What happened to a nursery being for a baby/child?

bnljane1988

I love the decor on these "modern" / beautiful / clean-cut / adult-colored nurseries.  But who are they for?  Great for maybe an adult's room, but what happened to bright or interesting colors to stimulate a child's senses, imagination and interest?

Anyone want to share their actual "baby/child's" nursery decor?  (geared toward them, as opposed to the adult's version?)

Just saying, my child is stimulated more by  fun colors etc when playing with toys and reading/looking at books. 

If the room is just there for them to sleep in and change diapers, great, if you decorated for you.  But if you plan on actually spending "play time" with your child in them.....I don't get it....

krissyh21

Thank you so much for saying this. I thought I was alone. Children grow up so fast and deserve a room that is for them. They can choose modern/antique/whatever when they are pre-teen/teen.Now is the time to have some fun!

I haven't really started much of my nursery but we are doing jungle tales bedding by Nojo and then decorating the walls with animal murals like this one: 

">

 

WheelerToBe

I agree, I see a lot of rooms that look like guest rooms that they just put a crib in.  I feel like the baby is an after thought.  Like we are having a baby put a crib against that wall and we are done.  Being young is a special time I want it to feel special for my kids.

LadyRed7

I think that modern and bright can be just as appropriate as thematic and bright. It is all about style and everyone has a different one. 

A nursery can be filled with fun bright colors and simple lines, just as it can be filled with fun, bright colors and traditional or curvy lines.

I also think that the parents have to enjoy the room just as much as the child does, and as much as color and activity stimulate a child, so does the parents' interaction with the child. 

SeaStar430

I'm not a fan of bright colors like red and blue and bright neon stuff at all.  My nursery is peaceful and calming and sweet, when I see brightly colored nurseries they give me a headache and I always think "how could a baby be calm and go to sleep in that environment?"

I'd be ok with a play room being bright colors, or even a room for a toddler +, but for a baby, all the brightness makes my head want to vomit.

FWIW, my theme is very light green, very light pink, with white butterflies.  Peaceful, serene, soft, and pretty, just like I'd like my little baby girl to be.  I spend hours in there every night envisioning her in my arms.

What really gets me though is what the heck your problem is.  This post comes off as extremely offensive to people who have different tastes than you do.  How boring would it be if we all had the exact same room, and what would be the point of this board?  Nursery decoration is all preference, your kid isn't suffering if they don't do it YOUR way.  To each their own, you need to take a step down from your high horse.

 

 

JandR07

I get that this is your opinion but what is the point of posting this? To make parents like myself that have calm/non bright rooms feel bad?

I made my room neutral and clean b/c our condo has been for sale off and on for years now. We can't afford to lose to much money since Dh and I both have condos to sell still (well we rent one now). So I have to keep it baby and potential buyer friendly. When my child gets a little older and wants to decorate their room they can pick whatever colors they want.

Everyone decorates a little different than anyone else. I for sure have my own style but don't come on here and bash others style.

krissyh21

I can't speak for the OP but it seems that whimsical and fun is few and far between on this board, so I believe she was probably asking to see whimsical and fun because she hasn't in about 10 pages of posts yet...

Maybe she could have worded it better as to not hurt feelings, but she didn't. Not sure what the big deal is, if you like the room - then do it. 

FLVintageBride

Oh FFS, yes you are a better parent b/c your child's room is brighter than a three ring circus and filled with cartoon animals, are you happy?  The sanctimonious, self-riteous attitudes on The Bump are really starting to grate on my nerves.  Considering that we are all pregnant and know first hand how obnoxious strangers and loved ones are about sharing unsolicited opinions, I have no idea why some women still have the desire and do the same thing to other expectant mothers here.

Tara1025

It's really about personal taste.  My nursery is very calming and serene for my son and I wouldn't want it any other way.  Who are you to say that "colorful" is the best for a child?  I personally think that too much color and craziness can over-stimulate the child.  Just because some of us have a ""modern" / beautiful / clean-cut / adult-colored nursery" does not mean it isn't meant for the child.  What does "adult" colors mean anyway?

mrsmegs06

We are doing a room that doesn't have a theme, and it has mainly calming colors. We are doing a monogram decal and more modern artwork.  We think that these colors will be something we can use for either gender later on. 

 I realize that some people enjoy having bright colors and other ideas, but that's just not our style...I know it's the baby's room. I still think our child's room will look like it's for a child. Plus, I didn't want to have to change everything once they get a little older.  Just my opinion. 

