Nursery

RSS

Less Is More, The Minimalist Approach!

Designing a Minimalist Nursery: Do’s and Don’ts

12 Tips for Designing a Minimalist Baby nursery

Minimalist nursery design with pink accents

For new parents, a quick jaunt around the aisles of your local baby-mart can be a pretty overwhelming experience. For the minimalist, it’s nothing short of a panic inducing.

“How can one little human need so much stuff,” you wonder as you navigate your way through a maze of designer cribs—some of which cost more than your first car. “Where am I going to put it all?”

Take a deep breath, friend.

Whether you’re a devoted minimalist or just a parent with a limited amount of money and space, a minimalist baby nursery is totally within your reach.

Not sure where to start? This helpful list of dos and don’ts will get you moving in the right direction!

Minimalist Nurseries: The Don’ts

1. Don’t buy an expensive, full-sized crib.

Your little one won’t be in a crib forever. In fact, he may not spend much time in it at all. Many babies bunk in with mom and dad for the first six months to a year, rarely seeing the nursery. Even if your baby does spend time in his crib, he’ll be trading up in no time. Why invest hundreds of dollars in a piece of furniture you’ll only need for a year or two?

While a convertible crib may stand the test of time, it also takes up a lot of space in your home and your budget. Planning on having more babies? Your oldest will likely get bumped when you find you have need of the crib again, and you’ll end up buying a toddler bed anyway.

Your best bet? Stick to the basics. Opt for a simple, budget-friendly cot with clean lines and a small footprint.

When baby outgrows his digs, skip the toddler bed and move him directly into a twin, freeing up the crib for use by younger siblings.

2. Don’t buy a changing table.

While a place to change your little one is a must, a changing table is not. Instead of paying a small fortune for a purpose-built changing table, create your own simple changing station by adding a changing pad to an existing dresser.

Working with a tight space? Try one of these clever changing table alternatives.

3. Don’t overdo the accessories.

Feel free to give your nursery a personal touch with art and accessories, but be careful not to overdo it. Remember, less is more.

Instead of trying to cover every last square-inch of available space, focus on emphasizing two or three main focal points. For example, you might hang a single dramatic piece of art on the wall over the crib or create a cozy reading corner with a soft rug and a few accent pillows.

Try to avoid dustables and other purely decorative items that tend to clutter surfaces. Instead, look for toys that double as décor, like a colorful wooden abacus or a beautiful set of hand-carved stacking rings, and strive to choose useful accessories that combine form with function.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of good lighting.

Minimalism usually means doing more with less. Why buy three of something if you can get by with just one, right? But good lighting is a team sport. Relying on one overly bright ceiling fixture or a single, dim lamp can lead to eyestrain for both you and your baby. To get the balance right, focus on creating layers of light by using a number of lamps and fixtures to brighten the room as needed.

Place your light fixtures in task-centric areas, such as over the changing table and beside the nursery chair, and you’ll never find yourself in the dark

5. Don’t skimp on window treatments.

A nursery should be dark and cool. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping your window treatments simple, you want to make sure they’re getting the job done.

A warm and toasty nursery is not just uncomfortable - it’s dangerous. Installing double-lined, UV-blocking drapes or a set of heavy blinds can help your little one beat the heat during afternoon naps. You can also purchase UV-blocking window film, which reflect the sun’s heat and can be applied directly to the window glass.

Minimalist Nurseries: The Dos

1. Do keep bedding simple.

According to the American Association of Pediatrics, a thin waterproof mattress cover and fitted crib sheet is all your baby needs to be safe and comfortable in their crib.

Bumpers, blankets and other crib accessories, like sleep positioners or wedges, can be dangerous—even deadly, dramatically increasing your little one’s risk of SIDS. Even so-called “SIDS safe” products, like mesh bumper pads and individual slat covers, present unknown risks and are best left out of the crib.

If you are concerned about your baby’s warmth and comfort, purchase one or two wearable blankets. These comfy sleep sacks envelope baby’s legs like a cozy, little sleeping bag. The top remains securely fastened around the torso, eliminating the risk of smothering associated with loose swaddling and traditional blankets.

