The first mistake that people will make in creating a nursery is literally creating a space for an infant. Now Taylor, what the heck do you mean? It IS an infant?! Well, it is now, but it wont be forever. If you are living in a home that you are planning on staying in for many years, one thing you want to avoid is plastering wallpaper with blocks and duckies on it all over the wall. It is very important to create a space that your baby can grow into and feel at home in for a while.
The great thing about the baby retail industry in this day and age is that there are so many great furniture and decoration options to choose from. Good furniture pieces to focus on for babies are convertible pieces; convertible cribs that can turn into toddler beds and big kid beds (like this one here) will not only fit your child for the first couple years of their lives, but will save you tons of money in the long run.
One thing lots of first time mothers forget is that they too need a comfortable space within the nursery, you will be spending long hours in there and comfortable seating area for you is important too! Gliders and ottomans are great sets to invest in, or even a good old fashioned rocking chair (just remember, long hours). Whatever suits both your taste as well as your needs!
Now a very important thing in the nursery is the color scheme; having studied color theory I know the importance of paint color pertaining to all different types of rooms.
Red - Creates alot of activity in the mind, excitement and emotion; use in moderation/as an accent. Not wall to wall.
Orange - Promotes creativity, portrays warmth, comforting. Use a dark orange for a cozy atmosphere or bright organge for a modern appeal.
Yellow - Is lively, energetic and cheerful, but too much of it can agitate your baby so use in moderation.
Green - The best color to use in a learning environment! Green promotes calmness and concentration; very serene and natural.
Blue - Stick with warm or bright blues as opposed to deep navys or grey/blues. With these tones you will invoke cooling, calmness, and emotional healing.
Purple - The color of royalty, yet the most unnatural color. Pastels, lavaendars, and lilacs are calming and serene but still feel luxurious.
Pink - Romantic, loving, and feminine. Soothing for little girls who are prone to temper tantrums!
Grey - Though a calm and thought invoking color, too much grey can induce loneliness and sadness. Counteract the cool grey with warm pops of color, like yellow!
Black - Black is a strong, dark and overpowering color. Be sure to only use this in rooms with very large windows and should only be used as an accent color.
White - White is pure and calm but... stains. stains. stains. I would seriously recommend white in moderation.
The more neutral you make the room the better it will be in the long run as changing out accent colors and pieces is much easier than repainting an entire room. Colorful pictures as accent pieces are great for learning and invoking the thought process. Besides these simple tips, ensure that you have plenty of storage, cubbies and baskets are a great organizational tool and come in varieties of styles and colors, it will help you to clean up easier, and hey, it may even teach baby a thing or two about cleaning!
Try to bring in as much natural light as possible, if large windows aren't an option, opt for natural light lightbulbs. Nightlights are important too; a mellow, soft soothing glow as opposed to the harsh glare of a bulb helps your baby distinguish between night and day. In co-ordinance with your soft soothing night-time voice, baby will be sleeping through the night in no time.
Oh, and be sure to fill it with tons of toys, photographs and happy memorabilia for your beautiful little creation.
By following these simple tips it will enable the room to grow with the child instead of your child outgrowing it.
I have had such a hard time decorating my children's rooms. I love that you say they won't be a baby forever because that's exactly what holds me back! Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to just go ahead with all the infant accents, decor and such, but a lot of people are not thinking ahead at the cost of refurnishing and decorating as the child grows! Thanks for your kind words Connie, glad you enjoyed!
DeleteI love the nursery that you linked to! I'm partial to gray...even though according to the psychology it can be a little lonely! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chrystie! Grey is a favorite of mine, but exactly as I mentioned it can be lonely so shouldn't be used as a sole color, but warmed up with accents!
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