A-Z of a perfect nursery

As endless as the permutations of genes on your child’s DNA strand, the possibilities for creating a nursery that is both tranquil and stimulating will keep you occupied for months. Start decorating a few months before your child is born and build up a lively stock of toys as you go.

 

A

Age-appropriate themes: Because children grow up so quickly and their developmental phases change rapidly, cut decorating stress by choosing a base theme that will suit a child of any age. Have a good stock of plain-coloured bed linen and towels, and complement with nursery themes for different ages. As they get older, children tend to interact more, which is reflected in the bed linen and curtains they choose. While younger children may be over-stimulated by too many noisy prints, cartoon characters and superheroes start to take centre stage as they near schoolgoing age.

 

B

Baby monitor: If your children are still at crib age, you need to keep a really close eye on them. Short of keeping them in your bedroom, buy a monitor which picks up every sound they make and link it to your lounge or bedroom, so you can race through at the sound of any squeak or squeal.

 

C

Crib rails: Remember that your baby will be monopolosing at least one of your arms most of the time, so get a side rail that can be lifted and lowered using one hand. These days, most cribs use a knee-release mechanism; it’s generally quieter to use and the basic design usually requires that less hardware be exposed.

 

D

DVDs and CDs player: Home movies and videos are great for keeping your child out of mischief and entertained at the same time. Try to include a good selection of educational material as well to ensure your child doesn’t treat the TV as a substitute for more meaningful and interactive activities. Be vigilant about television you select, if any, too, and screen cartoon networks and other children’s channels before you turn them on. Besides tapes and CDs with age-appropriate children’s songs, it is a good idea to keep music filtering softly through your child’s sleeping place during the night. Repetitive though it may seem, the sound of familiar tunes provide a soothing sense of security, and many a parent has found that golden oldies or contemporary perennials like Abba provide a light and pleasant sleep environment night after night.

 

E

Exterior influences: If you have a bright light or electric pole outside the nursery window, eliminate negative energy by keeping curtains closed or use a reflective film on the glass pane to deflect negative energy back to the source.

 

F

Furniture and floors: A primary concern here is safety; make sure there are no protruding nails or edge guards and that all planks are in place. Avoid furniture made with plywood, particle board, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) because they often contain formaldehyde in their glues. Used furniture more than a few years old, however, is likely to have released all its harmful chemical fumes by the time it’s ready for baby, so those are fine (and affordable) options next to buying furniture made from solid wood, wicker or rattan. Buy secondhand furniture, paint it the same colour as the walls and add a few transfers if you like.

In the floor department, go for hardwood floors made from sustainably managed forests and finish them with a non-toxic or natural sealant. Consider discarding any wall-to-wall carpeting because they trap mould, dust mites, and other allergens.

 

G

Gender-neutral design: Studies show that girls and boys don’t necessarily have different colour preferences, so go for colours and motifs that are not gender-specific, like gingham checks, stripes, plaids and solids in bright, lively colours. Stars, sun and moon can inspire both sexes equally well.

 

H

Hamper for clothes: Rather than a cupboard, which can be cumbersome and costly, invest in a few attractive hampers or baskets for children’s clothes. Label them accordingly and keep one for dirty laundry.

 

I

Interactive toys: Besides keeping your child’s mind active and questioning, interactive toys are a great substitute when there are no other children around. Store them in a fun toy box which itself can be a focal point of the room. Digital games, if your child is old enough, are also a good way of keeping the brain ticking over.

 

J

Jam jars: Gather old preserve jars and coffee tins, jazz them up with paint and labels and keep them handy for everything from loose toys to keys and toiletries. Frame old greeting cards to give your nursery a unique, contemporary feel.

 

 

K

Koki pens: Keep a good supply of erasable felt-tipped pens at hand, together with a noticeboard and/or plastic-coated colouring-in books at hand. Make sure you keep the pens in a mug or tin to prevent them lying around and leaking on the floor. Always encourage your children to put the lids on, keep them out of their mouths and make sure the brand you choose is non-toxic.

 

L

Lighting: Whatever lighting you choose for the nursery, make sure you install it on a dimmer so that you can lower the light for a baby. Because babies are attracted to light sources, chose ones that will shade your baby’s eyes from the glare of a bare bulb. Never install a lamp within your baby’s reach; a wall-mounted fixture is best from a safety point of view as your child gets older, as is a table lamp beside the nursing chair.

