Interiors

Tips & Tricks: 5 Tips for Furnishing an Amazing Nursery

byTeam GM

6 years ago

In case you missed it last week, Gray just released a treasure trove of new prints from the Parker—but of course, we didn’t stop there… Gray’s first-ever (and beyond adorable) children’s book Be Our Guest! is now available, as well. Let’s just say we’ve been a little bit excited. In fact, in the weeks leading up to the release we toured a swoon-worthy nursery or two, and even shared an adorable baby shower gift list. And today, our expert design contributor Daniela Malca Benloulou is sharing her very own nursery with us—complete with a hot-off-the-press print from the Parker, PLUS five design tips every new mama needs to know to furnish an amazing nursery. Ready? Take it away, Daniela…

1. Have a theme.

I went really theme-y with my cacti, camels (like this amazing Porter III print), and llamas. Contrary to what many fellow mamas believe, I do not consider “Restoration Hardware” a theme. Don’t rely on furniture to bring the personality to your room. That’s what art and accessories are for! If you’re one of those play-it-safe people with decorating your house, perhaps push yourself a little out of your comfort zone here—nurseries and kids’ rooms are supposed to be whimsical and fun.

2. Stick to a strict color scheme.

Unless your nursery is specifically rainbow-themed, practice a bit of restraint in selecting colors. Have no more than three to four main colors. I chose green as my primary accent color, with bits of orange, yellow, and blue strategically placed in the form of books and toys. The rest of the space is purposefully neutral. If I get sick of these colors, they are relatively easy to swap out.

3. Try a mural for your statement wall.

In many nurseries, the crib wall tends to be the statement wall. But in terms of safety, especially for those in earthquake zones (hi, California), it’s best not to hang art directly above a baby. For these reasons, a mural offers a great focal point while not risking falling objects on baby. Many people put mobiles above the crib, as well. I personally chose not to, as I wanted the crib to be for sleeping only. And with such a lively mural, what could possibly compete? If you don’t have painting skills or the budget for a muralist, decals are a great, earthquake safe option. Just make sure they are tasteful, as the majority tend to be on the tacky side.

4. Furnish in the same style as the rest of your home.

Very often, we think that cribs are supposed to be traditional in style. Same with rocking chairs, changing tables, etc. But, if your house doesn’t look like ‘90s Pottery Barn, why should your nursery? The furniture in my home tends to have clean lines, a nod to mid-century modern, Moroccan accents, and pops of matte brass. Accordingly, so does this nursery!

5. Learn from my mistake—don’t get an uncomfortable rocking chair!

Okay, so I personally hate clunky furniture. When buying a rocking chair, I went for thin and as unobtrusive as I could find, while sticking to a budget. But, man, do I regret that! When you spend hours in a chair, it should be comfy! If I could do it again, I’d probably get a glider with thicker cushions, and big enough to snuggle baby in. In the war of form vs. function, I concede to function on this one!

Easy as 1, 2, 3! (Well, and 4 & 5…) Daniela’s nursery definitely reminds us of the hip desert of Palm Springs, and we don’t hate it one bit. That cactus and camel theme has our hearts, in case you couldn’t tell. ;)

Shop all of Gray’s new prints from the Parker archives HERE, and make sure to follow along with Daniela on her website and on Instagram.

Xx Team GM

Photos: Daniela Malca Benloulou