June 9th, 2010
A Victorian style nursery is the perfect opportunity to create a first room for your little girl that is unashamedly romantic, with its ornately decorated furniture, lace curtains classic teddy bears and one or two porcelain dolls. Since the Victorian era spanned over six decades, it offers a wealth of rich fabrics, heirloom accent pieces like cameos and exotic wood finishes as inspiration for nursery décor ideas. A Victorian style nursery has the added advantage of lasting appeal; while your baby girl will eventually outgrow the crib and the changing table, this theme can be adapted without too much effort or cost to a shabby chic or vintage look as she grows older.
First decide what to do with the walls. In Victorian times, wallpaper with large-sized, ornate patterns was very popular. Colors used to paint Victorian rooms were rich and vibrant. When painting a Victorian style nursery, choose shades of berry and jewel. While not strictly a classic Victorian room color, a pink nursery with Victorian style baby furniture can possess a sentimental charm that will be whimsical and enchanting.
To keep to the spirit of Victorian style interior design, the pieces you choose for your Victorian style nursery should have curved and flowing lines; very detailed ornamentation; and finishes that are typically rich and dark and while often distressed, can also be smooth with a soft sheen. While dark furniture was the order of the Victorian day, white washed and pastel washed colors were commonly used for nursery furniture (which included children up to 12 and sometimes a little older). The crib will be the focal point of the nursery. Select one that sets the mood for the rest of the room. The Young America Caroline Mix & Match Stationary Crib has all of the classic elements of a Victorian style heirloom – crown molding, a scalloped apron, bun feet and carved decorative accents. Add a matching or complementary changing table and a dresser and you will have the basic baby furniture pieces you will need for your pink nursery, Victorian style!
To complete the Victorian look, accessorize to your heart’s content – in a Victorian style nursery, the “fussier” the better! While you want plain old-fashioned charm, it also has to be fresh, comfortable and practical. Anywhere you can layer the room with different kinds of fabrics especially lace will give your baby girl nursery a definitive Victorian appeal. Don’t forget ruffles. Ruffles aren’t just for the crib; a ruffled valance gives any window treatment a soft, romantic touch. When giving bouquets, using the language of flowers to send a particular message to someone was a popular Victorian pastime. So floral wallpaper, a floral lampshade and a floral patterned crib bedding set like the Maddie Boo Lindsey 3-piece Baby Crib Bedding Set definitely would be welcome additions to a Victorian style nursery.
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May 31st, 2010
An Americana nursery theme celebrates this country’s history and potential, perfect for a gender neutral baby’s room. The style should definitely be shabby chic or vintage. It can be a delightful mix of country, rustic or transitional. Americana is a theme that can be expanded and adapted to any number motifs: the stars and stripes, Pilgrims and the Mayflower and other patriotic symbols will give your baby a sense of heritage and of place in the world.
An Americana themed nursery will feature heritage type colors (from Benjamin Moore); ones that introduce some color into the room while being predominately neutral. Because heritage colors were originally created from natural pigments, they can appear soft and muted. Any of these shades would work well in a gender neutral nursery.
While shabby chic or vintage is commonly used for girl nurseries, it is the right style for an Americana themed gender neutral nursery because it is casual and relaxed while being enchanting and charming. Don’t forget that the nursery isn’t just a place for baby – you will be spending almost as much time in the room as your child. And since there will be the usual visitors, your nursery should be warm and inviting, especially for you and baby.
Start with the basic pieces of nursery furniture that you will need, like a crib, a changing table and a dresser. Draw the eye to the star of this Americana themed nursery with the Westwood Design Cypress Point 4-in-1 Convertible Crib. For a vintage style room, with its paneled detailing, crown molding and bun feet, it has a charming casualness and a handcrafted appearance that is right for this theme. There is enough decorative detail to make it visually interesting but not too much that it makes it gender-specific or too “girlie.”
The BeBe Chic Chesapeake 4-Piece Baby Crib Bedding Set will create a very patriotic mood in your gender neutral nursery. The colors are essentially muted but given a splash of bold with the star motif. The use of checkers, stars and stripes gives this bedding set a fundamental Americana vibe.
When accessorizing, the little finishing touches like a table lamp, an area rug, and wall art, should have a timeless, vintage feel to them. An Americana themed gender neutral nursery should have, in addition to the crib itself, at least two other focal points to accurately capture the spirit of this great country. Add a quilt or a braided rug. An armoire or a bookcase filled with vintage toys like an Uncle Sam Teddy Bear will give your nursery design a touch of nostalgic chic for your baby girl or baby boy.
