How to Create a Beautiful Baby Bedroom

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No matter what your budget is, you definitely can create a cosy, tranquil, and beautiful bedroom for your special little baby. This will be the room in which you’ll spend a lot of time with your little one, calming him or her, soothing your child with a lullaby, and watching him or her grow. From the crib to the décor on the walls, the furniture, and the toys that your child will learn and grow up with, this is the first room your baby will remember, especially if you design it in a way that will enable him or her to grow into it and still use it as a place to call his or her own. Nursery How to Create a Beautiful Baby Bedroom

Below are a few tips that will help make designing a gorgeous baby bedroom easier. Again, do not let your budget restrict you, as there are ample opportunities to have fun designing this important space and making it the perfect spot in the house for your new baby.

Start with a Convertible Crib

A convertible crib is a great way to invest in a product that will be useful as your child grows. This type of crib will work perfectly for your infant but can later be transformed into a daybed that your toddler will love. And even beyond that, with a little ingenuity and some extra parts, you can even transform it into an adult bed that your child can use for many years to come.

Go for a Stylish Padded Rocking Chair

You are already familiar with the old wooden rocking chairs of old, but have you seen some of the latest and most lovely padded rocking chairs that are just perfect for sitting for long periods of time feeding your baby or helping him or her get to sleep? With funky designs and bright colours, you can choose one that will fit right in with the rest of your baby’s bedroom décor. And, as your child grows, he or she will more than likely enjoy rocking in it as well.

Have Fun Painting the Walls and Creating a Theme

When it comes to painting the walls of your baby’s bedroom, rather than just sticking to plain old baby blue, pale pink, yellow, or white, have a little fun. Create a mural or paint a scene from your favourite nursery rhymes or Disney movie that you want your child to grow up with. Let your creativity run wild and transform your baby’s bedroom into a fantastical haven that he or she will adore with each passing year. You can even coordinate the décor so that it all falls into the same theme. For example, you can find luxuriously cosy, all natural baby blankets from The Stripy Company that will coordinate with whatever colours and theme you choose.

Incorporate Eco-Friendly Items

Eco-friendly items are great for the planet and great for your entire family because they are made from materials that are safe for sensitive babies. An adorable eco-friendly mobile that features the cutest animals, for example, is a great way to start your child off on a path that will nurture his or her respect for the environment and other living creatures. Any product made from sustainable materials will be a perfect addition to your baby’s bedroom in the 21st century, as more consumers are becoming aware of their buying habits’ impact upon the planet and people all over the world.

A Soft Rug

If you plan on having hardwood floors in your baby’s bedroom, purchase a colourful, fun rug that will not only match your baby bedroom’s décor but also provide the perfect spot for sitting on the floor playing with your baby and his or her toys. This cosy spot in the room is a great way to teach your child through games, interaction, and playtime.

With so many clever and creative ways to transform an ordinary room into a spectacular baby’s bedroom, you can work within whatever budget you have set for yourself to make a space that your child will feel safe and warm in and that you will enjoy spending time in as well as you watch him or her grow big and strong.

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GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Win a Set of Zappie Wall Stickers for your Childs Nursery (CD: 21/10/2013)

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As we live in an age where technology is so integral to our lives, it’s great to see preschool products which promote a safe and healthy early relationship with technology. Zappie does just that and is sure to entertain and amaze preschool children by bringing their walls, furniture and clothes to life. It’s an interactive collection of wall stickers, gift cards, heat transfers (for ironing on t-shirts, pillow cases, curtains and more) and individual stickers for decorating your child’s chest of drawers, notepads, and anywhere else they fancy sprucing up. Simply scanning specific images through the free Zappie app will launch a bright and colorful video of a nursery rhyme on your smart enabled device.

Zappie is an innovative new concept which uses augmented reality technology to bring children’s pictures, characters and images to life, for the purposes of learning, development and play Zappie

The various products available from Zappie are based around 8 well-loved nursery rhymes.

I’m a Little Teapot
Five Little Ducks
Five Little Monkeys
Row, Row,Row Your Boat
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Old MacDonald Had a Farm
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
Wheels on the Bus

We were sent the Old Macdonald wall stickers and a selection of other little stickers to try. The stickers were very easy to apply making it easy for tiny fingers to give you a hand. They also peel off easily so won’t mark up your walls.

The app was very easy to download to Craig’s iPhone and looks really engaging for little people - lots of colours and noise! The videos are great too - with moving animation from original artwork that matches the stickers, and melodies using real instruments. I’m not sure Dexter fully understood the relationship between the stickers and the app, but he was happy enough clutching daddy’s iPhone and watching the video.

I was also pleased to discover, you don’t need one of each of the sticker collections to unlock all of the nursery rhymes on the app. Although the tractor is the ‘key image’ needed to get access to Old Macdonald, you can also just click into each of the other nursery rhymes from the home screen in the app. Although this is great from a value for money stance, the app would perhaps be better if there were several key images in each of the collections to unlock all the nursery rhymes. This would give your child more to do and stretch the potential of the app further.

All in all, I love the concept of these stickers. Anything that promotes the early discovery of technology is a positive thing in my opinion. The idea of Zappie is to familiarise your children with technology and fire their imaginations. Allowing them to use your iPhone or iPad themselves to scan in the QR code promotes hand-eye coordination, attention to detail, problem solving skills and much more. The videos on the app are also great quality, and the stickers look fab on Dexie’s wall.

You can find out more on the website at www.zappie.com and watch videos of the stickers in action on YouTube, and don’t be scared to say hello or ask questions on Facebook and Twitter - they’re a very friendly bunch!