 

M

Mattresses and bedding: Besides ensuring that the bed or cot you choose is safe, try to be as eco-friendly as possible. Pick a baby mattress made with wool casings or organic cotton filling. Regular mattresses contain harmful and potentially cancer-causing fire retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in addition to equally suspect stain- and moisture-resistant chemicals. Rest your baby’s head on pillows that are stuffed with natural stuffing such as kapok, buckwheat hulls, untreated wool, organic cotton or synthetic-free latex. Dress the crib with organic all-cotton bedding. Conventional cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops in the world and the chemicals could irritate your baby’s sensitive skin.

 

N

Nappy bin: Possibly the most essential functional item in the nursery, a bin exclusively for nappies should be constantly kept at hand. Line it with disposable, plastic liners and always keep a good supply in stock.

 

O

Overlooked orange: Vibrant and lively, orange is often considered to be too outrageous for a nursery. If you and your child have an adventurous streak, there’s no harm in going a tad over the top or adding a few streaks of orange to the nursery. It’s not called the new pink for nothing!

P

Protective plastic sheeting: Create a specially designated area for painting and other messy pursuits. Cover it with a plastic sheet which can be wiped down and re-used. Keep plenty of sponges at hand in a bucket which can also be used for other activities and cleaning.

 

Q

Quiet and peace: If the room of a neighbouring apartment or house is someone’s living room, the noise may distract concentration or a good night’s sleep. Cover the wall with a heavy fabric or artistic décor which will absorb the noise.

 

R

Rocking chair: Because you will use it to feed your child, it should be comfortable and support your lower back. Cover it with padded cushions covered in a fabric that washes easily and doesn’t stain. Besides being functional, your rocking chair could be a main feature of the

 

S

Shelves and side rails: Possibly the most important item in the whole nursery, shelves are absolutely essential for packing everything from books and CDs to toys and stuffed animals. Besides keeping the floor space clear and adding a sense of order to a potentially chaotic room, they are also a good incentive for your child to learn to pack away afterwards. Add a toy box to keep the really untidy bits out of sight decoratively.

 

T

Table: Essential for changing nappies, a well-placed table is also useful for storing baby’s toiletries and other goods related to day-to-day care. To double up on space, try to get one that has a shelf underneath for storing linen and nappies. Make sure there is space for a wash basin too.

 

U

Under budget: Draw up a very basic budget and scout around secondhand shops for items that are both unusual and not likely to break the bank. Ditch your credit card and ransack bargain bins and garage sales. You’ll be surprised at how much more fun you can make your nursery at a lower cost.

 

V

VOC-free paint: Paint the walls of the nursery with environmentally friendly paint that doesn’t release poisonous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Look for VOC-free paint made from all-natural ingredients such as mineral pigments, beeswax, plant oils, crushed limestone, soy resins and buttermilk. Paint the walls in one colour and decorate with bright, self-adhesive transfers that can be removed when baby gets older.

 

W

Waterproofing: Most children wet their beds at some stage of their lives and it is wise to get waterproof underblankets to ensure there is a back-up plan in this event. Always keep spare waterproof underclothes at hand as well as waterproof bibs or disposable potty mitts. In short, anything waterproof is better than not.

 

X

Xylophone: While drums and cymbals provide endless fascination for children, they can also be a nightmare for parents. If your child must vent and explore his/her musical prowess, settle on a xylophone instead. There is a wide range of sizes and colours available and the muffled sound will keep your ears safe.

 

Y

Yellow is mellow: Whether you go for a buttercup shade, or a bright dollop of sun, yellow can transform your baby’s nursery into a tranquil imaginary garden. Complement it with pastel shades if you want a soft look, or go for rainbow colours if you’re into something more bright and exciting. Either way, yellow creates an inspiring and crisp, clean atmosphere.

 

Z

Zoo creatures: Whether they’re plastic or wooden, domestic, farm or wild animals, there’s nothing quite like a set of animals to keep children of both sexes occupied when moments of boredom set in. Add new animals on a regular basis to expand the collection and add variety to your child’s menagerie. An inexpensive gift idea too!

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright owned by the author.)

 

Give your home a spiritual makeover

Like our bodies and minds, our homes are the product of the spiritual energy we pour into them. Here’s a sample of a few practices which inject light, colour and energy into every corner and space – engage the senses and combine them for a therapeutic, balanced environment.

 

FUNCTIONAL FENG SHUI

Based on the Taoist philosophy which aims to balance yin (female, passive and weak) and yang (male, active and strong) energies, feng shui aims to create a harmonious environment. “If yin and yang are not balanced in your environment, the imbalance can produce unwanted emotional and physical effects,” says South African master of feng shui Elaine Hosiassohn.