2. Do consider a floor bed.

A staple of the Montessori approach, a cozy floor bed provides toddlers with a safe and comfortable sleeping space while providing them with a basic level of autonomy over the natural instinct of sleep. It’s also a great fall-free training bed for toddlers as young as one.

Once your little one is old enough to sleep safely alone, simply pop his crib mattress on the ground. Install a baby gate at the door, and you can rest easy, knowing your baby is safe in his bedroom.

3. Do buy a good nursery chair.

When it comes to choosing the perfect nursery chair, comfort is everything. Clean lines and simple aesthetics are all well and good, but if you’re going to stay up half the night rocking a fussy baby, you’re going to want to be in a comfortable chair - A REALLY comfortable chair.

Luckily, comfort and minimalism don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Looking for a modern beauty you can really sink your rump into? Try one of these.

4. Do look for duel-use items and added flexibility.

In a minimalist nursery, everything should have a purpose—or two!

When choosing furniture, opt for duel-use items, such as a dresser/changing table or seating that doubles as storage.

Flexible features, like castor wheels or a fold-and-stow design, are also a plus, allowing you to do more with less. For instance, you may not need a bassinet for the bedroom if you can easily transport your baby’s crib from one room to another.

5. Do get creative with closet space.

No closet? No problem! Whether you’re sharing a room with baby or just making better use of your closet space, these clever no-closet solutions are all you need!

A spare closet also makes for a wonderful miniature nursery space.

6. Do start a toy and book rotation.

Instead of filling shelves and baskets with a ton of toys and books, try starting a toy and book rotation. Organize your child’s favorite playthings into several themed stations, and change the selection on a regular basis so that there is always something new and exciting to play with. Install low, sturdy shelves that double as play surfaces, and use book rails to display books where your toddler can see them. If you have the space, invest in a few large toys that encourage imaginative play, such as a teepee or toy kitchen. They may be a little costly, but they’ll offer hours of mess-free entertainment!

7. Do make it beautiful.

Your nursery may be simple, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful! Be sure to incorporate lots or rich, natural textures, and don’t be afraid to add a splash of color!

Twins-ies!

Two Peas - One Pod: 10 Tips for Planning a Twin Nursery

Double the blessing, double the trouble, double the ....well, everything!

When you’re expecting twins, “making room for baby” is a whole different ball game. Squeezing two newborns into one nursery can seem daunting at first, but with a little advice and some creative thinking, you can easily create a beautiful and functional space for two.

Feeling overwhelmed? We’ve got you covered. Stop panicking and start planning with these ten helpful tips for designing the perfect twin nursery.

Start Early:

When you have a couple of buns in the oven, you can’t count on hitting that 40-week mark. Twins tend to arrive early, and once your little ones have made their big début, finishing the nursery will be the last thing on your mind.

Comfort is another important consideration. You don’t want to wait until you’re so far along that even the most basic chores seem impossible! Get your planning out of the way early, so you’ll be ready for action when you hit that sweet spot early in the second trimester.

Don’t Double Up:

With twins on the way, it may be tempting to buy two of everything. But unless you have an unhealthy obsession with Tetris, doubling up on furniture is definitely not the way to go.

You may have two kids, but you only have one set of hands. You’re not going to change multiple babies at the same time, and keeping all their clothes in different dressers will only waste time and energy.

Instead, opt for a single dresser and changing table combo, and invest in some drawer separators to help keep things organized.

Choose the Right Crib:

One thing you will need to double up on is the crib. (While crib sharing is fine for newborns, you’ll likely want to separate your little ones once they start rolling and bumping into one another.)

For the best fit, choose a simple crib with clean lines. Look for a small footprint and low, even sides. This will give you more placement options and will look more natural should you need to push the cribs together or place them in the center of the room.

Right on space? Consider buying a pair of stylish twin cribs.

Consider Crib Placement Carefully:

As if finding room for two separate cribs wasn’t hard enough, you’ll need to be pretty picky about placement.

