Creating a safe and happy space for your little one
When designing a nursery, you can let your imagination fly for a versatile room that comforts and stimulates. Let us help you and your little one get the right start
Whether there’s a wallpaper you’ve had your eye on even before you were pregnant, a mustard-coloured teddy bear, or you’ve been inspired by a recent holiday to Morocco, there is often a starting point, or a ‘seed item’ from which the rest of your scheme will grow. Referring back to this will really help when designing a cohesive room – this is your chance to create a magical, joyful and happy space for your little person, and you’re just going to have the most fun in the process.
However, before you dash out and start buying all the paint, accessories and a baby monitor, it’s a good idea to measure your space first. You need to make some practical decisions about where you’ll put the essential furniture – the cot, changing table and, if space will allow, some sort of comfortable chair or rocker. Purchase the big ticket items first; this will help when budgeting for the rest of the room, and most furniture will come flatpack, so allowing a good amount of time for assembly is wise.
And don’t worry about having to buy everything brand new either. There are entire charity shops dedicated to furniture for babies and young children. Ask other mums if they have any unwanted pieces (they’ll most likely be grateful to get rid of them), and check out online marketplaces such as Facebook, Gumtree and Ebay. It’s not always necessary to buy baby-specific furniture – achest of drawers with a waterproof mat on top can always double as a changing table.
It’s worth remembering that your baby will be sleeping in your room with you for the first four months at least, so don’t worry if the nursery isn’t finished (or even started) when you bring your little bundle of joy home. Be kind to yourself – there is still time!
Be adventurous
Move over pink and blue, green is the new neutral for nurseries, and we love the jungle fever
Look for sets of drawers which come with a changing top. This not only saves your back when changing nappies, you also have everything close to hand so you shouldn’t have to move away from baby. This one has stylish brushed metal hooks on the side, which are perfect for hanging up bath towels or bags of nappies. Then, once baby has grown, simply take the top off and use i