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Tags: Americana, Americana nursery décor, Americana nursery theme, Americana themed nursery, gender neutral nursery, shabby chic, vintage
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March 8th, 2010
When deciding on a style or theme for a nursery for a baby girl, shabby chic is a very popular choice for several reasons. While it possesses a traditional flavor, it has a soft, romantic feel that is charming and whimsical, yet comfortable and relaxed. It is also an economical way to decorate a nursery because you can choose new-to-you furniture that has a vintage feel, new baby furniture that is designed to look vintage or combine both new and flea market pieces together. And because your nursery furniture doesn’t have to match (unless you want it to), shabby chic style allows you to indulge in those special finds that might not be included when you purchase matched pieces, either individually or in a set. It also gives you the freedom to create a nursery for your baby girl that is unique to her.
Shabby chic wall colors from Sherwin-Williams) are typically neutral and muted, mainly whites, creams and light beiges. Walls can also be painted in soft pastel shades of pink, blue and green. Deeper shades of the pastel colors can also be used as paint accent colors or the primary color in wallpaper or border pattern.
The Status Furniture Somerset Baby Nursery Dresser, while it possesses a traditional flavor, it includes a popular shabby chic motif. The floral carvings give the crib a hand-crafted appearance, adding charm and whimsy to the overall design.
If you choose to go the matched furniture route, the Status Furniture Somerset collection includes a delightful armoire that possesses definite shabby chic qualities. With its enchanting air and timeless charm, it has scalloped detailing, soft curves and framed door and drawer fronts.
The Caden Lane Modern Vintage Ava Bedding Set has flowers in spades. The different sizes of flowers in four unique patterns will make the crib the focal point of the room. Vintage floral designs are evident in the paisley-like flower motif of the crib bumpers.
Don’t forget to make room for a comfy place to sit while you are feeding baby. The Dutailier The Comfort Recliner with High Leg definitely is a candidate for a baby girl shabby chic nursery. The rounded back and deep seat cushion give it a relaxed look but the lovely curving angles of the arms add a touch chic vintage style.
By placing the Lea Emma’s Treasures Cabinet Nightstand next to the recliner, you’ve made a cozy corner for yourself, making the chair more functional when you’re feeding or reading to your baby. When she moves from crib to bed, you’ll have one less piece of bedroom furniture to worry about.
It’s not just the pieces themselves that don’t have to match; you can also mix it up regarding finishes. The Lea Spring Garden Nightstand has the look of an heirloom treasure hiding out in a countryside cottage – exactly the look you want for a shabby chic nursery. The yellow finish perfectly complements the crib bedding and the other baby furniture chosen. When choosing to mix and match finishes, you can also opt for darker wood finishes as well, such espresso, coffee or cherry.
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February 16th, 2010
Shabby chic or vintage style is often associated with girl nurseries but this vintage look can work just as well in a boy nursery. While it does possess elements of romanticism, vintage style also possesses a casual old world charm that, even with its traditional heritage, it still is informally elegant. Shabby chic or vintage style is well-known for its floral patterns, but it also incorporates stripes and retro geometric shapes that have interesting lines and sweet, whimsical contours. Choose “boy” colors, vintage baby furniture and nostalgic wall art and other accessories, and you will have a vintage style nursery that will be a welcoming place for your baby.
Vintage style nursery baby furniture typically has decorative or structural design elements of a bygone era like Victorian, turn-of-the-century and the 1950s. A vintage style crib might have a white-washed or distressed finish; a change table could have wrought iron accents; a dresser may have hand-painted stencils or motifs. Another great thing about creating a vintage style boy nursery is that furniture pieces don’t have to match – in fact, it’s more “vintage” if they don’t.
Predominate colors (from Behr) in shabby chic or vintage décor are pure white, cream and soft pastels like soft yellows, blues and greens. These particular color choices are designed to complement two specific crib bedding sets.
Just like in an adult bedroom where the bed is the focal point of the room, the crib you choose for your vintage style nursery will be center stage. To help create that vintage look, select a crib with inlay accents like the Bratt Decor Chelsea Lifetime Convertible Crib in Espresso.
Or if you prefer a crib in classic white, the Bratt Decor Dick Crib in White is the perfect choice. What makes this crib vintage are the simple lines and handcrafted appearance.
The first crib bedding set, the Caden Lane Modern Vintage Sean Bedding Set displays classic vintage floral designs but with a “boy style” flair. By pairing soft earth toned neutrals with a bright accent blue, this crib set possesses true vintage charm.
On the other hand, the Caden Lane Classic Blue Jack Baby Crib Bedding Set successfully combines vintage stripes with retro circles and polka dots.
The vintage style of the DaVinci Jenny Lind Wood Changing Table in Ebony is evident in its turned spindles. The turned spindles have the classic appearance a bed found in grandmother’s house.
Accessories for a vintage style boy nursery should have the look and feel of prized family heirlooms. Sepia photographs in burnished metal or cast iron frames would be one option for vintage style wall art. Or how about replicas or reprints of 1920s children’s books cover art featuring the popular bunny or fox stories of that era in wood frames with a distressed finish? Lamps will have scrolled metal bases with small checks, stripes or damask patterned shades. Any decorative accessory that has cherished, old world charm will be ideal for a vintage style nursery.
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