‘Small kids, big messes’: 22 Too Creative Children Who Took Home Decor Too Far

Melissa Knudson • Writer

Sep 26, 2026 6:00 AM EDT

iPad time doesn't look too bad now, does it?

Let's go down memory lane and back to our childhood for a second. Life is simple, and there aren't many things to keep you occupied. Just nature, school, and learning new things at home. Boredom was never really an issue, especially because your brain cells were always active and thinking about what to do next. Constantly wanting to experiment with day-to-day things, triggered by the never-ending question in your head: how can I create something nobody has ever seen? Only one obstacle was really: your parents. "Don't touch this, don't move that". It felt like an infinite list of don'ts that completely occluded your creative expression. So it seemed at least, until you became the parent yourself.

Now, rather forcefully, you get it. So when Saturday morning hits, you're just trying to get a little extra sleep after being sleep-deprived all week (all month if we're honest). Only one problem: the house feels quiet. A little too quiet. The mental list starts rolling (one that comes from personal experience, may we add, and the things you used to think about yourself as a kid). Are the markers locked away? Are the doors locked? Windows closed? Oven off? Check after check, it starts to feel like maybe you're overreacting. Maybe you're being a little paranoid. Everything is fine, everyone is fine, you can sleep away your Saturday morning… or not. A sound. Something crashing downstairs. A suspicious movement rattles you awake. In seconds, you have teleported to the living room. You won't be sleepy no more after this, we promise. Suddenly, your recently cleaned couch is now a chocolate-covered inedible pastry. The walls look like a Picasso composition, and the floor- oh, the floor. Maybe think about getting the cheap tiles next time. Overall, it looks like an avant-garde experiment just unfolded under your not-so-vigilant watch. In the middle of it, the artist. A toddler with a little too much free time and too many ideas.

We know your kid has been behind some of the greatest home decor you've ever experienced. Because they have more ideas than you, we built a very useful collection to tell you exactly where they might go next. That said, be sure to lock the toilet paper too. When everything eventually gets decorated without your consent anyway, at least now you're officially part of a very exclusive cleaning help group that is never bored. Cheers.

01
Calm down dad, your eye is twitching

via Judy Wight
02
He's chillin' too

via 5-Minute Green
03
At least there was only one bag

via Emerson Clothier
04
Kid's size indeed

via Елена Соборнова
05
The TV too BTW

via Soundwave x
06
Even the dogs are worried for the sofa

via Dan Skognes
07
Breakfast will have to wait then

via Sarah Smith
08
A picture is worth a thousand hours of work

via 5-Minute Crafts Family
09
Is there one or two dogs?

via Natalie King
10
Someone knew this was going to happen, there is a protective layer on the floor (maybe make it larger next time)

via The Sun
11
Why? Simply, why?

via Pauline
12
That's gonna come off when he's around 15 years old

via Bonnie Cook
13
How do you explain this to the plumber?

via 5-Minute Crafts Family
14
Dad, your eye is twitching again

via X3pR9kWq1BzM
15
She KEEP doing it while she has clearly gotten caught

via JD Q
16
At least the beach matches the sofa

via Witty Willow
17
Note the protective piece of paper. Also note it was useless

via ≫ Chiara Bianchini ≪
18
5 second rule

via Rüka
19
Yes, you'll step on them and it will hurt. Accept your faith

via Cindi Bowles
20
That will come off...never, probably

via Through Our Lives
21
Future chef...maybe

via Auxx Me
22
This one is not so bad...as long as it's not permanent marker (it is)

via Dasha.Spigina

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‘Small kids, big messes’: 22 Too Creative Children Who Took Home Decor Too Far

iPad time doesn't look too bad now, does it?

Calm down dad, your eye is twitching

He's chillin' too

At least there was only one bag

Kid's size indeed

The TV too BTW

Even the dogs are worried for the sofa

Breakfast will have to wait then

A picture is worth a thousand hours of work

Is there one or two dogs?

Someone knew this was going to happen, there is a protective layer on the floor (maybe make it larger next time)

Why? Simply, why?

That's gonna come off when he's around 15 years old

How do you explain this to the plumber?

Dad, your eye is twitching again

She KEEP doing it while she has clearly gotten caught

At least the beach matches the sofa

Note the protective piece of paper. Also note it was useless

5 second rule

Yes, you'll step on them and it will hurt. Accept your faith

That will come off...never, probably

Future chef...maybe

This one is not so bad...as long as it's not permanent marker (it is)

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