Never put a crib directly in front of a window. Your baby could easily overheat in the afternoon sun, or worse, fall through the window while attempting to climb out of the crib. Toddlers have also been known to strangle themselves with blind cords or pull heavy window treatments down by tugging at the fabric, so be sure to keep these items well out of reach.

As your twins grow older, playing with one another will begin to seem like a more enticing option than sleep. They may even try to climb into one another’s cribs! While it may not always be possible, a degree of separation can go along way toward ensuring safer, more restful nights.

Keep Things Simple:

When it comes to decorating twin rooms, it’s best to take the minimalist approach.With two babies in one room, there’s already a lot going on. Keeping the décor simple will help the space to appear clean and uncluttered.

Avoid bold color palettes and busy patterns, and look for simple furnishing with clean lines. Keep toys to a minimum, and don’t overdo the accessories. Remember, a simple space can be a beautiful one. Need some convincing?

Give It a Personal Touch:

Your twins may look alike, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have their own signature style!

While you want to create a cohesive look, there’s no need for matchy-matchy everything. Big-ticket items, like cribs, should match, but feel free to use different accents and accessories to give each infant’s space a personalized feel.

Having mixed-gender twins?

Try painting the nursery in a neutral shade with different accent colors for each child. When shopping for accessories, look for items that share at least one key element, like color or shape. As long as you maintain some sense of symmetry, you’re sure to have a beautiful, well-coordinated space.

Add Extra Seating:

If you have extra room in the nursery, consider adding additional seating. With two demanding little ones to care for, you’ll be happy for any help you can get! Adding an extra armchair or even a little loveseat will ensure seating for any friends and relatives willing to lend a hand.

Maximize Storage:

More babies equal more stuff. If you’re going to stay on top of it all, you’ll need to get creative.

Need more closet space? Double your closet’s potential by installing a second rail. Running short on drawer space? Install a row of hooks, and use attractive canvas storage bags to store everything from blankets to burp clothes! You’ll also want to invest in under-the-bed storage bins for each crib, and keep an eye out for other clever space-saving ideas, such as ottomans with hidden storage.

Looking for more creative storage tricks? Put one or two of these 12 Inspiring Toy Storage and Organization Hacks to use.

Buy a White Noise Machine:

Having a roommate can be tough! One minute you’re snoozing away, happily dreaming about your next feeding, and the next thing you know, your roomie’s hosting a midnight shindig, and the whole family is invited!

Want to put the kibosh on these impromptu parties? White noise is the perfect solution.

The steady hum of a white noise machine creates a womb-like environment that calms anxious infants, helping them to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. It also does an excellent job of drowning out potential distractions—like noisy roommates and late night visitors.

For best results, buy two noisemakers and place one by each crib, creating a comforting “noise bubble” around each infant. Keep the volume low, but place the unit as close to the crib as possible.

Noises outside of the bubble will simply fade away.

Put Safety First:

When it comes to toddler hijinks, having twins means fielding double the trouble.

With a permanent partner-in-crime at the ready, twins tend to hatch more harebrained schemes and take more risks than your average toddling disaster zone, making childproofing an absolute must.

To keep your daring duo safe, be aware of common nursery accidents and how to prevent them, and take the time to baby-proof your nursery as soon as possible.

Nursery Colour Psychology, What Science say!

Nursery Color Psychology: Let Science Decide!

How Color Affects Your Baby's Health and , well, everything.

Choosing nursery colors for baby can be tricky. Hoping to escape the standard pink or blue motif, many parents leap into the world of color armed with little more than a whim and a prayer. After all, color selection is not exactly a science, right?

Actually, it is. Just ask the army of marketing execs who have poured millions into the research.

Marketing experts have been using these findings to their advantage for decades. The décor at your gym, your day spa and even your favorite burger joint has been specially designed to affect everything from your attitude to your appetite. But color psychology can be used to affect more than just your wallet. Scientific studies have also found that exposure to certain colors can improve sleep habits, increase memory power and even enhance academic performance—excellent benefits for growing minds and bodies.

