Tips & tricks for making the most out of your little one’s nursery |07 May 2021
Photo by The Spruce
“Before reaching for the pink or blue paint, consider taking a step into gender-neutral spaces which focus more on good design, rather than traditional boy/girl colour palettes. Your nursery aims to be a comfortable, calming, and playful space for your new-born to grow, rest, dream, and play.”
This was the advice that local interior designer, Gaelle Dubignon, shared with us about creating gender-neutral nurseries – a trend which means stepping away from societal norms of what a boy or girl’s room should be.
Ms Dubignon completed her degree in Interior Design, in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, Malaysia. In the future, she would like to offer her services in interior, art and brand design in Seychelles, to bring creative and functional design solutions that work best for her clients. Her strengths as an interior designer include residential, retail and commercial design.
Keep the base of your design neutral
It is important to ensure that the majority of your furniture pieces such as the crib, dresser and chair glider are in gender-neutral hues. Be it a clean white, classic black or natural wood, remember furniture is more permanent. You can always swap up your decorative items and accessories in the future but having your largest pieces gender-neutral is a future-proof choice.
‘Neutral’ can include colour
Do not let the term ‘Gender-Neutral’ scare you away from adding colour to your design! If you love colour, go ahead and add pops of bold, primary hues and colours. Do not worry whether a specific colour is too ‘boy’ or ‘girl’, you can easily balance it out with other colours that complement one another and make it feel well rounded.
Choose a statement neutral
Try incorporating a statement-making neutral like dark green, muted navy or deep brown. Equally versatile and gender-neutral, these rich shades amp up the drama in neutral spaces by adding warmth and visual interest. These colours can be complemented with natural wood accents and hand-woven rugs, creating a space that is simple yet stylish.
But it’s okay to keep it simple
If you are not a fan of bright colours but still want something fun, why not consider a minimalist nursery. A bright and modern space, that helps you keep clutter at bay while showing off clean lines and natural textures. A statement rug and oversized plant will give this space plenty of punch without going against the minimalist design.
Do not lower or limit your design standards
The key to designing a gender-neutral room is to follow two simple rules:
- Follow the same standards that you would when designing an adult room.
- Consider using timeless furniture that your baby will be able to grow into (such as a crib that can be converted into a bed).
I personally never feel too constrained by gender because I do not allow a singular palette to dictate the overall feel and sophistication of the space. As long as you do not go too ‘baby-ish,’ a well-designed room will work perfectly for any gender.
Functional Design = Independent Child
Clean, white walls and simple décor helps emphasize you child’s treasures and whimsical accessories, encouraging imaginative play. Practical details such as easy-access bins, open shelving, and reachable storage hooks allow kids to play independently, creating functional, kid-friendly spaces.
Think ‘Texture’
I tend to find that sometimes my designs can lack a bit of colour, and an easy solution to this is to make up for it with lots of texture! If you decide to keep the majority of your colour palette on the neutral side, this means that you have ample opportunity to get creative with textures and patterns that will add depth and contrast to your palette. Decorative wallpapers, shaggy or textured rugs, detailed curtains and fun pillows are just a few of my favourite details to add to a gender-neutral nursery. Why not create a memory wall or layer artwork to liven up your space?
Black, white & gold
The perfect colour scheme to promote simplicity and modern design. Nurseries that tend to be designed without the intention of being a baby’s room forever help achieve a space that can grow with your child. A nursery that has clean lines, modern furnishings, rich textural accents, such as the one pictured, more than fits the bill.
Themed spaces
It is important to note that when introducing a theme into a space, you do not have to (for example) add a mural of a coral reef to achieve an underwater theme. Instead, try to add ‘underwater’ elements that symbolise your theme. Choose a colour palette that compliments your theme, add in accessories such as corals or shells. Why not create a feature wall that is textured similarly to scale of a fish?! Try to think outside of the box.
For more information, follow @lakazbygaelle on Instagram or email: dubignon.gaelle@gmail.com
F.P.