PHOTO: DESIGN19 AND IDENTITY
Nurseries and children’s rooms are at risk of redundancy as your child grows older. So why bother splurging unnecessarily when you can decorate on a budget.
It’s really no wonder then that simplicity has become the latest trend for children’s rooms, globally. In fact, according to Sabiha Rita Hassan, founder of Karachi-based furnishing studio Design 19, keeping it clean and classic is the only way for parents with financial constraints. “The world of interior decoration has gone back in time, promoting furniture that is elegant and simple. The concepts are now reminiscent of Beatrix Potter’s children’s books and work beautifully with a limited budget.”
The great thing about decorating a child’s room is that you have the opportunity to unleash your inner child and experiment with bright colours and patterns. It is believed by many that a splash of colour on the walls or even the draperies releases positive energy into the room, offering children a safe haven wherein they can cultivate their imaginations. Some parents like Sadaf and Gulraiz Qadir also customise the room according to their children’s preferences. “I think a personalised space of their own gives children room to grow,” says Sadaf, who sought her children’s opinions when re-decorating their rooms last year. “I wouldn’t want my room to be different from my personality so why would my children?” she adds.
Sabiha, however, feels it is best to seek professional help when it comes to nurseries. “The first thing to watch out for is the safety of your child and consulting an interior decorator can help with that,” she says. “For instance, the material used on the furniture and walls must be non-toxic. There should be no loose parts or sharp edges around, or any uncovered electrical outlets. Functionality is key in selecting furniture items: you don’t want to end up with ample sitting space but no storage, for example.”
According to another interior specialist Joveria Rahim, an accent wall is the easiest way to revive a stale interior, regardless of what type of room it might be in. “These walls look best alongside the most celebrated part of the room, such as the child’s bed, bureau or playing area,” explains Joveria. “If you’re on a tight budget, you can simply paint the main wall with a colour which complements the furniture and hang your children’s artwork on it. A chalk board is another great idea if you are lacking items to adorn the wall with.” For those with two or more youngsters, Joveria prescribes a fun bunker bed to save space and add a dynamic to the room. “I also prefer wooden or colourful vinyl flooring as it is cheap and easy to wipe off. The rest of the room can be accessorised with toys as they are the best narrative of a child’s personality.”
Of course, any decision or purchase you make must be based on a strong concept of your desired layout and lifestyle. Both Sabiha and Joveria propose rearranging furniture and adding small tweaks here and there to cut costs which can be incurred in a complete makeover.
Natasha Khalid is a doctor by profession. She likes to write about fashion, people and social affairs. She tweets @Natashakhalid90
Helpful suggestions from Sabiha
According to Elle Décor magazine, “If you don’t push, life can be pretty dull.” Many international interior decorators abide by this rule, favouring rearrangement of existing items over the addition of new ones. Since updating can be heavy on your pockets, Sabiha has shared some handy tips on how you can spruce up the nursery in no time.
Utilise old headboards, shelves and end tables. Existing furniture can always be repaired according to new trends in home décor.
If you have no spare furniture, simply move around what is already there. You would be surprised how much life just moving a chair from left to right can inject into a room.
Changing or adding new light fixtures is a cheap and efficient way to brighten up any living space, even if it is just a new lampshade.
Keeping a spare set of curtains is always a great idea, seeing as how you never know when your drapes might get smeared with crayons or poster paints.
When it comes to accent walls, nothing works better than a striped wallpaper or fresh coat of paint. Once you have selected your colour scheme, make sure to accessorise the rest of the room accordingly, with matching cushions, bed sheets or rugs, etc.
Light grey with patches of bright yellow is the colour scheme of the season, as are action figure themed rooms.
Redecorating is futile if you do not get rid of extras. De-clutter and you will see instant results.
PHOTO: DESIGN19 AND IDENTITY
Do’s and don’ts from Joveria
Joveria’s vast experience of decorating has helped her develop her own design philosophy. Read on to find out some of the useful hacks and safety instructions she has learnt over the years.
Washable wall solutions are the way to go to avoid having to repaint all the time. Oil paint or shades which conceal stains are other options.
Placing a carpet in children’s rooms is perhaps the worst thing you can do when decorating. Not only are carpets the ideal breeding ground for dust and germs, they are also much harder to clean in the very likely event of a spillage. Laminate or vinyl flooring as well as tiles are your best options as these look good, are easy to manage and can also be highlighted with small rugs and mats.
Avoid including medium-density fibre boards (MDF) or plastic materials in your children’s rooms as these emit fumes that are extremely hazardous for the human body.
A decorator merely provides a platform for clients to build upon. You should do the same for your children and incorporate their ideas in the decoration process. This will make them happy and boost confidence as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, Ms T, July 26th, 2015.
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