ValentineBB

Seems a little judgemental, IMO.  Also, some people do need to combine a baby's room with a guest room or work with a small space.  In those situations, bright colors and cartoon animals might look too cluttered.

MsAlyss

I'm decorating my child's room in a style that will grow with him.  Not something that has to be changed out in 2 years.  And I want the look of the room to be cohesive with the rest of my house.  Not like I plucked it out of Toys R Us.

Also, his room is strictly for sleeping.  There is no need for it to be bright & over stimulating.  Play will take place in the common areas of the house where he can interact with the rest of the family. 

whitneyandbrook

Heaven forbid people have different tastes. 

lovesazzie

IMO, this is my only chance to have a say in how his room is decorated. I'm sure it will be plenty childish once he gets to request cowboy theme or Disney or whatever. I REALLY don't think he gives a shiit how his room is decorated now. FWIW, I think the navy/white contrast in my nursery provides WAY more interest/stimulation to his brain than pastels and teddy bears.

redheadedgirl

Just something to think about since one of my biggest fears is turning my house into a BRU store.  But "designing a room for your baby" sounds like the bright plastic marketers got to you.  I am expecting my first so take my thoughts based on that -  but I can still remember one of my greatest joys as a child was decorating large boxes into forts and spaceships. Playing outside in nature with only my imagination.  We should be focused on how to help our little ones develop creativity and wonder and not be worried that that the BRU rep. tells us babies are stimulated by bright plastic colors with disney characters.  I am trying to fill my nursery with books and pictures of people who love my little one (yes in black coordinated gallery frames). The day my little girl speaks of the mouse will be a dark day in my life.

karelaorange

Wow, I didn't think a post on the nursery board could be controversial!  I struggled with the OP's opinions at the outset.  I'm the one that will be sitting there nursing in the middle of the night, so I wanted something I like.  But I also wanted something bright (for our long winters), that will inspire imagination and creativity as my child grows.  I think I found that balance (for me... .check out pics in my blog if you're interested) but it's not so important for others.  If you live some place where your child can play outside all the time, maybe it doesn't matter to you.  Or if your child has other stimulating rooms in the house.  Or if you plan to redecorate soon. 

And to other posters,  "designing a room for your baby" does NOT have to be taken out of BRU.  That's just letting marketing get to you.  The point is to design something that inspires creativity.  Things they can look at and imagine to be other things.  Not light up mobiles, not marketed cartoon figures.

jday1229

SeaStar430:

Peaceful, serene, soft, and pretty, just like I'd like my little baby girl to be.

Sorry, but this made me LOL.

bentpinkies

Our nursery is painted thunderstorm gray - it's so calm and soothing and we are beyond excited about the way it turned out. I'm assuming you consider this an "adult" color? The contrast in the room with the white crib and colorful artwork is incredibly stimulating.  In fact, I've heard that black and white combos and gray and white combos are better for an infant's eyes.  I say, to each his own.  As long as you like it, who cares what other people think?  And, why care so much about what other people are doing?  It doesn't impact you at all.

PunkyBooster

I see a lot of nurseries that are so incredibly beautiful and elaborate. I kind of wondered the same thing you are. But nesting is really important to the parents to be and decorating the nursery is one form of nesting to some people. To others, it's shopping and putting together things they will use for the baby. We're all different.

And I feel like our baby will have the "poor kid's" room since we cannot paint in our apartment. But I tell myself he/she won't care and when we buy a house, we can have lots of fun with the "big kid" room 

ETA- Maybe it's just me, but the OP didn't offend me- I am not sure why people are so upset about the post...

WheelerToBe

The post didn't offend me either nor did she mean to offend anyone.    I don't think she said it should be a bright circus in the room but a tan room with only a crib and a dresser is so anti baby.... A room isn't just for sleeping. my kids love there room and we play with them in there all the time.  Some of you were way meaner than the op deserved.  She may be to nice but I say pull your head out of your own a$$es and don't to so rude.  You think she is rude but you guys were way worse trying to force feed us your reasons for your choices.   And to answer the question of why did she post this?  The same reasons people post all the crap they post about "which blue should I use?'  "Does this look nice"  Mostly it is just to say something or to find people have things in common with you.

kmkaull

Our nursery is simple and calming.  Babies don't need a lot of "stuff" on the walls to be stimulated. Nor do I really think they care. 

My thought was to do a simple palette and then go nutty over the toddler room. 

amy5162

PIB.  I used a bright, fun color but chose not to do a theme room. 

krisim

We painted our nursery grey for a couple of reasons:

1. It's a neutral color that can grow with our child, when she is older she'll be able to pick the accessories/bedding to her taste and we won't have to repaint.