The flow of qi can directly affect our moods and ultimately our health, over a period of time, says Hosiassohn. “Nourishing qi circulates. It gently revolves and curves, and creates a healthy balanced environment. Strong qi [called sha qi] disturbs and can cause mental and physical illness.” 

On the other hand, weak qi is as detrimental. “A stuffy airless room or a house with the same neutral colours throughout causes qi to stagnate,” says Hodiassohn.

 “In classical feng shui the two most important factors to consider are the year the house was built and the compass orientation of the house.” This coupled with the five elements (fire, wood, earth, metal, water) which correspond to the occupant’s birth years give an accurate audit of your house, says Hosiassohn.

Never live in a house which faces the end of a road, or passageway, in the case of an office. Your house or office’s entrance door should be clear and free of trees or other obstacles, and should not be much bigger or smaller than your neighbours.

 

REFINING YOUR HOME

 

1.    THE BEDROOM

Places of calmness and tranquillity, bedrooms require earth objects to bring relaxation. “Square shapes and pastel tones should be used. Try to avoid too many bright colours and busy patterns,” maintains Hosiassohn.

Ensure the bed is always placed against a solid wall. “This gives you a ‘command of the room’ position which is extremely important for a restful sleep. Never sleep with the bed placed in line with the door. If the room is too small and the bed cannot be moved make sure you sleep with the door closed.”

Mirrors opposite the bed are also not advisable as they disrupt the energy flow, and pictures of water can cause insomnia and attract bad luck. If can’t get rid of sharp edges pointing towards the bed, cover them or place a plant in front of them.

2.     THE KITCHEN

The kitchen is one of the most active areas in the house. “This is where we cook our food to nourish our bodies. Bright colours should be used. Be careful not to keep the kitchen feeling too yin with colours of white, black and too much metal,” says Hosiassohn.

Make sure you don’t place a fridge, washing machine or sink opposite your stove – the clash of fire and water could cause disagreements in the home.

3.   THE BATHROOM

Always close the bathroom door and toilet lid (when not in use) to prevent the loss of qi and a possible opportunity. Lots of good lighting, ventilation and mirrors keep chi reflecting and moving throughout the room and house. Dripping taps are a sign of wasting money. Another way to counteract opportunity and prosperity from being flushed away is to keep a bowl of pebbles or a flower arrangement on the toilet tank or on a shelf above the toilet. This element of earth helps control the water.

4.       THE LOUNGE

Reserved for relaxation, conversation, interaction and relationships, the lounge needs plenty of yang energy, which is symbolized by pendulum clocks, ceiling fans, plants and TV sets.

“Colours should be warm and round objects and streamline curves – shapes which symbolize action – are suitable. Photos and paintings should be used extensively,” says Hosaissohn.

If the view from your lounge has harsh lines or angles like a neighbouring home or city skyline, break up the lines with large plants. Place furniture strategically apart to break opposing straight lines, which will allow qi to flow gently, and break up dead areas with larger items of furniture, plants or fish tanks.

 

ENERGY ENHANCERS

1. MOVEMENT

Enrich relationships and stir up stagnant qi with mobiles, wind chimes to flags, scarves or incense smoke. Flowing water in the form of a fountain is also a good idea.

2. LIGHT

Use mirrors to deflect unsavoury qi by pointing them outwards towards whatever is undesirable, like a factory opposite. Lighten up dark areas or corners with soft lighting. Avoid too much yin energy in the vicinity of your home, symbolized by churches, hospitals or cemeteries. Open wndows often to ensure you don’t attract too much yin energy.

3. SOUND

Harsh noises cause Chi to become inharmonious and unsettled. Use wind chimes (which double up as a movement remedy), bells or even the gurgling sounds of water features to soothe the atmosphere. A ticking clock and harmonious music also all add to flowing qi.

1. SPIRITUALITY

If your house has beams that qi can flow along too quickly, use bamboo flutes, scrolls, fans or swords to deflect the qi into the room and enrich your health. To create an area for spiritual reflection, find a space for a statue like a Buddha, a piece of driftwood or an unusual stone. This will slow qi down and help purify it.

 

ZEN AND THE ART OF DECLUTTERING

Like feng shui, zen is an offshoot of Taoism, based on the principle of minimalism. In the home this means clean lines and clutter-free living to clear the energy flow to let calm and joy enter your heart.

