Decorating
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Decorating: How to use Natural Materials in Children’s Spaces
Want your child’s bedroom, play spaces and favourite corners to stand the style test of time? Let the great outdoors inspire you
One of the decorating traps parents can fall into when creating their kid’s bedroom is, well, making it too childish – because kids grow up fast! (Remember that Barbie print wallpaper that followed you into your teens?)
So before you start, consider a neutral and natural base for your young one’s rooms, so the spaces can more easily evolve over time. Throw out the ubiquitous plastic and embrace the organic with these tips for creating sophisticated rooms with natural elements.
So before you start, consider a neutral and natural base for your young one’s rooms, so the spaces can more easily evolve over time. Throw out the ubiquitous plastic and embrace the organic with these tips for creating sophisticated rooms with natural elements.
Max your organics
This room goes all out and really commits to the natural aesthetic. The spectrum of neutral hues and materials – wicker, wood, cork, sheepskin and bamboo – builds up to form a space so organic it could be outdoors. It’s the perfect spot for a rainy afternoon indoors…
This room goes all out and really commits to the natural aesthetic. The spectrum of neutral hues and materials – wicker, wood, cork, sheepskin and bamboo – builds up to form a space so organic it could be outdoors. It’s the perfect spot for a rainy afternoon indoors…
Give them some rope
Rope is a lovely way to add decorative texture to a room. This rope and wood ladder adds style and function to these bunks, and is sure to make going to bed feel more fun for little ones.
Rope is a lovely way to add decorative texture to a room. This rope and wood ladder adds style and function to these bunks, and is sure to make going to bed feel more fun for little ones.
Add a wooden accent
This sweet unisex nursery is made even sweeter with wooden furniture and accessories in keeping with the room’s pale pastel palette. Stick to minimal accents for the scheme to really work.
Discover more ideas for gender-neutral nurseries
This sweet unisex nursery is made even sweeter with wooden furniture and accessories in keeping with the room’s pale pastel palette. Stick to minimal accents for the scheme to really work.
Discover more ideas for gender-neutral nurseries
Choose a future classic
Pick furniture that stands the test of time and that will take your child from baby all the way to young adult – and perhaps even work in a guest room one day. This space is decorated in simple Scandi style, with contemporary silhouettes in light wood finishes.
Find inspiration for using natural wood elsewhere in your home
Pick furniture that stands the test of time and that will take your child from baby all the way to young adult – and perhaps even work in a guest room one day. This space is decorated in simple Scandi style, with contemporary silhouettes in light wood finishes.
Find inspiration for using natural wood elsewhere in your home
Choose sisal
Hard-wearing, beautiful and affordable, sisal rugs are an enduring favourite of the design world. They’re also brilliantly tough and resilient in the face of rampaging toddlers. Available in an array of natural hues, the irregularities in the weave will give a room an organic aesthetic.
Go for soft shapes like this circular rug in a playroom or shared space to keep the look friendly for kids and adults alike.
Hard-wearing, beautiful and affordable, sisal rugs are an enduring favourite of the design world. They’re also brilliantly tough and resilient in the face of rampaging toddlers. Available in an array of natural hues, the irregularities in the weave will give a room an organic aesthetic.
Go for soft shapes like this circular rug in a playroom or shared space to keep the look friendly for kids and adults alike.
Build your own ‘quiet time’ nook
A window nook in which to read or while away the hours playing with toys is the perfect addition to a sophisticated playroom. Create a characterful area using mismatched planks of wood fixed to a frame or over a pair of low storage boxes. Top with plain linens wrapped around cut-to-size foam for an effortlessly laid-back look.
A window nook in which to read or while away the hours playing with toys is the perfect addition to a sophisticated playroom. Create a characterful area using mismatched planks of wood fixed to a frame or over a pair of low storage boxes. Top with plain linens wrapped around cut-to-size foam for an effortlessly laid-back look.
Show off their natural treasures
Encourage exploring and foraging by displaying your little one’s finds from adventures in the park, forest or on the beach. A boxy unit like this one provides plenty of display spaces for everything from weathered sticks to special stones.
Encourage exploring and foraging by displaying your little one’s finds from adventures in the park, forest or on the beach. A boxy unit like this one provides plenty of display spaces for everything from weathered sticks to special stones.
Be a basket case
Busy family thoroughfares don’t have to lack style. Mix and match tactile wicker baskets in different shapes and colours for quick storage of hats, gloves, scarves and shoes. Baskets that lift down make it easy for kids to locate their things, while a cotton-covered bench seat aids shoe-tying.
Busy family thoroughfares don’t have to lack style. Mix and match tactile wicker baskets in different shapes and colours for quick storage of hats, gloves, scarves and shoes. Baskets that lift down make it easy for kids to locate their things, while a cotton-covered bench seat aids shoe-tying.
Branch out
Create a nursery straight out of a Disney movie by using a foraged branch to make a simple and striking mobile. Hang it up with natural string and adorn with feather-light bird ornaments – or why not suspend photos from the branches for an introduction to the family?
TELL US…
What do you think of neutrals and nature for furnishing kids’ spaces? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Create a nursery straight out of a Disney movie by using a foraged branch to make a simple and striking mobile. Hang it up with natural string and adorn with feather-light bird ornaments – or why not suspend photos from the branches for an introduction to the family?
TELL US…
What do you think of neutrals and nature for furnishing kids’ spaces? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This reclaimed headboard stands out beautifully against the clean lines of the white tongue and groove walls. Teaming rustic elements with country charm makes for a grown-up and characterful teenager’s room.