Decorating a nursery can be a fun and exciting project, especially for expecting parents. However, exciting and fun don't always mean functional and designed. A common mistake I notice as a designer is that individuals tend to approach nursery design as a theme party, succumbing to marketing, popular characters, trends, and sometimes even their own inner child. They put their main focus on the short term instead of creating space that can withstand time and grow with a child.
"Theme Party Approach", yes I came up with the term for this, can lead to a room that feels gimmicky and may quickly become outdated as your child grows. Considering the fact they even liked it when they were babies. When designing nurseries, I always suggest considering the long-term goals of the room, investing in the key pieces, avoiding trends, and playing with fun and accessories.
Below are my go-to tips for designing a nursery that will withstand the time:
1. Choose a neutral color scheme: Neutral colors like white, beige, soft gray, and navy can create a timeless, classic look. They also provide a calm and soothing atmosphere, which is perfect for a nursery. We love to use a mix of wainscoting and neutrally colored wallpaper. Wainscoting and neutral wallpaper are a great combination for a nursery since children are typically too small to damage the wallpaper, and parents can easily clean the wainscoting. Just make sure the wainscoting is painted with easily wipeable paint.
FAVORITE WALLPAPERS:
2. Focus on classic and quality furniture: When furnishing a nursery, we advise investing in timeless, high-quality furniture that can adapt to your child's changing needs, such as a convertible crib or a versatile dresser. For dressers, I always recommended choosing a real wood option (of course if the budget allows) that can double as a changing table when needed and be refinished without much difficulty.
OUR WOOD DRESSERS PICKS :
3. Add texture: We recommend incorporating different textures into the room, such as soft textiles, natural fibers, and wood accents. This adds depth and interest to the space and creates a warm, welcoming feel. For the kids' room, we always suggest staying away from expensive hand-loomed rugs and opting for ones that can be easily washed. As for gliders, we recommend investing in ones made from performance fabric such as Crypton, so that any accidents, like a child vomiting, can be easily wiped away with a damp cloth.
OUR RUGS PICKS:
OUR GLIDER CHAIR PICKS:
4. Personalize with art and accessories: To personalize a nursery, a simple and cost-effective way is to incorporate art and accessories. You can add personal touches with artwork or accessories that have sentimental value, such as family photos, heirloom items, or handmade decor. This is an excellent way to tailor the room to your child's age and make it a unique and meaningful space.
OUR NURSERY ART AND ACCESSORIES PICKS:
By focusing on these elements, you can create a timeless, classic nursery that will look great for years to come.
In 2 moldboard's below you will see how one room design can serve both as nursery and kid's bedroom.
NURSERY
SHOP ROOM:
KID BEDROOM
This is same bedroom as in the previous picture, only difference is in furniture and decor.
SHOP ROOM:
Hope above tips will be helpful for your next design project!
Xoxo,