“Like any habit, it takes just six weeks to break the desire to hoard and collect clutter,” says Sue Kay, author of No More Clutter (Hodder Mobius) and Hoarder to Order (Hodder Arnold). “In the first two weeks, find at least one item a day you don’t need and put it in the rubbish bin or give it away to charity.” Whether it’s a holey pair of socks or a frying pan you never use, it will only take up space if you keep it. Up your bin additions to two items a day in weeks three and four, and four items in the last two weeks. “Now you should be ready to tackle the bigger jobs and up your decluttering process to an hour a day.”

The best place to start, says Kay, is in the linen cupboard. “I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t have loads of tatty towels and tired sheets. So dump them. Recycle if possible. Then decide how many sets of bedlinen you need for every room in the house and for guests. Usually two sets is enough per bed. Similarly with towels – 2-3 sets per person is enough,” says Kay. Then get really crisp and invest in white duvet covers and towels.

To keep the flow in your house free, sort out all the rubbish on your desk and keep the floor clear. To maintain the zen atmosphere, stick to the principle of one-in, one-out. “It’s an essential tool of any clutter-free home and balances the flow of things entering and leaving the home.”

 

CREATIVE COLOUR THERAPY

For fine artist and colour therapist Tiziana Giardini, colours perform the same role in the home as instruments in an orchestra. “For example, indigo and violet which are at the top of the spectrum are equivalent to a violin and red, at the bottom, is similar to the sound of a drum.”

“Your home is the reflection of your inner self,” says Giardini, who uses her finely developed sense of colour to act as a colour filter for her clients. “Colour creates moods. Whether you opt for bright strong vibrant colour or more subtle hues that reflect nature, colour makes you feel alive and evokes memories. I often use flowers, leaves and stones as a starting point.”

A good starting point is to create a mood board in combination with a colour wheel. Gather samples of your favourite materials and pictures of inspirational room designs, create a board for each room and lay out according to order, ie carpet samples at the bottom.

For each room, choose your main base colour. If it’s one that’s dictated by what you already have and can’t change, like a grey carpet or pink tiles, use the colour wheel to see what colours will go with it and decide whether you want a tonal, harmonious or complementary scheme.

To avoid colour pollution, says Giardini, use neutrals as a base and visually declutter. For example, adding just a touch of colour to a white paint will give the neutral the vibration it requires, and works brilliantly when offset against a more solidly coloured wall. Another important aspect to consider is to zone colour according to the lighting in the environment. For example, a house with a sea view has very different possibilities to one in a leafy suburb, says Giardini.

 

VIOLET: Purifying, calming for the body and mind, enhances purpose and dignity, heightens awareness. Purple, the colour of sex, is also perfect for bedrooms.

INDIGO: Sedative. Helps to open up our intuition. The colour of divine knowledge and the higher mind. Not suitable for areas for entertainment but for quieter places, like bedrooms, treatment rooms, libraries or studies.

BLUE: Calming, relaxing and healing, promotes intellectual thought and communication. Not as sedating as indigo, but good in bedrooms, bathrooms or studies. Choose a blue with a warm undertone to avoid a chilly reception.

GREEN: Balancing, harmonising and encourages tolerance and understanding. Depending upon the shade, can be used for most areas. Too much green can make you too complacent or indecisive – add a dash of red or orange to counteract this.

YELLOW: Stimulates mental activity, promotes feeling of confidence, energy. Great in a study as it helps one to stay alert. Also good in activity rooms, entrance halls, kitchens and north-facing rooms. Not restful for bedrooms as it can enhance feelings of emotional distress.

ORANGE: Warming, energizing and reassuring. The colour of fun and sociability, orange stimulates creativity and is great for activity areas or living rooms. Not ideal for bedrooms or areas of possible stress, as it can overstimulate.

RED:  Energizing, adventurous, passionate, warm. A good bet for dining rooms as it promotes sociability and stimulates the appetite. Take care with the use of tone as it can make a space look smaller by being claustrophobic or oppressive.

 

AERATING AROMATHERAPY

Create a fragrant ambience in your home by burning aromatherapy oils or placing candles fragranced with essential oil around the home. Add 6-8 drops of your favourite scent to water in a diffuser or place the drops directly into a bowl of boiling water. Use lemon, lime, bergamont or grapefruit for entrance halls. Combine with uplifting lavender or calming geranium, depending on the time of day.

Give your linen cupboard a fresh fragrance by adding a few drops of essential oil to water in a spray bottle and spray on garments before ironing. Create an air freshener by adding six to eight drops of your oil of choice to 600ml water. To rid a room of stale tobacco or cooking smells use cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, orange, tea tree, rosemary or lime. Saturate cotton wool balls and place in the corners of a room, in cupboards or hidden places throughout the house.

 

(Published in Aquarius, Dubai. Copyright Sharon Marshall 2007.)