2. I grew up in a house where every room was painted white, I never felt deprived.  My parents did absolutely nothing to decorate the room that I had as a child--I don't think I even realized that until this post.   I didn't care, I was more interested in my toys than the wall colors/decor.  Plus, I rarely spent any time in my room, we played in the living room or family room.

The great thing about having a child is that you get to make the decisions that work best for you.  I love our modern/elegant nursery and can't wait to spend time in it with our little one. 

Christina79

I don't see the point in creating a stimulating environment in the room my baby is supposed to be calm and sleep. Half of the posts I see on 0-6 are about mothers desperatly trying to get their babies to sleep, so how is a stimulating bright, fun room helping that at all?

I decorate the nursery how I want, once the baby is older and we get to convert the crib to a toddler bed, that's when it will change over to a "childs room".

 

 

wnk1029

The primary purpose of the bedroom is to sleep in, so I know that I wanted a simplistic, "clean"-styled room where Baby wouldn't be overstimulated when it was time for bed, and where DH & I could feel calm and relaxed while caring for Baby.

We plan on actually playing with Baby in our family areas... once s/he is older, then we'll worry about making a fun, stimulating toddler room where s/he can play on his/her own, but for right now, I think it'll be more important that Baby gets good sleep.

KateLouise

Our "nursery" will be our spare room. It was wallpapered just two or three years ago so it really doesn't need redoing.

It would be wasteful to my mind to redo it. I'm of the "throw a cot in there" and I'm done camp. I will probbaly put up some fun things on the wall and a mobile over the cot, but nothing over the top.

I agree that a nursery is about sleeping. I don't see me doing any playing in there. I see an older child would play in there but at that time we can decorate to suit the child's tastes because the room will probably be ready to be redone by that stage.

I don't think my child's childhood will be any less special because they didn't have a bright colourful nursery. 

bnljane1988

Wow.  I'm amused to say the least.

I find it funny that some people got all "up in arms" assuming I was pinpointing them.  Did one person who jumped to the conclusion that I have a "themed" nursery or a BRIGHT Primary colored nursery even think to ask about mine before judging me?

I still stand by the fact that I don't understand very adult nurseries......they just aren't my style.  I'm not saying they suck or are ugly......I'm saying I don't understand them.  Yes, I do understand people have different tastes. TIA

Here are some pics of my baby's nursery, (we weren't quite finished, there's a crib added in there and the shelves were not hung yet).  I think you may be surprised.  I was actually curious to see peoples' nurseries that were more geared toward their children.  I think DH and I went more "middle of the road."  DS really only spends time sleeping in there and we change his diapers and clothes in there because it is a VERY small room.  We "play" in our living room.

BTW, I did say that I love these modern/adult nurseries....I wasn't being sarcastic.  I meant it.  I would love them as an adult guest room or even my room.

 I guess I'll get "off my high horse now"  BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

ETA: Yes, the decor of your nursery makes one parent better than another.....PLEASE tell me you can note my sarcasm in that? (I never even implied that.)

ETA: another pic.  Once again, if I sounded judgemental, that was not my intent, yet, I'm still amused at how upset people got. LOL

DH and I find our nursery a little circus-esqe.......or just matchy matchy.....(PS, the stripes are not wallpaper...they are painted...not by us...."a professional painter for a day" was one of our baby-shower gifts) once again...I really wanted to see some different nurseries.....

KateLouise

I think you have quite an adult nursery, from the pics you've shown so now I don't know what kind of nursery design you mean.

Your nursery looks the same as mine, except for colour scheme. If it wasn't for the toys I would assume it was just a guest room, so I don't relaly understand your post at all now.

At the end of the day though, people will decorate how they want to.

I wasn't miffed by your OP by I was miffed by someone who said somehting along the lines of wanting to make their baby's childhood special...ie implying those who don't decorate specifically for baby aren't going to make their baby's childhood special. I just don't see how far wallpaper can go towards a special childhood. But that's just me.

bnljane1988

KateL.....I agree with you that a baby's childhood is not "less or more special" depending on their room.

Also, you gave me a new outlook on our nursery.....definitely didn't find it to be on the "adult-side", but we were trying to go for something that DS could grow with at least for a few years.

