INTERIOR DESIGN AND FURNITURE GUIDE

BABY FURNITURE IDEAS

Monkey See, Monkey Do – Nursery Ideas for a Baby Girl

May 26th, 2010

Today we’re going to design a baby girl nursery that celebrates that folk art hero, the sock monkey! Emerging from Victorian times, this well-beloved toy was typically fashioned from socks. Sock monkeys made from a particular a red-heeled wool sock, which became the monkey’s mouth surfaced in the early 1950s. A new twist on a jungle-themed nursery, a monkey nursery is an impishly fun way to create a girl nursery that is light-hearted, while having a lasting, whimsical appeal.

The palette should be soft, soothing and totally girl nursery. Shades of pink (from Benjamin Moore) are the order of the day. Use one of these gentle pinks as a main wall color. Any one of them should blend well with whites or creams when used to paint the windows, baseboards or the ceiling.

Vintage style nursery furniture is a beautiful way to decorate the space in a mix-and-match kind of way. Vintage combines old with new; traditional with contemporary; and classic collectibles with kitsch. The crib will be the natural focal point in the room. A vintage style crib might have hand-painted stencils or motifs; a changing table could have decorative brass or silver accents; a dresser may have a white-washed or distressed finish.

In addition to the crib, you will also need a dresser and a changing table. While the number one priority of designing a monkey nursery theme is to be cute, fun and pretty, it must be practical as well. Give careful thought to how to incorporate storage solutions into the room that will grow with your child. Of the two, a dresser is the most likely furniture piece to grow with your child. But many manufacturers today offer type of changing tables that are designed to be used in other ways once it is no longer needed in the nursery. And the same applies to cribs as well; convertible cribs can be used as a toddler bed, twin bed or in some cases even a full size bed.

Aside from painting a mural, hanging pictures or adding a wallpaper border to the walls, your monkey themed nursery will come to life with the themed crib bedding and accessories you choose. The Maddie Boo Sock Monkey Vanilla 4-piece Baby Crib Bedding Set is charming and delightful and the colors are soothing; a good foil for the predominately pink nursery.

The sock monkey as the star of a monkey nursery theme is a creative and versatile way to decorate your new baby girl’s first bedroom. Tying it all together with whimsical and fun accessories like the L.A. Rugs Bobby Jack Don’t Burst My Bubble area rug, a vintage sock monkey lamp shade and sock monkey curtains will lend your girl nursery a charming, old-fashioned appeal that will make it a warm and inviting place to sleep and grow.

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in baby furniture, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas | No Comments »

Double the Fun: Designing a Nursery for Twins

May 17th, 2010

An expecting mother finding out that she is having twins can be a bit of a surprise. But once the “shock” has worn off, you will now be planning a nursery for two babies, not just one. The good news is the only item of baby furniture that you will actually need two of is the crib. Because you will be changing or feeding just one child at a time, you will require only one changing table and one glider or rocker.  Some parents opt to decorate two nurseries, one for each baby; the thinking behind this is that eventually they will have their own rooms, why not right from the start? Some parents find that twins sleep better if they share the nursery. Whatever route you choose, the elements for creating a warm and inviting place for your twins will remain the same.

Start with a can of paint. Choose one that is non-toxic. When planning a nursery for twins that are one of each, designing a gender-neutral nursery will create a welcoming atmosphere for both. Select colors that are not shades of pink or blue. If you know whether you are expecting boys or girls you can opt for the more traditional colors like blue or pink.

While soothing and comforting, a nursery should also be a place that will stimulate brain activity and the senses of your twins. Pick a theme with this in mind. Some of the more popular nursery themes are:

  • Jungle animals / safari
  • Farm animals / domestic pets
  • Lady bugs / butterflies / bees
  • Sun / moon / stars / planets
  • Little Mermaid / Winnie the Pooh
  • Flowers / trees
  • Sea / pirates / nautical 

 The basic pieces of baby furniture you will need are two cribs, a changing table and a dresser. Especially if the space is smaller-sized, you will need to make everything fit, and in such a manner that you can move easily around the room. A changing table like the Badger Basket Diaper Corner Baby Changing Table that fits conveniently in a corner could be the ideal solution when trying to make the maximum use of available floor space. Selecting multipurpose items like a dresser/change table is another way to make your twins nursery a little roomier.