Whether you are planning a nursery or giving your preteen’s room a much-needed update, your design may benefit from a little psychological intervention. Before you open that paint can, take a minute to consider the psychological effects of your color choice.

Color Psychology 101: What Color Can Do

Different colors can have different affects on the mind and body. Wondering what your favorite hue can do for you?

Here's a quick breakdown on the potential benefits and drawbacks of each color family.

Warm Colors:

In general, warm colors elicit happiness and comfort, creating intimacy by making large, open spaces feel a little cozier. Bold shades of red, orange and yellow can stimulate the mind and have an energizing effect on the body.

While this is beneficial for growth and development, it’s not much of an advantage when it comes to the nightly bedtime showdown with your average, overly energetic toddler. Thus, warm colors are best used in moderation.

Instead of painting an entire room a bold red or bright yellow, try painting a single accent wall and tying in a few matching accessories. You might also consider pairing warm colors with cooler shades to create a sense of balance and temper any negative effects.

Red

Rich and highly emotive, red excites and energizes the body, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.

Have a little athlete on your hands? Some studies suggest that physical affects associated with the color red increase athletic ability. However, red is also associated with increased aggression, an inability to focus and even headaches. Some research suggests that exposure to the color red may even hurt your child’s academic performance.

Pink

Universally loved by little girls, pink evokes empathy and femininity and creates a calming atmosphere. However, despite an initial calming effect, pink can become irritating over time, leading to agitation and anxiety. While your princess may love this rosy hue now, she might reject it in the future.

Yellow

Bright and cheery, yellow is associated with happiness and motivation. Soft, subtle yellows promote concentration while brighter shades can stimulate the memory and increases metabolism. However, too much yellow can evoke feelings of anger and frustration, resulting in fussy, over-stimulated babies.

Orange

Friendly and welcoming, orange borrows many of its parent’s positive attributes. Orange has a distinctly social nature, inspiring interpersonal communication and putting people at ease. Like yellow, too much orange can be over-stimulating, so use bold shades sparingly.

Cool Colors:

Cool colors have a calming effect on the body and can make your child’s room feel spacious and relaxing—think open skies and rolling waves. However, dark, cool colors can evoke all the doom and gloom of an impending storm and should be used in moderation.

Despite their soothing nature, cool colors are not particularly inviting and can leave people feeling cold and reserved if the atmosphere is too stark. To soften the effect, pair cool colors with creamy neutrals, and dress your space with soft fabrics and comfortable accessories.

Blue

The exact opposite of red on the color wheel, blue calms the mind and body, lowering blood pressure, heart rate and respiration and decreasing feelings of anxiety and aggression. Children who have trouble sleeping or are prone to tantrums and other behavioral problems may benefit from spending time in a blue environment. The physical effects of blue also cool the body, creating a refreshing oasis in hot, humid locations.

Purple

Associated with wisdom and spirituality, purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red, taking on the characteristics of either, depending on the shade. Purple can also have a luxurious feel and is associated with wealth and royalty.

Green

Green symbolizes nature and thus promotes a serene and calming environment. Associated with health, healing and well being, green has a soothing effect on the body and mind, reducing anxiety and promoting concentration. Exposure to the color green may even increase reading ability. One study found that by laying a transparent green sheet on top of text, students could improve their reading speed and comprehension.

Trusting Your Instincts:

While science can make useful generalizations, remember that psychological responses are deeply personal. You may feel differently about a color based on your own cultural and personal preferences, and that’s fine. If your little boy loves the color red, don’t worry about the negatives. The brain is designed to identify what it needs and likes and will reward us for following direction. In other words, if your baby is happy, his brain is happy too.

Connect

Keep in Touch

Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about coupons and special promotions.

Local Is Lekker

All our products are 100% locally made here in SA. Don`t struggle to get mattress or linen for your furniture. Locally made furniture uses local accessory dimensions! More jobs for South Africans...

We are here to help

Need help assembling your new furniture? Even moving to a new house? We are here to lend a hand! We can come and measure your rooms as well...