Sugar and Spice

Your baby girl is growing up fast, and her bedroom is changing from a functional nursery into a toddler-friendly living space. Make her room into a place she'll love to play in - and one that will grow up with her.

A Room that grows
Your little one has her own likes and dislikes, and chances are she's not afraid to share them with you, even if her only discernible word is "No!" While her nursery was probably more of an expression of your tastes and interior design ideas, a toddler bedroom should refect her personality. But that doesn't have to mean cartoon characters and cutesy décor. A toddler bedroom can grow with your child, making the transition from first night in the big bed right through to first day at school and beyond.

Accessorise
Choose child-friendly furnishings and neutral paint colours for the wall, like Resene Ebb, a cool, calming pale foam-pink shade. At this age, it's all about accessories, which can easily be changed to complement the wall colour. If your carpet's a bit blah, add interest with a pink cowhide. A new duvet can change the look of the whole room, and a headboard can be very versatile. Cover it with fabric or a brightly patterned throw and change it every so often to keep things fresh and fun. Pretty curtains are another way to add colour and vibrance to a child's space.

Chalk it up
Kid-friendly furniture is a must, and we particularly love child-sized tables and chairs. This clever table has a basket in the centre for storing treasures or craft supplies, and the tabletop is coated in blackboard paint for an innovative drawing surface. Resene Blackboard Paint is a premium scrubbable 100% acrylic coating for all types of smooth surfaces, indoors and out. It comes in a 500ml can so you don't have to buy heaps if you don't need it.

The Resene colour palette
If you're stuck for inspiration with colours, choose a particular accessory or favourite toy and go from there. The striped lampshade is a great place to start, and you can paint a chest of drawers or bookshelf in a complementary colour to the walls for a whimsical effect. If you can't decide on a colour, take your favourite accessory into any Resene ColorShop and they can create a custom colour to match just about anything - from a duvet cover to the outfit
on your daughter's favourite doll.

Photography by Steph Cawte for Poppet Photography. All accessories from REM DESIGN, 24 Garfield Street, Parnell(www.remdesign.co.nz). Coloured cowhide rug $850, single pink and white with gold flower duvet $250, Headboard $450+ fabric, 3 Wishes silk velvet throw (on headboard) $270, Kindermobel set of table and two chairs $799, Jakie Jones Lampshade $59.90, Chrome Lamp Base $110, Pompom curtains $75 (fabric $10 per metre, organza overlay $30 per metre), Moegi limited edition art on canvas by Sophie Foote $860, Fairy House with fairy doll $70 , clock $35