Listen up, I am all for nursery themes and have a dedicated Pinterest board (don’t we all) but, I think we need to consider designing nurseries that will grow with our children. Trends change and your baby will soon have the voice to express their likes and dislikes. Meaning that two or three years down the road, you’re going to need to update that room you worked so hard to create.
I’m not saying to throw the themes out the window, I’m just saying to pick colours and items within that theme that will grow with your child. That way you don’t have to fork out a whole bunch of money again to redesign a room that you already spent so much time and money creating. Below I have compiled a list of ideas and items to help you create a nursery that will grow with your child so that when you do have to redesign, it’s only minimal things.
The Crib
If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that when buying a crib (because they’re super expensive) you need to think long term. Your baby is going to be in the crib for a year or two (depending on their will to escape it). So you’ll want to invest your money in something that won’t need to be replaced by another expensive item. That’s why you need to make sure you invest in a three-in-one crib. You want a crib that will go through all the stages, ie. crib, toddler and double. You also want to invest in a neutral colour, so it matches the room through all the changes. Trust me, don’t get sticker shocked, it’s worth the price when you think of how many years you can get out of it.
Room Colour
One thing I have learned, is that paint is expensive. Choosing one that won’t need to be changed down the road was critical. I struggled to pick a paint colour because I wanted it to go with my theme. Though, I still wanted it to be able to grow with Ryder. The best option for me was to go with neutrals, so I went with blue. Blue was perfect because it was neutral and would grow with him. Already his theme has grown and changed since I first designed his nursery. So choosing such a neutral colour, though boring, has saved me money in the long run.
Themes
Themes are all well and good and always end up turning up beautiful but keep in mind they’re not forever. Soon your baby will be able to tell you their likes and dislikes, so unfortunately that Winnie the Pooh theme might not be their favourite. Instead, opt for themes that require minimal stand-alone pieces. That way when the time comes for a room makeover, those pieces don’t go to waste. For example, Ryder’s theme was based around four picture frames over his crib. They were cost-effective, but could be used even if his theme changed.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice to design the nursery exactly how you want. I’m simply here to give you other ideas on what you can do, so you can save money! If you’re looking for some good parenting tips, check out my blog post on books that destroy mom shame. Also, if you’re looking for tips on how to balance your relationships with a newborn, you can find my blog post all about that here.
