the bottom, teenagers can use it as well.