Looking at my nursery from that perspective, would make me question my post entirely as well.  LOL  (In case anyone takes that in the wrong way.....I'm not making fun of you or being sarcastic.....I actually "took a step back" and tried to see our nursery from an outsider's view.  Funny, I've been "questioning" our design choices from the beginning, but DH LOVES them. I always thought they were too "babyish")  Hee. 

KateLouise

To my mind your nursery is the perfect achievement. The colours are soothing and suit a young baby but will also grow with him. You can make the room as "babyish" as you want with wall-hangings, art, and toys that are easy to remove as he grows.

Also if you suddenly moved house, someone else could come in and make the room a guest room or office space.

Now I can see the fan, that makes it look more nursery like.

I think this whole thread is once again evidence of how a word has no one single interpretation. 

Good work on your nursery. 

 

katherinemichel

bnljane, I think your nursery is adorable!!

MrsTotty

I think there can be a compromise between an 'adult' looking, pastel, Beatrix Potter, watercolored room .... and a room where FP's rainforest collection threw up in and then started multiplying asexually. 

We picked navy, baby blue and white to keep it 'boyish' ... but the navy with white stars was picked because the dark background and white pattern is good to help with a newborn's eye sight development. 

On the one hand, I wanted something 'babyish' and sweet, on the otherhand, I wanted something with brighter colors and something he could grow in to.  Also, DH wanted a 'Cowboys' theme, and this is the closest I would let him get, lol.  Here are more pics :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/srtotty/sets/72157606676269220/

 

.

 

 

Shan_te_xas

bnljane- ignore the few overly-hormonal replies to your post; design style is a very personal thing. There has been an influx of adult nurseries as a recent trend, so I see where you were coming from with wanting to 'compare notes'. I think it's all about finding the balance that works for you. Our nursery is a light green at the top and white at the bottom; we still need to have the chair rail installed. It's a spring 'Hello Kitty' theme, but it's not too 'kiddish' in my opinion. There are wooden Bumble Bee Hello Kitty and butterfly plaques directly over the crib and everything else on the walls is a series of decals (some curly tree branches and HK flower decals. The 'princess' decal was a shower gift. The glider is actually blue; I just draped the HK blanket over the seat back.

 MIL was griping at first about the room not being pink; I ignored her- a room doesn't 'have' to be pink for it to be girly. She actually ended up liking it in the end. We chose the light green for resale value, as we plan to move in the next couple of years and the green would be nice as a grownup bedroom or study. I think the branches do a good job of incorporating the furniture and ceiling fan (which is more 'adult', simply because it converts to a daybed and full size bed later on.) It's a room she can enjoy, but it will transition easily. When we move, there will be a nice green and chair rail on the walls and a dark cherry ceiling fan for the new oxners- no pink to paint over or wallapaer to take down. Your post wasn't rude (although some of the others here were rude in their responses.)

PunkyBooster

MrsTotty and OP, I love both of your nurseries.

The only nurseries I don't like are the ones that look like you sprayed them down in pepto bismal, but that is my own personal preference coming thru. 

bnljane1988

Totty and Shan_te_xas...why have I never seen these?!!  Love them both.

 

MrsTotty

bnljane1988:

Totty and Shan_te_xas...why have I never seen these?!!  Love them both.

Whats funny about this debate, is that in say, oh 6 months or so ... none of the actual decor will matter.  You could have Matha Stewart herself come in and design your kid's room, and by the time they're sitting up an playing the room WILL look like a Toys R Us.  The picture I posted was from when we had just moved into the house ... DS was 2 months. 

So yeah, those 'adult' looking nuserys look serene and calm and sweet now ... but in 6 months, it's going to look like Geoffrey the giraffe tornadoed through the room and left a trail of plastic behind him 

bnljane1988

MrsTotty:

bnljane1988:

Totty and Shan_te_xas...why have I never seen these?!!  Love them both.

Whats funny about this debate, is that in say, oh 6 months or so ... none of the actual decor will matter.  You could have Matha Stewart herself come in and design your kid's room, and by the time they're sitting up an playing the room WILL look like a Toys R Us.  The picture I posted was from when we had just moved into the house ... DS was 2 months. 

So yeah, those 'adult' looking nuserys look serene and calm and sweet now ... but in 6 months, it's going to look like Geoffrey the giraffe tornadoed through the room and left a trail of plastic behind him 

true true. My living room already looks like FP vomited all over it.

Shan_te_xas

bnljane1988:

Totty and Shan_te_xas...why have I never seen these?!!  Love them both.

 

 

Thanks, hon! I actually had to go snap those this morning; we pretty much finished the nursery with time to spare before DD was born, but never took pictures of it after we completed it!!