Create an eco nursery
Bringing a new baby into the world focuses our attention
on the environment they will grow up in. Ecologically aware nursery
design can be beneficial now and in the future. In this extract
from Children's Rooms, Andrea Malin explains how you can create a
nursery that's not only perfect for your baby's needs, but
conscious of the environment as well.
Creating a room for a new baby is exciting but can also be
a little daunting, and you may feel that the task is enough in
itself without having to worry about the environment as well.
However, there are ways of contributing to the green movement
through good design, and your room can be both beautiful and
ecologically sound.
Start by planning the space carefully;
making mistakes and then having to buy replacement items is
expensive in more ways than one.
Colour
Choose colours that aren't too babyish, so that the room won't
date, and create a nursery atmosphere with well-chosen accessories.
Soft tones of white and cream make for a very tranquil space, and
if you don't know whether you are having a boy or a girl, they are
perfectly appropriate for either.
The nursery should be a place for
sleeping and relaxing, so avoid using bright colours - there are
times when stimulation is a good thing for babies, but not when you
are trying to lay them down for a sleep. There are various
eco-friendly paints you can choose from and they come in wonderful,
calming colours.
The room
The first step in planning your nursery is to keep
things simple, especially if the room is quite small.
You really don't need that much equipment
at first and you can always buy more as you find that
you do need it.
A bed with a good mattress is a
must, and there are plenty to choose from that are
both natural in origin and healthy for your baby. A bed can be made
enchanting with muslin draped around it, acting as soft curtains.
Another must is a comfortable armchair - for you rather than the
baby.
A capacious chest of drawers will hold a
surprising number of clothes and other necessities, and can be
supplemented with a wardrobe painted to match when the child is
older.
Furniture
While you will have to buy some new things,
opportunities will arise with this style
of nursery for refurbishing and reusing
older pieces of
furniture items that might look heavy, old-fashioned or tired can
look completely different given a fresh coat of
pastel paint and a set of new handles.
Chests of drawers and wardrobes, for
instance, just need cleaning and
repainting to take on new life as nursery furniture.
Look in secondhand shops, and at auctions,
and try to see items on offer in a new light. A hallway coat rack,
for example, makes a great display and hanging unit for your baby's
room.
Sleep
You will obviously need a new bed for your baby, and there are
various options to choose from. A cot bed can be a great investment
as it is usually suitable for a child up to five years old and
some of them are very attractively designed and made.
Look for furniture made from sustainable
sources.
For the first few months, while the baby
will probably be sleeping in your room, a cot with an adjustable
mattress height is a good idea.
Some beautiful baby mattresses are
available, made from natural and organic materials
that are 
breathable,
non-allergenic, chemical-free and naturally fire-retardant.
Bamboo and organic cotton bed linen
is also worth considering. Easily washable and gorgeously soft and
silky to the touch, fabric made from bamboo
is also environmentally friendly, since the plants thrive
without pesticides and, unlike cotton, with relatively
little water.
Light
A nursery with natural light flooding in is lovely, but do be sure
that your baby is not sleeping in direct sunlight. This really can
be dangerous because babies can overheat very quickly.
If the cot is to be near a window, invest
in, or make, blackout curtains,
which are lined to block the light. Wooden shutters with adjustable
louvres
are another good option, although they can be more expensive.
Choose low-energy lightbulbs for the lamps
in the room, and if you are going to have a nightlight, consider a
plug-in one that uses very little power. All of the small actions
you take to reduce your carbon footprint are well worth the minimal
effort involved.
Washing
Everything you provide for your baby in the way of
soft furnishings, clothes and toys should be capable of being
washed in the washing machine, ideally at a low temperature.
From an eco perspective, you should also
think about reusable nappies. These are kinder to the environment
than disposables, less expensive, and many parents believe they
make the toilet-training process easier and faster. However, they
do need laundering and if you don't want to use a tumble dryer,
this can mean nappies draped around the house throughout the
winter. A nappy laundering service may be the
answer.
Andrea Malin is a successful interior designer,
corporate designer, author, and TV designer. She has appeared
regularly on Home Front, the BBC home decorating series. Her
innovative and contemporary style of interior decoration has led to
many commissions worldwide and she regularly features in interiors
magazines such as BBC's Good Homes and Inspirations.
Children's Rooms: Great Ideas to Transform Your Child's Space Plus
25 Step-by-Step Projects (Cico $49.99) is available from all
good booksellers.
As seen in OHbaby!
magazine Issue 4: 2009
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