INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNITURE GUIDE

BABY FURNITURE IDEAS

Things to Consider before Buying a Toddler Bed

April 9th, 2010

 As soon as they’re big enough to climb up and potentially out, it will be obvious they’re growing out of their crib and new sleeping arrangements will need to be made. When your child no longer needs a crib, parents are faced with two main choices – a toddler bed or a twin bed. Buying a toddler bed for your child can make the transition from a crib to a twin bed much easier. Purchasing a twin bed saves you from having to buy another bed in 1½ to 3 years. Since a twin bed can appear to be too big for a small child, many parents struggle with what to choose, safety issues causing the most concern. Essentially a toddler bed gives the child assurance and the parents peace of mind.

Toddler Bed Fast Facts

 The sleeping area of a toddler bed is the same size of a standard crib and most kinds of toddler beds use a crib mattress. A toddler bed sits almost on the floor, which is what is so appealing about it. Toddler beds have the appearance and freedom of a twin bed, but are scaled down to provide a toddler with a safe sleeping environment. Even so, many types of toddler beds include some kind of railing for added protection and to prevent the child from falling out.

If you’re reluctant to buy a piece of furniture for your child’s bedroom that has such a short life span, buy a toddler bed that is not theme-related, as these beds tend to be more expensive than a standard toddler’s bed. You might also want to skip any extra features such as under-bed storage for the same reason.

 Toddler beds are often cheaper than twin beds. Usually they use a crib mattress, so it will save you from having to buy a new one. Many types of toddler beds also let you make use of the crib bedding you already have on hand.

Other Options to Consider

Buy a convertible crib. Convertible cribs are designed to grow with your child, from 0 to approximately 5 years of age. Some types of convertible cribs need a conversion kit – check to see if this is applicable to the crib you are considering purchasing.

Remove one side of the crib and let your child get used to the freedom of sleeping without being enclosed in on all sides.

Buy safety rails for a new twin bed or a twin bed you already own. When purchasing a new twin bed, choose a type of bed that stands low to the floor such as a low-profile platform bed like the Young America by Stanley myHaven Twin Low Post Cottage Panel Bed or a captains bed. Captains beds are basically a platform bed on top of a set of drawers, but they tend to sit close to the ground, depending on the number of drawers included in the bed’s design.

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Designing a Noah’s Ark Themed Boy Nursery

January 26th, 2010

He’s ready to come home from the hospital and start his brand new adventure called life. But before that day arrives, now is the time to design a nursery for your expected baby boy that will give him a sense of adventure and exploring the unknown, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Choosing Noah’s ark as a nursery theme allows you the freedom to draw on a number of other popular nursery themes such as the ocean, boats and animals.

Arc Palette

Of course, we must indulge in blue, not just because it’s a nursery for a boy, but also because it is the color of the sea. These four Benjamin Moore shades will make great color choices for the walls, whether you use them by themselves or add an animals two-by-two border, ark or animal stencils or ark-themed wall art. You can also use one or more of these colors and their complementary shades to “wash” one wall with ocean waves.

In addition to a theme, choosing a particular furniture style will also give the nursery you are planning a finished look. Contemporary style, inspired by current fashion trends is ideal for a boy’s nursery because lines are simple, uncluttered and soothing. Decoration, which can be considered “girlie”, is minimal. The Tulip Piccolo Zen Crib has a distinctively contemporary look. With its Asian influences and two-tone finish, this crib also displays a unique design that is tranquil and calming.

Definitely in keeping with our contemporary interior design, the Tulip Piccolo Combo Dresser With Changing Pad in Java and French White reverses the color scheme of the crib. Especially if you are converting a smaller sized bedroom into a nursery, combining the change table and dresser is a space-saver.

The Caden Lane Classic Blue Noah Baby Crib Bedding Set is ideal for an ark themed nursery. It includes the blues of the ocean and the brown of wood of the boat. The mix of stripes, polka dots and solid colors will add texture to the room’s overall design.

Have fun adding those special finishing touches. How about the Fun Rugs California Kids High Pile Noah’s Friends Rug or the Fun Rugs Fun Time Noah’s Ark Rug for a touch of silly? Add a contemporary style bookcase; he may not need it right away, but it will be a handy place for you to put the books you will read to him.

