Decorating a baby’s room is not just child’s play
Q. We are planning our new baby’s room and would like to purchase furniture and a carpet that will last at least 10 years. Is it possible to decorate so that a nursery will work as a young child’s room, too?
A. Yes, and this is a very good plan. Furniture makers have taken large strides to create pieces that grow with the child — cribs that turn into junior and single beds, dressers with changing tables on top and safe, comfy armchairs where Mommy can feed Baby, and where later a growing child can curl up to read or play.
Color plays a big part in your child’s room design. Since paint is so easy to refresh, you can switch up the room’s character when the time is right.
Your baby will spend many hours on the floor, sitting, crawling and playing, and sometimes even taking a quick nap between adventures. You’ll want to select a carpet that is safe (nonslip), soft, warm and durable.
One very clever option is a modular carpet system called kinder GROUND. Carpet sections come in three shapes — hexagons, triangles and diamonds. Each shape is available in six patterns and five solid colors. Your design possibilities are limitless, as the shapes fit together seamlessly. Shown here is a large carpet in the shape of a hexagon that was created with six separate triangles. The circle patterns have been planned to match up at the edges, but they also stand alone as an individual design.
K ind e r GROUND carpets are family with designs that are not just appropriate for children’s rooms, but also for the den or living room, or as a runner for a hallway. You can create your own carpet designs on the company’s website,
www.kinderground.net. Made from natural materials, these carpets are 100 percent New Zealand wool and backed with Econet (rubber and jute) for a nonslip barrier.
Q. I have a big headache in the shape of my teenage son’s bedroom walls, which are covered in lyrics and quotations — all written in permanent marker. I’ve applied two coats of paint, but the marker has bled through. I’d prefer to stick to paint, but will go with wallpaper if that is what you suggest. Your advice will be followed to the letter.
A. The right primer is the solution you are looking for. Ask the experts at your local paint store what they suggest as a highhide paint primer. The primer should state on the label what it will cover.
I have used BIN primer to cover and seal in stains. For serious stains, I apply one coat, let it dry and then apply a second coat — and then I paint.
If you go with wallpaper and don’t seal the marker first, it will bleed through the paper.
Q. My kitchen is extremely small and is not laid out well. To improve the look and feel of the space, I have read that a mirrored backsplash would help. Do you have any other ideas?
A. I adore mirrored backsplashes for three reasons: 1) They immediately update a kitchen; 2) they are super practical because they are so easy to keep clean; and 3) the mirror’s reflective power will make your small kitchen look bigger.
You can buy mirrored tile in large or small squares, or have it cut to size. If you are installing it yourself, be careful of the sharp edges.
Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie on Twitter at www.twitter.com/debbie_travis, or visit her website, www.debbietravis.com.