The New Look Of Nurseries
Is there any other room more special to put together than a nursery? What a special time, when a new baby is about to be brought home, preparing the nursery for the new arrival is a wonderful way to celebrate the upcoming event. And no, I don't have any news to share...it's just with the kids returning to school soon, one does think about how sweet it would be to have a baby around as well!
The fun part about putting together a nursery these days is how the idea of what a nursery should look like has truly evolved over the last several years. Until recently, the approach would have been to visit a local baby furnishing store to select the necessary items and then add pink or blue decor to go with it all. While those resources are still wonderful for the basics, new parents and designers are now expanding their options for how to pull this room together with unique style.
The fun part about putting together a nursery these days is how the idea of what a nursery should look like has truly evolved over the last several years. Until recently, the approach would have been to visit a local baby furnishing store to select the necessary items and then add pink or blue decor to go with it all. While those resources are still wonderful for the basics, new parents and designers are now expanding their options for how to pull this room together with unique style.
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Among the big trends in nursery design are using furniture not specifically designed for a baby's room, to include an unusual mix of colors that defy the gender of the baby and the addition of delightful wall decals. This room has all of these elements. The giraffe decal sports a fun print and the mixture of blue, hot pink, orange and yellow is vibrant. The wall unit, as well as the classic chair upholstered in a boldly striped fabric, could easily be found in a living room or den.
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| Nurseries can be accessorized with virtually any item that strikes your fancy. From a poster with inspiring words to a tray covered in a whimsical pattern. Private Comment
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| One way nurseries are embracing a look outside the typical definition for these spaces is using fabrics not necessarily associated with a baby's room. Here the roman shades are made from Sungold, a sophisticated yet fun fabric by Thomas Paul. They are striking against the bright walls and fun paired with the charming tree wall decal. Private Comment
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This mirror would be fabulous in a living or dining room. Here it adds a big dose of sophistication, especially hung above a changing table. I actually find hanging a mirror at this particular spot amusing, what are you looking at? The terrible faces that are most likely being made while changing a stinky diaper?
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Another trend in nurseries is the appearance of more simply designed cribs, changing tables and chairs. In the other direction, colors and patterns have certainly been energized!
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The soft gray blue wall color, the baby's name spelled out in letters and the butterflies scattered around the walls are beautiful elements that could easily be in a more traditionally styled nursery. However, several other items used in the room make this nursery unique: the iconic George Nelson bubble pendant, the colorful tree wall decals and the modern crib painted in an unusal shade of dark green. When was the last time you saw a crib painted this color? These are the choices that make this nursery fresh and modern.
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Here a bold gesture is created by painting one wall a bright golden yellow. A graphic Angela Adams rug is an equally strong element, with all the other pieces in the room playing supporting roles. The mid century modern inspired rocker is a far cry from the typical nursery glider, and the remaining pieces provide needed function with simple style.
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| If I were designing a nursery today I would start by finding inspiration from a great wallpaper. This wallpaper sets the tone for a simple design, reflected in the lines of the furniture and a simple yet sophisticated color palette. Private Comment
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I don't know if this is a nursery, but it could certainly be the starting point for one. I love these colors and the whimsical spirit brought into the room through the wall decals.
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| This sophisticated daybed is a great example of utilizing furniture not originally designed to be used in a baby's room. The piece is very traditional, but because it is used in a unconventional setting, it becomes fresh and modern. Private Comment
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There is a wonderful vintage feel to this nursery, yet it is also very modern because of the crib design, brightly striped blanket and the presence of a "fashion forward" rug.
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| Blue and white are certainly colors that are not strangers to nurseries. What makes this nursery fresh and modern is the addition of orange, seen in the decals on the dresser and on the rug and accessories. Private Comment
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Comments
rhymeme says:
I love the decals. I really must find some good sources and take a serious look for my son's new "big boy" room. The giraffe would look great there. Any idea where it is from?
On another note. I hung a mirror above his changing table in the nursery (a bit lower than in the photo you showed) and we both loved it. From infancy, he got a kick out of seeing himself in it and his image kept him occupied which changing his clothes. I loved cuddling him in front of it because we both got to see each other together every day, like a fleeting snapshot. Later I would play peekaboo behind him which he still enjoys. I would encourage anyone to put one up above a changing table!
In fact, I have a ornate one like in the photo and may switch out the one I have up already and move the plain one to the new BBR!
Thanks so much!
On another note. I hung a mirror above his changing table in the nursery (a bit lower than in the photo you showed) and we both loved it. From infancy, he got a kick out of seeing himself in it and his image kept him occupied which changing his clothes. I loved cuddling him in front of it because we both got to see each other together every day, like a fleeting snapshot. Later I would play peekaboo behind him which he still enjoys. I would encourage anyone to put one up above a changing table!
