Anyone else not want their nursery to LOOK like a "nursery"? - Page 2

[Masel]

We did need to do something with a room for my older DD. We adopted her and had to show she had space of her own.

Also the previous home owner's child had drawn all over the walls so paint was necessary. I painted the walls a mint green

and got curtains that I thought were light blue but turned out to be light purple when hanging in the light. It still managed to be 

bright and kid-friendly without being juvenile or gender specific. Other than a crib the furniture wasn't kid specific either. The

"changing table" is the buffet from our dining room set. It is just the right height and also serves as a dresser. There had been 

a twin sized day bed with a trundle in there since way before kids and that served well when DD graduated from the crib. (I would

pull the trundle out a foot or two so she had a step/cushion for getting into and out of bed.)

I can't find a good picture of the room. Here's one where you can see the wall color and the day bed. (I guess it is a bit girly looking.'

It had belonged to my sisters.) I let her personalize the room by putting up string so she could hang up pictures.

Can't seem to post the picture directly here is the link

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d79/BabyGirlH/?action=view&current=IMG_1866.jpg

[karanyavel]

LOL at whoever mentioned using a crib as a giant laundry basket... we did the exact same thing We buy very little baby stuff -- just don't see much need for it and I hate, hate, hate clutter -- but we did receive a ton of gifts with DD that we stuck in the second bedroom. It was more of a storage room than a nursery, though, and the vast majority of the "stuff" never got any use. I am a HUGE minimalist, though, except when it comes to computers (we have five). Hoping this time my in-laws pay attention when I tell them no, we really don't need XYZ.

Not that I think there's anything wrong with having a nursery! Although I suspect the parents generally get a lot more appreciation out of it than the kids do (at least until the kiddos are a fair bit older). Love the pics people have posted and they're really cool looking, I was just surprised to see that such a thing really does exist in the wild. I really, honestly didn't realize they existed in regular peoples' homes. Certainly I wasn't trying to get anyone to justify their choices... like anything, I think it's a great investment if it's something you enjoy and find value in.

One thing I love about MDC is that I can admit that I don't have a nursery or any intention of having one, that the sum of baby stuff I plan to buy consists of cloth diapers, wipes, onesies and receiving blankets. Maybe I'm a bit weird -- even for here -- but no one thinks I'm an insane, neglectful mom. (Nope, no carrier or sling... I tried with the previous two kids and just found it easier to keep them in arms as babies or on my hip as toddlers.)

DD (6 y/o) doesn't even have a bedroom yet... our second bedroom is being used as a combination school room/play room, so she has her own space (not that she really uses it as such, we're a super-clingy family) but she would rather not sleep there yet. We'll be moving to a 3 bedroom soon after DS is born, though, and I expect she'll get a "real" bedroom then, which hopefully she'd like to sleep in at least sometimes.

--K

[Twinklefae]

We didn't do one last time, we didn't have the space or the money.

This time I have set up the other half of DS's room as a 'nursery' with a crib.  Partially just so that I don't use that space as junk storage, which is my tendancy, and partially so that I can set up the cute bumper and sheet set that my Stepmother bought me last time.  The room is very cute, blue, but a beautiful shade. 

[Virginia884]

We painted our nursery gray last weekend and are using some really great modern fabric as our inspiration. When people ask about colors we tell them lilac, aqua, and orange. We bought modern furniture and are hanging paper lanterns above the crib. Not a girly frilly space at all!

DH and I both know that baby needs a safe, secure place to be (whether that's in the cosleeper with us or in her own room) and the design element is totally for us.

I can't wait to share photos when it's all finished!!

[~Adorkable~]

been masking the nursery all day today, getting ready to start paint, have jumpsuit and respirator all ready, this is hard work but o so fun!

[tzs]

i also agree that a nursery, let alone a nice decorated one, is totally unnecessary to a baby. but sometimes it makes a huge difference for the grown-ups involved. 

that said, we didn't do anything before dd was born, it's actually a jewish custom not to have anything for the baby (evil eye.....oooooohhhh, spooky!)

we moved her into her "room" at 6 months or so and so far it's just a crib, a cute rug, and the old ugly-a*s paint color which covers also the doors, molding, and ceiling. yuck!

i go to my pal's house who has a babe the same age with a decorated room and it's just so nice to hang out in there and play. i want THAT for my babe's room. 

i'm also going for dark muted walls with a few select items that will "pop." and really simple, montessori style. if we could just get it done before she graduates from college that would be great. i'm preggos again now so gotta get on it or we're going to be really behind in a few months.

