I love the look of the very clean, minimalist nurseries that are featured on so many design sites these days. They are beautiful. How to create one totally evades me. With a toddler boy, we have tons of “stuff” and I’m still working on the design of his room. I was thrilled when I saw the nursery featuring an entire wall of picture ledge shelving in the Wall Decorating Ideas for the Nursery guest post by Chic & Cheap Nursery’s Nicole Abbott. This room design doesn’t deny or hide the stuff that comes with children, but embraces it and uses it as part of the design while managing to do so in an incredibly beautiful way. This is the goal.
We have a long way to go.
Because toddler boy (like most little boys) loves Lightening McQueen and Thomas the Train, we have embraced this with framed movie posters and a train table. We will, however, resist the temptation to let cartoon characters explode all over his room. We have calmed the clutter with a large bookcase and made a point to put books and his most sought-after toys within reach. Huge bins under the train table house the remainder of toys.
Toddler boy’s room will be in great transition in the next few months as he will move to a “big boy” bed and get a real chest of drawers. We are fast approaching a tearful good-bye to the crib and changing table that have served both my cherubs. Sniff. Sniff.
During this transition, the walls will get a fresh coat of paint, the new bed will have new linens, and there will almost certainly be a new furniture arrangement. Whew, I’m tired just thinking about all the work.
Until then, we’ll be discovering how this room functions in order to make sound design decisions. How does it function most often? As a play space.
Clean and minimalist design doesn’t seem to be in our future.
Emilie
February 28, 2012I love the modern look too for nurseries but it isn’t always practical. Even the example you shared, I LOVE the look but really, how can a child get to any of the books at the top? I like the idea of using the toys as part of the decorating but it still needs to be within easy reach, you know? (Yes, you can rotate but that just adds to the upkeep and would require me to lug out a a ladder.) I like your space better.
Thanks, Emilie!
Nichol
February 28, 2012His room is perfect for a toddler room. His things are well within reach. I like the looks of bookcase walls, but know my child would want the books up at the top.
Thank you, Nichol! It’s funny, toddler boy doesn’t even pay much attention to what is on the top of his bookcase. He will ask for the rocket and the little “ramp racers”, but everything else he ignores (like the tissues, heaven forbid you ask him to blow his nose!). As for the wall of bookshelves, I’m just over five feet tall – I would need a stepladder. ; )
Mesha
February 28, 2012Love your wall system! I’am trying to get all of Sadie’s toys organized, so today I took a little trip to Target! Now all I have to do is put it together. Wish me luck!
Shannon
February 29, 2012Thanks, Mesha! It’s the Expidit wall shelf from Ikea and I have two – one in toddler boy’s room and one behind my desk. Good luck with the organizing!