In fact, I have a ornate one like in the photo and may switch out the one I have up already and move the plain one to the new BBR!
Thanks so much!
21 months ago ·
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Good point about the placement of the mirror! My kids loved seeing themselves in the mirror when they were babies.
21 months ago ·
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CJ Sebert says:
So cute, I used decals in my daughters room. Etsy.com is a great place to find them.
21 months ago ·
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The tree decals (third photo) came from here:
www.notneutral.com/product_info.php?products_id=468
I just added more product information on this nursery in the photo description (just click on the photo).
Janell - you've got eagle eyes for spotting the fabric designer!
:) Rhoda Fry http://www.billfryconstruction.com/
www.notneutral.com/product_info.php?products_id=468
I just added more product information on this nursery in the photo description (just click on the photo).
Janell - you've got eagle eyes for spotting the fabric designer!
:) Rhoda Fry http://www.billfryconstruction.com/
21 months ago ·
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momof2cuties says:
Love the more modern clean nurseries of "todays look". I almost want a do over to have another child and a reason to use these fresh ideas...but then again not. I love the Thomas Paul fabric!!! I alos had a mirror above the changing table. We had lots of fun with it.
21 months ago ·
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Linda-Marie Leyble says:
I love using decals in kids rooms also. Love the way Vanessa does decals - her work is amazing! Here are two photos - one a little girl's room that I staged a little while ago (using one of the black chandelier decals - found at HomeGoods for about $12!) and the other part of a room I staged where I created some artwork for the room using decals (another find from HomeGoods -a decal of the Eiffel Tower that I found at a discount!).
21 months ago ·
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Karen Evans says:
I love the new attitude regarding designing rooms for children and babies. When I was expecting my first child I wasted so much money on nursery furniture that I sold just a few years later, none of it could be transitioned into a room for an older child.
21 months ago ·
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kimb says:
Just a word of caution/ word to the wise. In the nursery with the "Dick and Jane" pictures over the crib, in an earthquake these could fall off and be deadly. Also as the baby gets older and can reach these pictures...well you get the picture. I've been in enough earthquakes to know that you need to be careful and re-evaluate what you have around the beds in your house. Vinyl graphics are a great way to add style without the danger.
21 months ago ·
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Kimb, you offer the best and most important advice in designing a nursery. Safety. I lived in San Francisco when I had my first child and what was hung above and around the crib was of primary concern. The best design joins function (in this case safety) with beauty. Thanks for bringing up this point.
21 months ago ·
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revital indik says:
so beutiful! here are some more photos from my last design project..
21 months ago ·
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Dana King says:
Great inspiration! Thanks for sharing. Here is a baby/toddler room I did for a client. The tree is inspired by a design found in the bedding. For a fun twist I lined up apples that may have fallen off the tree on a shelf. The kids can have fun counting the apples, playing with them and lining them up on the shelf.
21 months ago ·
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katesteele says:
Along the safety lines--while the decals are indeed fun and an easy way to add whimsy to walls, they are also almost exclusively made of vinyl, which has been linked to all kinds of off-gassing of chemicals, etc. I debated having one in my new baby's room, but after researching the environmental toxin risks (both in the room and in our world as a result of the production process of vinyl), I decided against it. Instead, I used some of my favorite decals as inspiration, designed my own wall mural, and, with the help of an artistic friend, painted it myself with no-VOC paints. Placing it above the crib also meant giving my baby something to look at on the wall without risking hanging something that could fall off during an earthquake. Just something to consider...
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Anne says:
Glad you're all talking about safety--an interior designer is trained first and foremost to consider the health, safety and welfare of the general public. That pretty, ornate, white mirror over the changing table is NOT a safe placement!
21 months ago ·
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Amanda Carver says:
Love all the decals. I used a monogram decal above my daughters crib. I thought it was a fun way to make it a little more sophisticated, but still sweet.
21 months ago ·
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These pictures are from nurseries I had done for a homeless shelter in St. Louis, MO
21 months ago ·
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Now this type of work makes an impression on me. Every baby deserves a wonderful and welcoming nursery, I am certain the parents are very grateful for your efforts.
21 months ago ·
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The Inglenook Decor says:
I can still remember when most of the baby rooms I saw were in pink & lavender or a cartoon theme like Winnie the Pooh. I really think that most Moms have become more decor savvy these days, nurseries are just more glamorous now & much easier to update when kids become older.
21 months ago ·
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