Create an eco nursery

According to Australian interior designer Nicole Rosenberg (littleliberty.com) the eco look is entirely “on trend” right now, and proves that choosing products that are kind to the earth doesn't mean you have to compromise on style. 

Nicole says she’s finding her clients aren’t necessarily becoming more eco-conscious, but, “They’re certainly wanting a more natural and serene feel to their children’s rooms. 

“Raw wood is such a huge trend at the moment and it really makes a child’s room come to life in a more natural-looking way.” 

A room that also happens to be kind to the earth is a happy by-product. 

Nicole designed the room pictured here around the colour of the curtains because they were virtually the only thing in the room before she got started. She calls it “In The Desert".

Her client also had the Matthew Johnson artwork which she wanted to feature and had suggested caramels and mustards as her colours of choice. Nicole says, “After that I kept everything pretty much as neutral as possible with raw wooden toys, a neutral armchair and basically lots of white.

“My favourite parts of the room are the hand-crafted script ‘L’ I had made, the amazing mobile made from paper and the beautifully soft wool blanket hanging over the cot. 

"This is one of my favourite nurseries I’ve created to date — it’s so serene and has a beautiful natural calm feel to it.”

Her top tip is to use natural wood as much as possible, especially instead of plastic. She also says buying good-quality furniture for your first child is a must. An investment piece that will last two or more kids will have much less of an impact on the earth, than a cheaper piece that doesn’t last as long.

Upcycling furniture is another eco-friendly solution and, no, you don’t have to be Martha Stewart to pull it off. As Nicole says, you can “buy an amazing second-hand furniture piece online and convert it into something fabulous with some TLC and a lick of paint”. 

And remember, if you aren’t able to commit 100% you can still add elements of "green" design. Consider investing in good-quality, all-natural bedding. After all, your baby spends a lot of time in his cot so both he and you will rest easier knowing his precious skin is wrapped up in 100% pure wool blankets and 100% organic cotton sheeting. Our favourites include Babu, Dimples and Nature Baby.

Felt Bunny hand puppet $22.99, all from tradeaid.co.nz

Kaisa Storage Basket $12.99, from tradeaid.co.nz

Crochet Ball with pink, red and grey stripes $12.99, from tradeaid.co.nz

Red Jute Toy Box with animal print, $36.99 from tradeaid.co.nz

Leni Bentwood Stool $39.95 from mocka.co.nz

Nature’s Sway Hammock and Stand $349 from naturesway.co.nz

Ever Earth 50pc building block set with bucket RRP$38.50 from littlefunkymonkey.co.nz

We Are In This Together print on wood US$16 from petitcollage.com, made in the US from sustainably grown maple

Jewellery Tree $29.99 from newbies.co.nz

Touchwood Sleigh Cot in satin white $999 from touchwoodcots.co.nz

Lou and Olly Mint Contemporary Eco Dyed Cot Blanket RRP$198 from louandolly.com

Sure, the bassinet above will set you back a pretty penny shipping it all the way from Berlin, but on the flipside the Nesta’s Nest turns from bassinet to toybox. Made of 100% wool felt and eco-certified wood with a coconut fibre mattress, the price is €560 (approx NZ$885) plus €75 shipping costs (approx NZ$118) from nestasnest.com.