Karl Lohnes: Design your newborn’s room using a hot decorating trend
Decorating the nursery should be a labour of love, but that said, it tends to require quick thinking and planning. Most often it’s decorated within three months of the baby’s arrival in that flurry of activities before month nine rolls around.
I’ve helped many expectant parents decorate the nursery, and the best advice I can give about style is to get your inspiration from the other rooms in your home. Of course, the function will be different: a crib, light-blocking window treatments, change table and storage are always important. With mid-century modern being one of the hottest decor styles these days, I suggest treating your newborn to a clean-lined contemporary style tweaked with a nod to the modern past.
To achieve this mid-century modern look, use reproduction furnishings (made to today’s safety standards) and incorporate a few vintage accessories like lamps, draperies and artwork (easily found at yard sales and online). The important thing is to design a nursery that functions for baby and is a place where parents will enjoy spending time. Here’s a roundup of stylish products that will deliver this year’s biggest decor trend for nurseries.
Fabrics with line drawn prints and scratchy-looking texture (think bark cloth from the 1950s) help to add vintage Eames-like whimsy to a nursery. Pehr’s Noah’s Ark Swaddle Blanket, $24, http://www.Simons.ca
Task lighting is crucial in a nursery for changing the baby or to keep the light dim and out of baby’s eyes while a sleepy parent quietly reads or sings baby to into la-la-land. FORSA Lamp, green, $25, http://www.IKEA.com
The look might be Jetsons-like, but this bassinet is all about tech and comfort to keep baby happy and ultimately offering peace of mind to the parents. Happiest Bay’s SNOO SMART SLEEPER, $1,495, http://www.Chapters.Indigo.ca
Natural wool and vintage colours help to quiet baby’s room by dulling sound while adding a touch of mid-century modern flair. STRING six-foot hand-woven round rug, $400, EQ3.com
Want to use real vintage finds in the nursery? Here are a few tips on what’s safe for baby.
- Vintage fabrics: Use drape fabrics (with great mid-century modern patterns) to make crib skirting (great for hiding storage under the crib), cushions for nursing chairs and even quilted bulletin boards to hold photos and cards.
- Mid-century modern furniture: Ensure whatever you choose is built to modern safety codes (to be safe, go for authentic dressers or reupholstered chairs, but get reproduction cribs and change tables). Painting is a quick and easy way to brighten up vintage pieces. White, soft blue or burnt orange are great non-gender colours that blend beautifully with the MCM theme.
- Wallpaper: Frame mid-century modern patterned wallpaper to create modern-vintage themed art that can easily be changed when redecorating the nursery as the child grows.
Do you have a decor dilemma or want to give feedback? You can contact Karl on Facebook or Instagram at ‘Karl Lohnes Designer’.
Karl has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years. He appears Thursdays during the 8 a.m. hour on Global News Morning Montreal.