Wednesday, March 3, 2010

How to Design a Stylish Nursery


Pastel paint or cartoon wallpaper? Blinds or curtains? Diaper genie or wastebasket? Dora the Explorer or Sesame Street? Dark wood or white paint finish furniture?

When it comes to designing the nursery, many new parents are filled with excitement while others are overwhelmed. From selecting the perfect crib to choosing patterns and colors to compliment it, designing a baby nursery can either be a great joy or a source of frustration for new parents.

Artist and designer Ron Briere shares some tips for turning that cluttered office or spare guest room into your new baby’s perfect corner.

Inspire Yourself: Look around your house for inspiration. Love country? Modern? Do you love dark wood and pale walls? Whatever you have enjoyed in the rest of your home, will serve to inspire great décor in the baby nursery. Design a nursery that fits your personal style.

1-2-3: Select colors that are soothing or cheerful, calm or bold, but a good rule of thumb is to stick to three complimentary colors and then look for accents and paint and bedding to coordinate.

Cut the Clutter: Wipes and creams and diapers, Oh My! Babies seem to have more toiletries than movie stars but if you have selected your furniture carefully, there is a place for everything and everything should be in its place. Keep everything you need for changing baby in arms reach, but inside a drawer or stacked in a decorative basket near the changing pad.

On the Wall: Artwork and wall hangings are great ways to personalize the room. You do not need to match frames with the furniture but do try to match frames with frames. Pull the room together by selecting art that reflects the colors in the room or choose black and white for a classic look. If you have digital photos, play with the programs on your computer and create the look of charcoal paintings or add borders and other subtle effects. Photos of relatives, cherished pets or even favorite vacation spots can all add character and class to the nursery. Hang wall accessories at eye level for an average adult.

Try, try again: Designers don’t walk into a room and immediately decide where to place each object so neither should you. The best way to decide how the crib and furniture will look, is to move the pieces around and live with them, walking in and out of the room, for several days. Just don’t bolt anything to the floor! As baby develops, you may find the nursery needs to change and grow to keep up as well.

Invest in Rest: Baby furniture is an investment. Many families invest in a crib and furniture set that will grow with the baby. Look for a crib that converts to a toddler bed and even to a full-size bed as baby grows. Select styles that look beautiful in a baby’s and in a child’s room. For great photos to inspire decorating ideas, a selection of Lifestyle® cribs and quality furniture, visit our website.

We hope these tips help, and as always, comment below or contact us with any questions!

No comments:

Post a Comment