How to make the nursery a place for the cool kids

Decorating a nursery is a highlight for many families, especially those expecting their first child. That is, until you realise how long it takes, how many other chores there are to be done before the baby arrives, and that painting walls is boring no matter what walls you are painting and that nursery furniture is crazy expensive.

Here’s a novel idea: why don’t you do nursery decor differently? Instead of swallowing the notion, hook line and sinker, that a baby’s nursery has to be decked out with the very finest chichi wallpaper, stocked to the brim with the newest in nursery furniture and colour co-ordinated to match the eye colour of your unborn child – why not just play simple?

You will find that many of your friends who are already with child and seek to have no more will be happy to off-load all their baby gear onto you. Accept it without argument and buy them a non-baby treat to say thanks.If you must paint the nursery, then do so, but you don’t have to use the most expensive paint out there (trust us, the baby won’t notice!) just make sure you don’t use one that has lots of nasty fumes coming off it.An easy, non-cheesy and non-committal way to undertake nursery decor is by using wall stickers. The fact that they are removable is great because as your child grows you can make the room evolve with it, without requiring an expensive and time-consuming paint job at every stage.

Accessories are a great way to personalise your baby’s nursery. Snow globes, that wonderfully kitsch accessory, are lovely to have dotted around and will enchant babies and small children for hours. As well as snow globes, look for vintage fabric off-cuts you can use to make cushions, old fashioned postcards and adverts for things like cocoa – these will round off your nursery decor with style.You see, with a bit of creativity, you could find yourself making a cool little nursery for your cool little kid!