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Mermaid Inspired Toddler’s Room

January 25th, 2010

The blue ocean is a soothing theme for a toddler’s bedroom. It can inspire color choices and bedroom design ideas perfect for a growing little girl that are limited only by your imagination. Especially when you focus on the magical creatures of the sea like colorful tropical fish and mermaids, you can create a room that is a creative, enchanting and magical place for your own little mermaid.

Mermaid Palette

The colors from Sherwin-Williams were selected to reflect the colors of a warm, tropical ocean. Intended to be tranquil and calming, the palette choice was also picked for its deeper tones and will add color to the walls without being too bold.

Dream On Me featuring Disney’s The Little Mermaid 4-Piece Toddler Bedding Set

Maybe your little one has yet to discover the adventures of Ariel for herself, but in the meantime, the Dream On Me featuring Disney’s The Little Mermaid 4-Piece Toddler Bedding Set will tell her a story or two.

The Little Colorado Scalloped Toddler Bed Set possesses a whimsical charm that goes well with the mermaid bedding. A toddler bed uses the baby mattress from her crib, saving you from having to buy a twin mattress just yet. The bedside stand included in this toddler set is the perfect place for a lamp or a night light.

While she won’t need a computer desk just yet, your little mermaid will need a place color and to explore her own creativity. Start with the Early Childhood Resources Kids Rectangle Resin Table and add the Powell Sea Creatures Set of 4 Activity Chairs to give a fun and campy place to sit.

Finish off the room with some curtains and an area rug.

The Olive Kids Mermaids White Drapes features sea creatures in colors that will match the colors in the room.

The Fun Rugs Supreme Collection Under World Rug complements the theme and colors of the kids’ table and chairs.

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Boy’s Bedroom with a Basketball Theme

January 20th, 2010

When decorating a room for a boy, using a sports theme will have a universal appeal, at least amongst other boys. Because it is such a popular theme, you will be able to choose from a variety of wallpaper patterns and borders, stencils, murals, bedding and accessories, including lamps and rugs with a sports theme. He might indeed be the next Babe Ruth or Pelé, but in the meantime he might be inspired by a room decorated with sports memorabilia.

The Skyline Bed and 3 Sport Headboard in Blue Denim Fabric is the perfect place to start. It has a simple, contemporary style that will last. While the twin bed features football, basketball and baseball, you don’t have to stick with just these three when accessorizing.

The contemporary lines of the Nexera Colori Double Dresser are smooth and clean. The two-tone finish increases your options for adding furniture pieces with either a dark wood finish or a natural finish or both.

Even when he gets past the night light stage, he’ll still have plenty of reasons to continue using the Lea iRoom Drawer Nightstand. Selected for its contemporary design and to match the dresser, it introduces another element into the room with its arched metal base.

Now let’s have some fun layering the room with our sports theme.

Kicking off with the Ace Bayou Sports Football Bean Bag will give your little athlete some place to hang out in comfort and style.

A sports-themed rug like the Fun Rugs Fun Time Sports America Rug is not only a great way to encourage him to get up in the morning, it will also help absorb sound.

The Levels of Discovery Kids All Star Sports Boys Bench Seat gives this boy’s room even more storage. It has added appeal due to the seat back which also functions as a chalk board.

Shed some light with the Lite Source All Sport Lamp.

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Traditional Girl’s Room in Pink and Green

January 19th, 2010

Traditional style, inspired by fashions, trends and social customs of the past, has a distinctive look that is ideal for a young girl’s room. It is characterized by a lot of decorative detail such as intricate scrolls or curving lines, carved elements, ornate moldings and the use of leaf, shell and other classical motifs. Traditional is also a good choice for a girl’s room because it is a style with romantic and feminine aspects that will grow with her (and hopefully will save you from having to do a major décor overhaul sometime in the near future).

Pick a Color

Pink Palette Green Palette

Walls Suggestion #1: Paint the walls one color from our palette of pinks and greens (from Sherwin-Williams).

