Decor Drama: Decorating nursery or kiddies room

Written by on June 28, 2012 in Lifestyle

 

It’s been ages since my last column. I’ve been a busy bee client consulting on children’s rooms as well as a guest speaker on radio sharing décor tips and advice. Since the birth of my adorable niece 8 weeks ago, let’s dedicate this column to decorating a nursery for your precious baby boy or girl.

Good planning is essential to create a nursery which is safe, practical and flexible. Only a year separates your new-born baby to an active, exploring baby. These early months represent the most intensive period of development in your child’s life.

The cost of furnishing and equipping a nursery need not be expensive. Shop for furniture that will work well for a boy or girl, and do consider dual-purpose furniture that easily converts into big kid furniture when needed. Natural wood or dark wood tones are ideal, as well as neutral colours. Many nursery accessories can be improvised very economically to make the most of your budget. A lot of the time I’ve found a friend or family member willing to offer nursery furniture which their kids have out grown. Or you could always find out on Ask Nanima who’s willing to sell nursery furniture their kids have outgrown. This way you get the furniture at a fraction of the price. Why not take an old chest of draw and give it new life with a fresh coat of paint and have a baby changer made to fit the top.

Practical surfaces
Flooring is a key consideration in any decorative scheme, but especially so in the nursery. From an early age, children spend a great deal of time on the floor, learning to crawl, exploring and playing, and they need a surface that is both comfortable and hard wearing. Carpet contributes warmth, sound insulation, colour and comfort to a room. Laminate floor with a rug is also a good choice, attractive and easy to maintain.

Wall Colours

Look anywhere these days and there is a definite trend towards designing a nursery that caters for boy or girl – a gender neutral nursery. Giving the walls a soft wash of neutral colour is the first place to start. The most popular colours at the moment are ivory, buttery yellow, sandy beige, light sage green or a soft grey. Grey is one of the trendiest colours for a nursery, and can be paired with just about any warm toned colour.

Walls also take a battering in children’s rooms. So whatever finish you choose, ensure that the surface can be cleaned easily.

 

Window treatments
Screen unwelcome light with curtains lined with blackout material or blinds. Darkened rooms help children to get to a good night sleep and creates a tranquil atmosphere for daytime naps.
Lighting
Nursery lighting needs to be flexible; a dimmer switch lets you adjust the level of light to suit the time of day. The soft glow of a nightlight provides enough illumination for night feeding.

 

Focus on creating a space that is comfortable for you and cosy for your baby—there will always be time for the details. You can later add gender-appropriate accents with lampshades, wall art, picture frames, or pillows.

Memories created in this room will remain with both of you for a lifetime.

 

Nadia Kajee

Interior Design & Décor by Nadia K

www.nadiakdecor.co.za

nadiakdecor@gmail.com

0833088402

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