Whether the space is ample or smaller sized, storage will be an important aspect of designing a nursery for your twins. Choose a dresser with multiple-size drawers; units with a number of storage options like a combination of cubbies, shelves and drawers; or armoires with compartments that can be easily adapted for baby one and baby two.

When accessorizing, add a little individuality. Yes, they are twins, but by giving them complementing rather than matching nursery crib bedding, area rugs and/or mobiles, you will be “visually” making a distinction between the two with the use of color and pattern.

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in baby furniture, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas | No Comments »

How to Create a Wall Mural for your Nursery

May 3rd, 2010

You’re in the first planning stages of your nursery. You have some idea of what you want, but you don’t want to just slap some paint on the wall. Even choosing to paint the walls with two colors, one for main color, one as an accent shade, doesn’t quite feet right. You want something else for your little one’s first room. How about a mural? A mural ties the theme you have chosen for your nursery together with all of the other nursery décor elements in the room, including the baby furniture and the crib bedding. Because it’s typically on a large expanse of the wall or even two or three walls, portions of it will be at eye level when baby is in the crib or being held, which helps stimulate brain activity and the senses. The best thing about a nursery mural is that it is totally unique to you and your new baby.

Painting a Mural

Pick a picture from a catalog, magazine or poster. 

Trace the image onto an overhead transparency.

Project the transparency on the wall. If you don’t have a projector or can’t borrow one, try holding the picture in front of a bright light such as a halogen lamp.

Using chalk, which can be easily wiped away as opposed to pencil markings that can be harder to wash off, trace the outlines of the projected onto the wall.

Now you’re ready to paint. Go slow and take your time: you (really) don’t want to paint outside of the lines. Before adding the finer details like spots on a tiger or the leaves on a tree, make sure that the main wall color doesn’t show through.

Because you’ll be using more than one color, plan on painting your mural in stages to allow for the paint to dry.

Once the painting has been finished and has thoroughly dried, wipe the area with a lightly damp cloth to remove any chalk traces.

Other Mural Painting Tips

Another alternative to using a projected image is stencils. They can be traced onto the wall using chalk as well.

Plan on having a number of different sized brushes on hand – a flat paintbrush for broader areas, round paintbrushes for painting in details and outlines.

Yet another wall mural option skips painting altogether. Peel and stick vinyl pieces let you design your own nursery mural without having to paint. They are often available in themed packs; all you have to do is to decide how and where they are going to be arranged on the wall.

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baby Accessories, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas | No Comments »

Designing a Green Nursery Part 3 – Buying Eco-Friendly Baby Products

April 30th, 2010

During the first months of their lives, the immune systems of infants are still developing. At this stage, they tend to be more susceptible to their environs and sometimes have difficulty in processing toxins. It is for this reason that a green nursery or an eco-friendly nursery appeals to many parents. Even for parents who are not specifically eco-conscious or are actively living sustainably, they are very interested in creating the safest and least toxic environment as possible for their new baby. Today in the third (and last) part of this mini-series, we’ll look at what it means to buy eco-friendly baby products.

It’s a well-known fact that babies tend to get a little messy. For this reason it might be tempting to purchase items like crib bedding, crib mattresses, baby blankets, pillows and clothes that stain or moisture resistant. When purchasing baby products for your green nursery, skip any thing that has been treated; especially avoid fire retardants commonly used in the making of crib mattresses.

And speaking of messy, while it might seem very labor-intensive and there’s no denying that disposable diapers are much more convenient, reusable organic cloth diapers are much kinder to the environment. While a disposable diaper may be as soft on baby’s skin, the cloth diaper, particularly some organic versions, are actually more breathable, and therefore are more comfortable for baby.

Especially since they will inevitably end up in your baby’s mouth, look for toys made of wood with non-toxic finishes or of natural fibers. For baby products like teething rings, soothers and chew toys that are often made from plastics, stay away from ones made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a type of plastic that can be potentially harmful to your child.

For baby products like lotions, shampoos and diaper creams, look for eco-friendly baby skin care items that don’t use harsh detergents and other potentially toxic chemicals. Ditto for any cleaning products or solutions you plan on using in your nursery and anywhere in your home that baby will come into direct contact with what is being cleaned.