Walls Suggestion #2: Paint the walls a pale pink or green. Then choose an accent wall to paint a darker color (either pink or green).

Walls Suggestion #3: Paint half pink, half green on all the walls. Separate the two colors by a chair rail, a type of molding available at most hardware stores.

Walls Suggestion #4: For a little less formal feel, select a color from the above palette for half the walls and add white wainscoting. This will lend the décor design charm and whimsy.

Pick Some Furniture

While one type of traditional furniture might resemble any of the other sub styles, the differences can be subtle, giving the room a more or less formal or stately feel. Since the bed is the natural focus of a bedroom, the one you choose will set the mood or feel of the overall design.

The Lea Emma’s Treasures Kids Poster Bed is a beautiful example of formal traditional style, with turned posts and inlay panels and a floral motif.

While the Young America by Stanley Caroline Kids Poster Panel Bed is unmistakably traditional with its intricately carved posts and decorative molding, it does possess a more relaxed feel.

If you are decorating a child’s room that is really short on space, the Hillsdale Bristol Girls White Canopy Daybed might be the ideal space-saving solution. Especially because of the canopy bed style, even though its look is somewhat casual, it still has a traditional vibe.

The Young America Isabella Double Dresser will go with any of the three beds shown here. Adding a hutch is a wise decision in a girl’s room because a child/tween/teen can never have enough storage. The hutch also emphasizes the traditional feel of the dresser.

The Standard Diana White Wash Nightstand has traditional features that are perfectly in keeping with the overall look of our little girl’s room.

Pick the Right Accessories

You will need bedding for the bed. The Bacati Flowerbasket Comforter set in Pink/Green was specifically selected with the room’s walls in mind as well as for its floral design.

The base of this table lamp is transitional or traditional. But the best part of the Mary Kate and Ashley Create-A-Shade Small One Light Table Lamp is that you can customize it to match the colors in the room.

A rug will pull all of the individual elements in the room together. It will also keep little toes warm and toasty!

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Race Car Theme Boy’s Room

January 18th, 2010

Many little boys are crazy about cars. If your son is going to be a future racing car driver, give him a room that will inspire him. A race car theme is a fun and creative way to brighten up the décor and to introduce a feeling of excitement and adventure into the room.

Decorating Ideas

Race Inspired Palette

Colors (shown here from Benjamin Moore) should be bright and bold. But you don’t have to stick to “racing” colors like red, yellow and green.

He’s going to need somewhere to sleep. For a toddler’s racing themed bedroom, the Little Tikes Lightning McQueen Roadster Toddler Bed would be perfect. A typical toddler’s bed will use a crib mattress rather than a twin size mattress.

Dress the bed in something racy like the Dream On Me featuring Disney’s Cars 4-Piece Toddler Bedding Set.

The Elite Products Locker 3 Tier Single-Drawer Nightstand with 2 Open Shelves has colors that match both the bed and the bedding chosen for the toddler bed.

Storage for toys, games and other stuff is important in a toddler’s room. Because the color scheme is perfect, the Early Childhood Resources 4 Pack Stackable Storage Trunks with Casters for Kids will be a great addition to the room. It will also be a great place for your child’s pit crew to store their gear as well. These storage bins have the added benefit of being mobile, which is another plus.

More Decorating Ideas

Stencil checkered flags on one wall.

Hang a collection of hub caps or license plates on the wall instead of pictures.

Create a racing or sports car themed mural from a photograph that has been poster-sized.

Use wall mounted shelves or wall mounted cubbies to display models of racing cars and sports cars.

Paint the walls two colors, separating them by a wallpaper border with a race car theme.

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Jungle Animals Theme for a Toddler Girl’s Bedroom

January 13th, 2010

Exotic jungle animals like tigers, lions, elephants, giraffes and monkeys are a fun and delightful theme for a toddler girl’s bedroom. A jungle theme or safari theme is not only a great way to introduce your little one to the wild creatures of this earth, but it will also lend the room a sense of adventure. And when you’re two or more, you should have a room that encourages adventures and exploration. To complement the jungle theme, contemporary style furnishings were selected, because lines and profiles are simple and refreshing.