COMPETITION

For your chance to win a set of Zappie wall stickers of your choice (just like the one’s above) just enter via Rafflecopter! This prize is worth £21.99, and the app itself is free from Google Play or iTunes stores.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: We were given the Zappie products in exchange for an honest review. All views and opinions are my own.

T&C’s – a.k.a – the boring bit!
    • Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
    • UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
    • The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
    • When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
    • The winners name will be published on this site

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com


Creating a Grown Up Nursery

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Most people know I hate Disney and don’t really do ‘cute’ in a nursery. I just don’t think it’s necessary. Whilst your child is too young to decide what goes into their room, that room is as much yours as it is theirs. If you plan on breastfeeding (as I do) then it’s important the room is a sanctuary - somewhere you both can relax and baby can have a quiet feed without a mountain of garish distraction.

For this baby, I’m likely to opt for a neutral palette of light pastels. Although I am going to find out the sex of this baby (I find it hard enough picking names without having two genders to chose from!) I’m not a big fan of pink and girly colours, and we’ve already done blue to death in Dexter’s current room. I quite fancy pale yellow and grey this time around. Hopefully it’ll look warm and inviting but also really light and bright.

The style will be French chic meets comtemporary; ornate, pretty and romantic, but with lots of bold yellow and chunky knits. The idea is that it’ll feel like a really grown up space where Dexter, baby and I can while away the hours playing, eating and sleeping. Well out of grab-level will be decorations for mummy to admire, but on the floor it’s all about my babies.

We’re lucky enough to have a large nursery so hope to create different zones in the room - an area for feeding, sleeping, playing, and changing. I want to be able to nod off in there myself during nightfeeds so it needs to be very organised.

Here’s my money-no-object wishlist using the most gorgeous chaise longue for my inspiration.

Feeding & Snuggling

Garland Lightshade Habitat / Hurricane Candle Holders Kathy Kuo / Floral Wall Clock Laura Ashley / Baroque Shelf Urban Outfitters / Neon Photo Frame Urban Outfitters / Sofia Chaise Longue Chaise Longue Boutique / Yellow Cushion Burke Decor / Patterned Cushion Ohh Deer / Frame Laura Ashley / Lamp Habitat (my own)/ Dove Grey Cushion Laura Ashley / Throw/Blanket Habitat

The feeding area is all about relaxation and bonding with baby - all snuggled up on this beautiful chaise surrounded by pictures of my little family. With Dexter inbetween my legs and baby in my arms I can just see the three of us having lots of cuddles whilst daddy is at work. For nightfeeds there would be a lots of soft lighting options for encouraging baby to fall back into a peaceful slumber. Add plenty of blankets to drape over the two of us in the event we drift off, and you have the most stunning nursing space.

Dozing Off & Baby Gazing

Band-Aid Bear by JBL Thistle Flickr / Flower Wall Tile Laura Ashley / Blanket/Throw Burke Decor / Photography by Alessandro Passerini Artfinder / Yellow Cushion Burke Decor / Andree Buttoned Armchair Chaise Longue Boutique / Sleigh Cot Bed Silvercross / Patterned Cushion Laura Ashley / Storm Lanterns Heals / Owl Cushion Urban Outfitters / Baby Blankets Bambino Direct / Hand-Made Teddy Etsy / Elephant Nightlight The White Company / DIY Cot Mobile (Unsourced)

Whether the new baby is asleep in their cot or cooing at the mobile I hope to make, I’ll be reading a book in my comfy armchair ready for when she or he needs me. Surrounding the cot by pretty things to look at means I won’t feel the urge to rush downstairs and waste hours of my life watching Made in Chelsea re-runs - I’ll be able to relax and recharge my batteries instead. I’ve lusted after some prints by Alessandro Passerini for so long, I’d treat myself to a large one so I can stare at it for hours on end by candlelight. I’d also head to my local charity shop and buy dozens of dog-earred books I can delve in and out of. Finally, I’d have plenty of cushions and blankets to curl up in. Blissful, peaceful and utterly decadent… not a hint of Disney in sight.

Playing & Changing

Full Length Mirror Laura Ashley / Multi Frame Mirror Oliver Bonas / LOVE Blocks Vintage Amethyst / Chest of Drawers Laura Ashley / Tent Habitat / Rocking Horse Little Bird Told Me / Globe Laura Ashley / Reproduction Ferris Wheel Kathy Kuo / Bean Bag Heals / Storage Chest Heals / Storage Chest The French House / Reproduction Abacus Kathy Kuo

But of course, it’s not all about me. This will be the baby’s space, and Dexter’s playroom. This zone will need plenty of storage to house toys when not in use, and lots of drawers to hide away all those dinky outfits. As well as Dexter’s little kitchette, I’d add a rocking horse, a tent and a globe for us both to explore. I’d also scatter little reproduction curios (out of arms reach) for me to tinker with. With lots of bean bags and casual seating for story-time there’ll be plenty to keep Dexter entertained whilst I’m breastfeeding or settling his little brother or sister.

Here’s the grey and yellow theme as interpreted by some clever folks on Pinterest. To me it looks perfect for a little prince or princess and really warm and inviting.

So what do you think? Are grown-up nurseries selfish and self-indulgent, or genius?

This is an entry into the Chaise Longue Boutique’s blogger competition to celebrate the launch of their beautiful new website. It’s crammed full of both dramatic and intricate pieces for your bedroom, dining room and living room. There are french provincial, shabby chic, silver guilded, white oak and rustic collections so you can create a real statement whatever your taste. If you want to join in yourself, you’ll have to be really quick as all entries must be recieved by Sunday 18th August.

 

 

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