Baby room decor: the beginners guide

1. What colours should I use in a baby’s room?

Decorative and practical, colour can be used to establish the tone and mood in your baby’s room.

“The sky really is the limit – gone are the days when a boy’s room is blue, and girls are pink – these days it’s much more about neutrals, which can evolve as your child grows and develops,” says Pottery Barn Kids' Alexandra Kentmann.

A neutral wall colour plays the perfect canvas upon which things can change over time.

“Colour can easily be added through decorative items such as bedlinen, rugs, lamps and so on,” continues Alexandra.

“Keep in mind that over the years, kids tend to collect a lot of toys – which are generally pretty colourful, so if you choose a neutral, you can tie back these colours and not look like you’ve decorated with a rainbow (not that there’d be anything wrong with that)."

Interior decorator Briar Stanley is a big fan of half/half walls, and says it is a great option if you “don't want to commit to an entirely peachy pink or olive green room.”

“Half walls look great with a crisp white balancing the top half of walls. I've also recently completed a nursery that had a dark grey ceiling with crisp white walls to show off amazing art,” she says.

According to Incy Interiors founder Kristy Withers, this season is all about “bolder colours such as deep green which is rich, warm and imperceptibly cool; a regal hue that adds textural depth and instant grandeur to the bedroom.”  

2. What flooring should I use in a baby’s room?

Practicality and comfort are key elements for nursery flooring, says Briar.

“My first choice would be a good quality wool loop pile carpet. I'm always drawn to grey carpet, which looks contemporary but also hides stains!” she says.

“Carpet (or a plush rug over floorboards) will promise warmth underfoot in the middle of the night and comfort for baby knees when his/her crawling stage begins,” she says.

Alexandra loves the “idea of a baby’s room being cosy and quiet, a real sanctuary for both bub and parents.”

“Timber floorboards never date and are easy to keep clean (and dust free!). I’d always suggest a rug that not only helps to define a space, but is tactile underfoot too,” she says.

3. What furniture do you need in a baby’s room? 

A change table with drawers underneath

“When baby grows out of nappies, drawers can be used for folded clothing,” says Briar.

Storage

“I also always like to include display/storage shelves for sweet decorative items like nice books and wooden toys,” says Briar.

A cot

Select “versatile” pieces of furniture that can adapt to the stages of change, says Kristy.

“Teeny cots by Incy Interiors feature rounded corners and sturdy, removable sculptured side rails that can be transformed into a ‘big bed’ as baby grows.

A comfortable chair

“Hands down one of the best investments,” says Alexandra "for feeding, snuggling and to while away those hours together in the middle of the night neither of you are sleeping. Comfort is key here! And when you’re done with it – you can move it into another room in the house.”

4. What are the best décor ideas for a baby’s room?

“There are so many amazing ideas out there - anything is possible,” says Briar.

“A room can be based around a piece of art or a fabulous rug. Inspiration can be found everywhere - a theme could be brought to life by referencing  a favourite animal, to a piece of fruit, to a treasured story book. Starting with a blank canvas, it's a really rewarding design process, and is really a space to have some fun with,” she says.

Alexandra recommends staying true to your style and looking for pieces that will grow with your baby.

“When you’re creating a nursery I always suggest going for quality and longevity, pieces that serve double duty, and that withstand time so your child will have them as their ages and stages develop and change.

"A cot becomes a toddler bed, a change table/dresser becomes a dresser, a nursery chair can be re-housed in another part of the home as the comfiest spot in the home,” she says.

5. What sort of window furnishings should you include in a baby’s room?

“It comes down to personal preference, but both my children slept better in a darkened room, so I really like block out blinds or curtains for daytime naps and early morning sunrises,” says Briar.

“Plantation shutters are a great option if you're concerned up dust/allergies caused from hanging curtains,” she says.

“Curtains are a great way of adding instant style to a room too – so choose something that ties in the room’s aesthetic to ensure it’s a cohesive look,” says Alexandra. 

6. What sort of lighting works well in a baby’s room? 

It's important to organise more than one light source in a nursery. 

“I'll always recommend a dimmable pendant or downlights, along with a decorative night light - which I think is key in a nursery - there are so many cute options out there!,” says Briar.

“Mood lighting is imperative, you don't want over-stimulating bright lights in the middle of the night," she says.  

Alexandra suggests placing a table lamp "within arm’s reach for when you’re feeding or changing a nappy".

7. How do you decide how to decorate a kid’s room? 

“I'll always get to know the client and find out if they have any particular wishes for the space," says Briar.

"I'll also factor in the architecture and era of the home, and make sure I'm sympathetic to the look of their other rooms.

"It's also really important to make sure the child will grow with the space, and consider the rooms use in future years. e.g. Can we fit a bed in here when the child has grown out of the cot, and things like adding in a desk when the child is ready.”  

For Alexandra, longevity is key to making decisions about decor, like "selecting neutrals for the larger items and then personalising with the smaller decorative pieces such as bed linen, lamps, rugs and so on."

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