Jungle Palette

To set the mood, a palette of greens was chosen from a selection of colors by Sherwin Williams. Both lighter and deeps greens were chosen for their potential to conjure images of jungle foliage, monkeys swinging from trees and zebras emerging from the trees at twilight to drink at the local watering hole. These colors will also provide the ideal canvas for wild animal stencils, jungle themed wallpaper borders or framed pictures of jungle animals.

Some parents are reluctant to invest in a toddler bed because the “shelf” life is so short. But the DaVinci Elizabeth II Convertible Wood Toddler Bed in Natural will easily get her at least to her teen years, because it can be used as a full size bed once she’s no longer a toddler. You’ll have you’re pick of crib bedding with a jungle theme or wild animal theme because animal patterns are plentiful and varied.

The two-tone finish of the South Shore Furniture Newbury Collection White Nightstand has a contemporary appearance that blends well with the toddler bed.

The Young America by Stanley 2nd Nature Double Dresser in Light Wood Finish matches the top of the nightstand but has a contemporary light wood finish that works well with the mix of white and natural furniture. Planning ahead doesn’t hurt; she’ll “grow” into the double dresser sooner than you’ll probably want her to.

In addition to the basic bedroom furniture, she’ll need a place to paint and do other creative things. Storage is important in a toddler’s room, especially cubes, drawers or bins that are easy for little hands to open and close. Creatively designed storage bins, bookcases and cubbies are ideal ways of hiding clutter and keeping your little one neat and organized.

Don’t forget the finishing touches. Jungle themed accessories such as rugs, table lamps and wall art are very popular, so they will be relatively easy to find.

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Under the Sea Theme for a Girl’s Room

January 12th, 2010

What little girl isn’t enchanted with Ariel and her undersea adventures? A young girl’s room must look pretty but be functional, too. Of course she’ll need a bed, but she’ll also need a place to color and to store her treasures. If the mermaid princess in your house would like a bedroom to match her status, here is one way to create a room that will possess a whimsical charm.

Under Sea Palette

We want to capture the colors of the sea and the creatures that live in it. Especially if you choose a tone of blue, plan on painting the ceiling the same color. These shades from Benjamin Moore are just a small sample of the possibilities. The range of sea greens, aquas and ocean blues available is inspiring. The palette chosen here is intended to match the bedding.

The Olive Kids Mermaids Twin Comforter and Sheet Set has plenty of mermaids to keep your own mermaid princess company. The colors pop and have a “larger-than-life” feel. As mentioned above, the color palette for the walls was specifically chosen with the bedding in mind.

Country style emerged from traditional design principles and trends that were adapted to life outside of major city centers. Country furnishings reflect the lifestyle of those living in the country, so lines are more relaxed, profiles are simpler and decorative detail is less ornate while motifs are pastoral (roosters, wheat sheaves, fruits and vegetables) rather than classical (shells, lyres, acanthus leaves). Country style will be ideal for introducing whimsical elements into this bedroom design.

Let’s start with the Hillsdale Westfield White Poster Bed. It includes classic country style elements like beadboard panels and the arched profile of the headboard.

For an alternative, should you prefer a metal bed, select the Hillsdale Molly White Metal Bed. It also possesses a country charm that goes well with the mermaid theme.

A nightstand adds functionality to the room. Even mermaids need a lamp to read by or have someplace to put a favorite photo. The Prepac Monterey White Tall 2 Drawer Night Stand has a scalloped apron, another typical country style decorative detail.

An armoire gives you plenty of storage options. The Young America by Stanley myHaven TV/Wardrobe Armoire is also available a number of other colors that will go with the bedding chosen for this mermaid-themed room.

For the perfect place for your child to express herself, make sure that the room includes the Powell White Round Chalkboard Table and the Powell Sea Creatures Set of 4 Activity Chairs.

The style of this room is indicative of country cottage chic but by weaving an under the theme into the room’s design, it creates a unique environment for a little girl to sleep, dream and play.

