New parents always want to give their baby the red carpet treatment when it arrives in the world and that means preparing a beautiful nursery. These days that nursery is likely to be a stylish sanctuary that echoes the good looks of the rest of their home.
"Quite right too," says Andrea Maflin, an interior designer whose new book, Children's Rooms, is packed with inspiring ideas for creating imaginative, practical rooms for little ones.
"Remember that just because this is a room for a child it doesn't necessarily have to be traditionally childish," she says.
All you need is a little know-how, some imagination and not too much money to create a room that will grow with your child, and won't need expensive redecoration too often.
Many families are keen to create an individual, more eclectic feel in their children's bedroom or nursery these days and they also want furniture that will last beyond their children's nursery years.
Follow our guide to creating a perfect room for your child.
Easy as ABC
Proper planning and preparation is the key to success for a perfect room. Start early and by the time the baby arrives you will have a room ready to welcome your newborn into the world.
First, measure the room and do an accurate scale drawing of the space. Then draw in, to scale, any pieces of furniture that you already have which will make choosing any new pieces easier as you'll know how much room you have for them, and are less likely to make mistakes.
Ample storage is a must - if there's little floor space consider wall hooks and shelves.
Have two sorts of light - a bright overhead light and a low-level light to use at night. Consider a table lamp fitted with a low-wattage bulb, or a dimmer switch on an overhead light.
Top looks for junior
Planet-friendly nursery
If you follow eco-friendly principles in the rest of your home you'll also want a nursery or child's room to be planet-friendly as well as child-friendly.
There are ways of contributing to the green movement by good design so your room is both beautiful and ecologically sound. Choose colours that aren't too babyish, so that the room won't date, and create a nursery atmosphere with well chosen accessories.
Fairy grotto
Most little girls love fairies and by using this as a theme you can easily create a magical room. Use white paint for the walls and ceiling and if you wish add touches of pink to details such as cupboard handles, trims on chairs or the rim of a table.
Source a fabric featuring fairies and use it to make a simple bedspread and possibly a decorative bedhead. Alternatively, simply buy fairy-themed bedding sets from high street stores.
"Quite right too," says Andrea Maflin, an interior designer whose new book, Children's Rooms, is packed with inspiring ideas for creating imaginative, practical rooms for little ones.
"Remember that just because this is a room for a child it doesn't necessarily have to be traditionally childish," she says.
All you need is a little know-how, some imagination and not too much money to create a room that will grow with your child, and won't need expensive redecoration too often.
Many families are keen to create an individual, more eclectic feel in their children's bedroom or nursery these days and they also want furniture that will last beyond their children's nursery years.
Follow our guide to creating a perfect room for your child.
Easy as ABC
Proper planning and preparation is the key to success for a perfect room. Start early and by the time the baby arrives you will have a room ready to welcome your newborn into the world.
First, measure the room and do an accurate scale drawing of the space. Then draw in, to scale, any pieces of furniture that you already have which will make choosing any new pieces easier as you'll know how much room you have for them, and are less likely to make mistakes.
Ample storage is a must - if there's little floor space consider wall hooks and shelves.
Have two sorts of light - a bright overhead light and a low-level light to use at night. Consider a table lamp fitted with a low-wattage bulb, or a dimmer switch on an overhead light.
Top looks for junior
Planet-friendly nursery
If you follow eco-friendly principles in the rest of your home you'll also want a nursery or child's room to be planet-friendly as well as child-friendly.
There are ways of contributing to the green movement by good design so your room is both beautiful and ecologically sound. Choose colours that aren't too babyish, so that the room won't date, and create a nursery atmosphere with well chosen accessories.
Fairy grotto
Most little girls love fairies and by using this as a theme you can easily create a magical room. Use white paint for the walls and ceiling and if you wish add touches of pink to details such as cupboard handles, trims on chairs or the rim of a table.
Source a fabric featuring fairies and use it to make a simple bedspread and possibly a decorative bedhead. Alternatively, simply buy fairy-themed bedding sets from high street stores.