How to create a safe, but stylish nursery
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| Image courtesy of hin255/freedigitalphotos.net |
Decorating a nursery can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but with so many products available for little ones, it can be difficult to know where to begin. However, one thing every nursery has in common is that it must be safe, so working from this premise is a good place to start.
Why a nursery must be safe
Children generally have no sense of fear, which can make any environment hazardous for them. Their nursery should be a place where they and their mother can relax and feel comfortable, and one way to achieve this is to avoid making it too cluttered.
Do not place furniture immediately beneath a window or near the cords of blinds and curtains, as children may climb onto furniture to get to them and possibly injure themselves, to avoid this you can always buy remote control electric roller blinds. Plug sockets should be hidden behind furniture where possible or fitted with plug socket guards.
If using paint on the walls, rather than wallpaper, ensure there is no danger from toxic fumes by being sure to purchase a zero or low VOC (volatile organic compounds) type.
Popular colours for the nursery
While there are always the accepted gender colours of blue and pink, plenty of gender-neutral colours are also available; they include pale yellows, soft greens and creams. However, there is a current trend to make bold statements in nurseries with highly patterned and coloured wallpaper feature walls. Another option might be colour blocking, where a wall is sectioned into a multitude of squares, each one painted a different colour.
Essential furniture for a nursery
Only buy furniture that is vital for the care and comfort of the child and mother. It should be of solid and sturdy construction, with clean lines that give a streamlined look and with edges that are rounded rather than sharp. The focal part of the room should be the cot. Though all cots are manufactured to the latest health and safety requirements it is advisable to avoid those with drop-down sides and any that have head and footboards with cut-out motifs.
A changing table that can hold an array of baby toiletries is another essential, as is a wardrobe capable of holding plenty of clothes and toys. Storage space is absolutely vital; consider using a bookcase, not just for books, but also for small storage boxes that can hold smaller items.
Shutting out the light
One thing the child will need if they are to sleep soundly during the day is a good blackout curtain or blind. Blinds give an unfussy, streamlined look to a room, but for safety reasons are best if they are operated with a pole mechanism rather than a cord. Also good for keeping out light, but without the hazards associated with cord operated blinds, are indoor shutters. What’s more they are bang on trend at the moment.
Light switches should be fitted with dimmers, especially if the light is directly over the cot. A night-light is also a good idea; it avoids the problem of having the child wake up in the dark and becoming frightened.
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