For the little ones, their bedroom is like a magical world in which they can bring objects to life. The bed transforms into a pirate ship in the blink of an eye and you just have to lift the duvet to discover a new universe. So, to play with their imagination and allow them to sleep in dreamland, you should set up their room in a fun and original way. The bed can be transformed into a tree house, a magical house or even a surfer’s van. To keep them entertained, you can create little nooks and areas for them to play and explore. Here are some tips to ensure that you are hitting the mark!
Create a dada zone
Not only your baby should be comfortable in the nursery. You (and your partner) will also spend a lot of hours there. A nice rocking chair or nice armchair for cuddles and rocking before they go to sleep. Whilst this may seem like the mom’s job, it’s important to note that there are plenty of single dads out there or dads who look after their children full time. Therefore, creating something that works for you is going to be perfect. Add a side table to place your portable TV on mute so you can still keep up with the sports!
Give your little one a night light
This is a cozy and sweet detail piece that actually really assists. It is nice for you and your baby to have a cuddle and bond with some warm lighting and also allows the baby to not feel totally alone in a dark room. Also, the soothing glow of a night light will help them to distinguish between day and night.
Practical layout of the furniture
Open baskets, trays or boxes in the cupboard are very suitable for sorting toys, care products, socks, sheets, clothing and other baby accessories. After a while, you will automatically find the right container without even looking. You can buy handy storage units at various stores, but you can of course also cover cardboard boxes with self-adhesive paper or crochet baskets yourself. You want to ensure that the furniture you buy aligns with what you want entirely. It should last a long time and well into their childhood if you buy savvy. This is why you should always look at a baby furniture buying guide to ensure you’re buying what’s right for you. Furniture includes the cabinets, drawers, cots/beds and of course any accessories.
Refurbishing second-hand items! Do you have a limited budget and are you creative? There are plenty of baby room furniture on the marketplace that can get a completely new look with some sanding, a lick of paint or, for example, a monochrome grey. This way you can create unique furniture for next to nothing. Upcycling is also a great way to look after the planet; therefore you are ticking off two things at once. Eco-conscious homes are often the most effective and cost less; so it’s an advantageous situation for everyone, including babies!
Creative wall decoration
You can of course buy wall stickers, but unfortunately they are pricey. A better value would be peel and stick wallpaper to easily transform any room. The alternative is that you go to work yourself and make a beautiful mural. There are plenty of nice examples on the internet. Choose water-based paint to avoid inhaling chemicals. Tip: first make your drawing on the wall with a pencil. That makes painting a lot easier.
Try a gender neutral approach?
Would you like a theme? But don’t you want to know the gender yet or do you want to be able to reuse the nursery for a possible second child? Then it is useful to choose a neutral theme. For example, don’t just think of a unisex color on the walls, but also choose furniture that can suit both a boy and a girl. Themes that you can indulge in for both your little girl and boy are: safari, jungle, forest animals, Winnie the Pooh, retro, fresh and sunny, sea and beach, nature or clouds. Look for more ideas on Pinterest to stimulate your creativity.
Keep things Covid friendly!
Covid is still posing a threat to many families and therefore keeping on top of the cleaning is vital. To keep the bedroom fresh, it is important that you air this room regularly. You can do this by leaving the window open for a few hours after getting up in the morning. Ideally, you should not make your bed in this time frame. That way you not only air your room, but also your bed. This means that bacteria has less chance to grow. Extra tip: if it keeps smelling a little strange in your bedroom despite airing, you can put half a lemon with a clove in it.
Many people never wash their duvets, but it is good to do this at least twice a year. It may be a small challenge, but most washing machines are built to wash such big things. Before putting it in the washing machine, take a good look at what it says on the care label.
Pillows also benefit from an occasional wash. Most pillows can be washed in the washing machine, but it is wise to check this in advance just in case it clogs up your machine or damages the pillow. When you have washed your pillow, it is best to shake it regularly and place it on the drying rack. It ventilates well and prevents it from smelling musty.
Clean the door handles, and light switches regularly! In fact, it is always a good thing to do, but especially now that the corona virus is spreading, it is wise to clean door handles, light switches and other areas in your bedroom that you often touch. Many people are convinced that alcohol is required to do this job, but soapy water with all-purpose cleaner, and lukewarm water works just as well. When you have babies and kids, they often spread their saliva around everywhere, because they are always putting their fingers in their mouths. Therefore, be sure to take extra care. In addition to the door handles and light switches in your bedroom, it is wise to keep the door handles and switches elsewhere in the house clean during these corona times. Which parts of your home could use extra attention during this period?