[newmamalizzy]

Our "nursery" at the moment is currently a huge heap of clutter hiding the two beautiful solid maple bureaus we found on consignment and intend to someday refinish for DD.  It's also the room were DP currently sleeps on a pile of blankets on the floor, as DD is in a co-sleeping phase and we don't all fit in the bed.  I actually still intend to make that room Bea's room, but she sleeps in our room, so I see no need for soothing.  We're definitely planning on whimsy over frills.  We're forestry people and DP has a HUGE, kind of nutsy issue with all the non-native species-themed baby stuff (jungle, ocean, etc.).  When we get around to it, Bea's room will be decorated with white-tailed deer, chipmunks, chickadees, aspens, white pines....ahhhh, the north woods. 

By the way - we really liked the room decorations at Ikea. 

[~Adorkable~]

I do feel like colors affect moods and do lighting conditions, so I'm glad I am building a space that creates the mood I want to be in and I think will be good for the babies. The look of it beyond that is totally for me of course, I'll make a room for there eyes in a few years.

We put down the first paint yesterday, an amazing yellow ceiling! Looks so fun! Richer warmer deep yellow walls are today's event. doing this first serious nesting feels wonderful, DH and I are really having fun and it is great to get a chance to be creative with him. He is a painter as art and has not done it for a long time, but I always remember how great it was, and I love interior design, so this chance to come together and talk about color and scale and life has been really good for us.

[lizsky]

OP, I think it totally makes sense to get furniture that will last for a while.  I didn't do the frilly nursery thing for my DD either.  In fact I barely decorated at all (plain yellow walls, simple dark wood furniture, skipped most of the decorative "extras")...Some (including my MIL!) think its "boring" but I love the simplicity.

The only decorating I've done is to hang a few photos of our daughter and in silver frames that we had done by a professional, and those make the room feel more special to me than most of the frilly accessories at Target would.  

[Carolina Kel]

Originally Posted by roslyn 

I want a more sophisticated look as well. For instance I really want a glider this time, but all the ones in my price range are simply not that attractive to me. I like a more modern look. Unfortunately, modern=big bucks. I made everything for my last one and probably will for this one as well. Since it will also be the guest bedroom a "babyish" look is definitely out. 

Says you. ;)

Craigslist is an excellent resource for finding modern furniture. My husband managed to find a $300 Dutailier rocker and rocking ottoman for me for Christmas for a whopping $75 because it wasn't being used and took up space. Bargains exist if you don't mind gently used stuff. :)

As for the modern furniture, Craigslist was also awesome for finding previous-season Ikea goodness. When we lived in the Tacoma area, the Seattle area Ikea store was very close, so we scored a lot of gently used Ikea furniture from people that changed their Ikea living rooms every time a new catalog came out. Again, good stuff is out there if you look, and you're also giving stuff a second chance and saving money that could be used towards more high-ticket items. :)

From your location info, it says you're in Atlanta, which does have an Ikea in Atlantic Station. With the holidays coming up, they always have a lot of great sales so you can also score a bargain at the store, too. :)

Best of luck!

[Carolina Kel]

We live in military housing, so there's really not a lot we can do with the walls to make it our own unless we wanting to be priming at last moment before we leave... we also co-slept with our son for the first year, so his room was our room, and his room ended up being a guest bedroom and storage area for baby stuff.

Because my husband and I still wanted to personalize our son's room for his arrival, I painted symbols and artwork that were meaningful to our religious path, as well as contrasting enough to be interesting to a baby, had he actually spent any time in his own room. :) I did the paintings with washable poster paint that came off the walls when soaked down, and the new set of drawings were done in washable chalk. While some people think it's stupid, I like the fact that I can change how my son's room looks quite easily, so while he may like cats and dogs this week, next week it might be trucks and trains or whatever suits his fancy without spending a lot of money. It's also fun to do :)

Here's a sample of the paintings:

The text beneath the sun/moon is "You are the sun and the moon to us" and "Goddess Bless America" is beneath the flag.

And of the chalk drawings... the cat is his run-away favorite, so it's over his bed.

The rest of my "wall art" can be seen here.

Since we will most likely be moving again to a 2-bedroom, my son and daughter will be sharing space, so we'll probably do something Norse-mythology themed with vikings and dragon ships and some sort of rendering of the goddess Skadi, for whom my daughter will be named. :) Needless to say, it will definitely kick ass. :D

[2xy]

Originally Posted by karanyavel 

What's a nursery?

For that matter, what's decorating?

LOL....I'm glad I'm not alone! I really couldn't care less about such things, but do agree that the rooms pictured do look great. It's just not something I can personally be bothered with. I'm the mom who always had the neighborhood kids over to paint and make play-doh and use glitter and glue because their moms didn't want them messing up the house. lol