It used to be more difficult to find eco friendly baby products. But it isn’t so complicated anymore. As more of us are finding ways to be kinder to the environment (and to our children and ourselves), manufacturers of baby furniture and baby products are responding by offering a variety of sustainable, eco friendly or organic baby products.

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Baby Accessories, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas, Baby Gear | No Comments »

Designing a Green Nursery Part 2 – Buying Eco Friendly Furniture

April 28th, 2010

When designing a nursery, many expectant parents are concerned with avoiding products that are potentially harmful to a newborn. Strictly adhering to organic products can quickly become very expensive. A viable and cost effective alternative is to select products that use non-toxic finishes and materials for surfaces that come directly into contact with your baby. Today in the second part of this mini-series, we’ll look at what it means to buy eco-friendly baby furniture.

Many baby crib manufacturers are offering a number of smart convertible options that allow you to “repurpose” or use the crib during one or more of your child’s evolving developmental stages. Cribs and other baby products that “grow with your baby” are very appealing to parents who are looking for ways to buy fewer items and increase their commitment to sustainable living. Buying a crib or a changing table that “grows with your baby” also has the added bonus of being more cost effective and economical. When deciding what other furniture pieces you would like to include in your green nursery design, consider purchasing items like a glider, for example, that can be used in another room in your room after baby no longer needs it.

Stay away from baby cribs and other types of baby furniture that are made with plywood, particleboard, MDF (medium density fiberboard) or any other kind of wood composite (also known as engineered woods). Even though they are made of recycled wood products (a good thing), they typically use toxic chemicals (a bad thing) like formaldehyde in the formation process. While the Tulip Panda 3 Drawer Single Dresser does include MDF, it is made of formaldehyde-free glue and other environmental friendly materials such as bamboo.

Choose an organic crib mattress for your baby’s crib. Select organic crib bedding with a theme (if you have chosen one) to match your décor. The Summer Infant Sleepy Safari 4 Piece Organic Crib Bedding Set is made of organically grown fabrics and natural dyes. It has a non-gender specific jungle theme and color scheme perfectly suited to a green nursery. In addition to organic pillow cases and coverings, look for baby pillows stuffed with synthetic-free latex, organic cotton, untreated wool or kapok (a type of plant fiber).

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in baby furniture, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas | No Comments »

Designing a Green Nursery Part 1 – Preparing the Room

April 26th, 2010

When preparing for your baby’s arrival, you want to create a nursery that is beautiful, welcoming, warm and inviting but above all safe for your newborn. For many parents, this means creating a green nursery or an eco-friendly nursery. On Friday we explored what it means to design a green nursery and the reasons why it’s a good idea to do so. Today in the first part of this mini-series, we’ll look at how to go about actually preparing a room that will be an eco-friendly environment for your little one.

After picking the location for your nursery, the first thing you will probably want to do is to paint the room. Even if you like the current color, check to see what type of paint has been used. Especially if you just moved into a new house or apartment and you don’t know for sure if the paint is non-toxic, you might want to repaint the room anyway just to be on the safe side. You will want to avoid traditional paints because they typically contain high amounts of VOCs or volatile organic compounds.

Eco-friendly paints or natural paints have significantly less toxins in them that can be released into the air. Brushes and paint spills can easily be cleaned with soap and warm water. Eco-friendly paints have noticeably less odor when they are being applied and virtually no odor after they have dried. Non-toxic paints are made from a variety of organic compounds including beeswax, mineral pigments, plant oils, soy and even buttermilk. The best part is that you will not have to treat the paint cans as hazardous material when you are disposing of them. Even with eco-friendly paints, if you are pregnant you should plan on having someone else do the actual painting for you.

Turn the same scrutiny for toxic materials on the floor of the room you have chosen to be your baby’s nursery. If possible, plan on hardwood flooring with a non-toxic finish. Since your child will spend a lot of time on the floor, when creating a green environment for your little one, selecting the right type of flooring important is just as important as picking a non-toxic paint. Carpeting, especially older types of wall-to-wall carpet, can be the perfect trap for mold, dust mites and other kinds of allergens. Choose instead a combination of hardwood flooring with an area rug made of natural, untreated fibers like jute, wool, cotton or hemp.

Share this Post[?]
        

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in baby furniture, Baby Furniture and Design Ideas | No Comments »