This is a sponsored post by Nationwide. All opinions are my own.
Being a mom of three, I’ve designed quite a few nurseries and kid’s spaces and if there is one thing I’ve learned is this. It IS possible to have a nicely decorated home with little kids around. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box, get a little creative and be OK to compromise. Today, I want to focus on nursery design. I’ve teamed up with Nationwide Insurance to talk about their Make Safe Happen program and provide some tips on How To Keep Your Nursery Safe AND Stylish.
Even though I have three small kiddos, it’s always good to get a little refresher and hear what the experts have to say when it comes to nursery safety. We need to keep our precious babies safe! As part of Make Safe Happen, Nationwide is focusing on helping parents create safer nurseries by giving new and expectant parents the knowledge and tips they need to make their babies’ and toddlers’ bedrooms safer for sleeping and playing. Did you know according to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 9 million children are treated at emergency rooms across the country and more than 9,000 children die each year due to accidental injuries?
First, I recommend heading to Make Safe Happen and watch their cute safety video, and now I’m here to help you create a beautiful nursery while keeping it safe!
When it comes to design, often times less is more. This is a great concept to keep in mind when designing a nursery. It will help keep the room clutter free and make it easy to implement Make Safe Happen’s safety tips. For example, pick out just a few sentimental items to display on a shelf, instead of packing it full of knick-knacks. This will keep your eye moving around the space, seeing the beautiful decor instead of focusing on clutter.
Dr. Lara McKenzie, safety expert of Nationwide Children’s Hospital shares many great reminders when it comes to nursery safety. She explains how one of the best things to keep in mind as you begin your nursery layout is that “minimalist is the new modern,” particularly when it comes to the crib. Babies should sleep in a safe crib, bassinet, or play yard, free of anything that could block their nose and mouth or get wrapped around their necks like blankets, pillows and quilts.
We are seeing the minimalist trend becoming extremely popular. This concept can be modeled with any decor style. Instead of feeling like you need to fill every wall and corner, just focus on a few items that you love and that are meaningful to you.
Just because a crib is free of decorative bumpers and doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Try adding a bold crib sheet. This can be done in a fun accent color or decorative pattern that matches the room. I personally have five different patterned sheets that match the decor in our nursery and I rotate them with every wash. It helps keep the room interesting while keeping it clean and clear. My favorite places to find trendy crib sheets are Amazon, Land of Nod and Target!
When designing a room free of clutter and with minimal furniture, keep things interesting by mixing different textures and patterns in similar colors. For example, add a cozy black and white plaid blanket over the corner of the rocking chair and pair it with a soft linen throw pillow.
Since you will want to position the crib away from windows and curtains to prevent accidental injury, place the crib on a blank wall and create an accent piece behind it. This way the crib can stand alone on the wall and look beautiful in front of patterned wall paper or faux shiplap.
Have a designated place for everything! Cube storage systems have been around a long time, but they are still so practical for a kid’s room. You can dress them up by adding square bins with trendy patterns, like bold stripes or wood accents. This way toys, blankets, and accessories can quickly be packed away and stored out of reach. You can find the cube system and decorative baskets at Target for a very reasonable price.
And don’t forget to secure all pieces of furniture against the wall with safety straps to prevent furniture from accidentally tipping over.
When decorating a space, you want to keep one’s eye moving around the whole room, and that includes the ceiling! While Dr. McKenzie suggests staying away from a mobile or hanging banners above a crib, so try adding a beautiful light fixture instead. By simply replacing a builder grade ceiling light, you can create a stunning focal point and pull the whole space together. For a girl’s room try adding one with a few hanging crystals or maybe an industrial one for a boy’s room. You can often find gorgeous ceiling lights on Amazon for about $100!
Layering two rugs is great way to add texture and dimension to a space. This is something I do in almost every one of my designs. Try adding a large area rug in the middle of the nursery in a solid color and then placing a smaller patterned rug at an angle either under the rocking chair or under the crib. You can also do this reversed with a large partnered rug and maybe a smaller sheepskin rug on top. Just make sure the colors complement each other.
After you have your nursery decorated with beautiful decor, a closet filled adorable baby clothes, books nicely aligned in the bookshelf, and blankets perfectly folded in the basket you wait….. and while you wait for your little one to arrive here is a great checklist to go over from Make Safe Happen. You can also download the Make Safe Happen app for quick reference!
Image credits: Nationwide
About Taryn Whiteaker
Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.
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