Six Top Tips for Decorating Your Child's Nursery or Bedroom
Decorating your child's first bedroom or nursery can be a tricky decision, as you try to balance the competing demands of making it functional and attractive. And it also needs to be a place where your son or daughter feels at home, so you need to consider what it looks like from their point of view.
The Bespoke Shutter Company supplies made to measure shutters in north and south London, Essex and Hertfordshire. Here are six key factors to bear in mind when preparing your child's first bedroom – making sure it can easily be adapted for the years ahead.
Buying Cots and Beds
Consider buying a cot-bed rather than a cot for your son or daughter, as these are larger and wider than conventional cots and so should give them a good night's sleep. Make sure you create a safe space around the cot, to avoid the problem of you or your child tripping over anything if there are any emergencies in the middle of the night. Heaters, lamps and wall art should all be kept out of the reach of tiny fingers, at least In their early years.
For slightly older children, bunk beds may be a practical necessity if you are dealing with more than one child. However, you can also buy a single bunk bed, which offers additional storage space instead of a second mattress. As with cots, buying a larger bed makes financial sense – your child won't outgrow it as quickly. However, this may restrict the space in the rest of the room.
Think Outside the Box with Storage
One of the most important requirements of any nursery or bedroom is storage space. Your son or daughter will accumulate lots of toys and possessions, and they will all need to be put somewhere. Consider buying furniture with built-in storage, such as divan beds with a high base. The drawers will have plenty of room for toys as well as clothes. Changing tables can also have storage space underneath.
There are lots of different storage solutions these days, so you are not restricted to chests of drawers and wardrobes. Baskets, shelves and bookcases can all be essential tools for keeping the nursery or bedroom floor free of clutter. Clear plastic cartons and boxes are particularly useful, as your child can see what they have stored and where.
Storage doesn't have to be bland or boring, so consider painting the doors, handles and shelves in different colours to brighten them up.
Resolving the Colour Issue
The main problem with colours is that people's tastes change, so whatever your son or daughter likes now, possibly they won't in a few months' time.
Choose a neutral colour, like white, as your basic colour scheme for the nursery or bedroom. Colour can be effective in one area only, such as a feature wall. Make sure the paint or wallpaper is easily washable as in your child's early years there are more likely to be spillages and accidents.
Be Bright with Fixtures and Fittings
Assuming you have opted for a neutral colour, then you can be a bit more creative with some of the fixtures and furnishings. Rugs, cushions and bed linen all come in a variety of colour schemes and themes. It is much simpler and quicker to replace these than redecorating the entire bedroom.
Remember the nursery or bedroom will have to fulfil a variety of functions over the years. As your child gets older they will need a desk for their homework – or their games console or laptop. They will still want somewhere to relax, so consider buying bean bags as well as chairs.
Get to the Art of the Matter
Don't be afraid to decorate the walls with prints, paintings and posters. These also brighten up the room if you have opted for a basic neutral colour. As your child gets older, they can replace this with items of their own choice – including their own work.
Don't neglect the ceiling either, as this is another blank canvas you can fill. In the early years mobiles hung from the ceiling can be a soothing distraction to help your child get to sleep. As they get older, these can be replaced with more grown-up artwork.
Shutters for Safety and Hygiene
Another option for your child's bedroom is to have shutters installed instead of curtains. Shutters are timeless, stylish and modern, so need never go out of fashion. They don't require much cleaning or maintenance, only an occasional wipe-down. They are much more hygienic than curtains, as they shouldn't accumulate a build-up of dust or grime, which is good news if your son or daughter suffers from any allergies.
The louvers can filter in the right amount of light to help your child get a good night's sleep while ensuring their privacy. And shutters can be moved simply by pushing the slats up or down, so there is no risk of any accidents unlike with cords or chains.
Made to Measure Shutters from The Bespoke Shutter Company
We supply high-quality made to measure shutters in a variety of styles in properties across north and south London, Essex and Hertfordshire. One popular choice for nurseries and children's bedrooms are tier-on-tier plantation shutters, which consist of two sets of shutters, one above the other. This will allow your child plenty of control over how much light gets in.
We can also supply and install a wide selection of other styles too, including café-style, full-length, solid and shaped shutters. Follow this link and fill in the online form if you would like to learn more about our products.
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