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Casual Country for a Young Boy’s Room

January 11th, 2010

Casual country style is a timeless choice for a young boy’s bedroom. Depending on the room’s focus, it is a type of interior décor design that can be “dressed up” or “dressed down.” More importantly, it’s a style that can be adapted to your son’s changing needs as he grows. The emphasis of casual country style is on comfort. It is characterized by simple details and textured elements such as lattice work or beadboard panels. Rectangular and softly curved profiles contribute to its casual feel, producing furnishings that are relaxed, warm and inviting. Casual country also works best if everything doesn’t match, adding to the informal, lived-in appearance this style is known for.

Palette
For a boy’s room, we are going to start with a color palette (from Benjamin Moore) that is deep in tone, to create a more rustic feel. Popular casual country style colors include rich earth shades, darker reds and greens and creams, yellows and golds. Once you have your basic color on the walls, you can make one or all of the walls even more rustic in appearance with a glaze painting technique.

The Homelegance Truckee Youth Captains Storage Bed has clean lines, softly curved profiles and simple decorative detail. It also has a bookcase headboard and plenty of storage. Another plus is, since this bed has a captains bed box, you won’t need to buy a box spring or other type of foundation for the twin mattress.

If you prefer a twin bed that doesn’t include storage drawers, the South Shore Furniture Prairie Kids Antique Pine Bed would be an ideal option. Again, the lines are simple, yet not too plain.

If you’re decorating the room for two children or your son would like to have a place for a friend when he has sleepovers (or he just wants a bunk bed), the Woodland Natural Windsor Twin Wood Bunk Bed displays casual country style that perfectly fits with our interior design.

The South Shore Furniture Amesbury Collection Double Dresser and Mirror Set is a good choice for a casual country boy’s room because it has style without being fussy.

A nightstand, especially one with three drawers, will add functionality to the room’s design. The Atlantic Furniture Manhattan Nightstand has beadboard sides and framed drawer fronts.

Choose soft fabrics with a patchwork design or has a country or outdoors theme. Plaids in colors matching or complementing the wall colors will also work.

Casual country combines elements of traditional style with a rustic charm for furniture that is cozy and welcoming. It minimizes elaborate detail, while featuring textured elements like clean lines, underscored by charming rustic accents. Additional elements such as beadboard panels and softly curved corners and legs contribute to the overall casual feel. A boy’s bedroom in a casual country style is ideal for a child because the room will have a contemporary, feel but with an added traditional warmth.

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French Country Charm for a Little Girl’s Room

January 7th, 2010

French country style is ideal for a little girl’s room because, while it is traditional, it has a relaxed charm that can easily be adapted to any number of themes, including princesses, fairies and ballet dancers. It is also very feminine and just plain pretty. Decorative detail includes rosettes, floral and bird motifs and intricate moldings, which helps to create the perfect backdrop for a young girl’s dreams and aspirations.
Pallette

This style reflects the beautiful colors of the French countryside. French country palettes include rust reds, sunshine yellows, trickling stream blues and soft lavenders. Depending on how rich or pastel you would like the walls of your child’s room, you can select any of these colors and their complementary tones (from Benjamin Moore).

The Lea Emma’s Treasure Kids Mansion Bed is enchanting, with its woven accent panels and fluted finials.

Another option for the bed is the Young America by Stanley Isabella Kids Sleigh Bed. The floral motif defines this beautiful sleigh bed.

The Young America by Stanley Ma Marie Kids Panel Bed is yet another take on French country style. Black furniture will work well with the lighter tones of the above color palette.

A French country bedroom must have an armoire. The Young America by Stanley Ma Marie Antique TV/Wardrobe Armoire has plenty of room to hold plenty of clothes and accessories. It is also available in white to match the two other bed choices.

If you don’t have room for the larger version, the Young America by Stanley Ma Marie TV/Wardrobe Armoire is a viable alternative. It is available is black as well.

Since this is a little girl’s room, adding a bedroom vanity can’t hurt.

French country style for a little girl’s room has a gentle, rustic appeal that is timeless. Lines are fluid; decorative detail is unabashedly feminine; pillows, bedding and windows can be as frilly as you want them to be. It is an interior décor design that she is sure to appreciate well into her teen years.

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