My husband left for his boys’ camping trip the other day, so it’s just Grace and I (and Asha) in our household at the moment. This morning, we headed off to the local markets to see if we could discover any treasures but we only came away with some cute Laura Ashley fabric to use for Grace’s bunting (roll of string-tied fabric in the photo above).
Yesterday, after baking some biscuits, I had a relaxing stint painting while Grace napped, but now that I’m finished, I’m not sure it’s what I’d like for Grace’s room after all (see top right in above photo). Even though Paul isn’t here, I have him in my ear saying, ‘You need to decorate Grace’s room for her, not with things you like.’ I think the yellow pattern is a bit too 'grown-upish' for an 8½ month old and I think I might hunt on Etsy for something a bit more age appropriate instead.
Yesterday, after baking some biscuits, I had a relaxing stint painting while Grace napped, but now that I’m finished, I’m not sure it’s what I’d like for Grace’s room after all (see top right in above photo). Even though Paul isn’t here, I have him in my ear saying, ‘You need to decorate Grace’s room for her, not with things you like.’ I think the yellow pattern is a bit too 'grown-upish' for an 8½ month old and I think I might hunt on Etsy for something a bit more age appropriate instead.
Does anyone else have that dilemma when decorating for children, finding yourself giving in to things that perhaps aren’t to your taste but that you know your little one would like?
Absolutely! I find it more with clothes though. I was a new mumma always saying "You'll never see my kids dressed as Spiderman or batman at the shops" now if I have to get out of the house in a hurry (which is most days) I'm often seen accompanying Spiderman or Sporticus. I know my son would kill for a Lightening MQueen doona but that is not going to happen!
ReplyDeleteAmanda..I love everything that you have pictured above..and to be honest..I dont think that painting is too grown up for her room at all..is so fresh and happy...I think it all depends on how you use it...you can always add some pretty ribbon to hang it from..or even do a 3 dimensional print and add things like little felt butterflies or little bee's onto it...to make it more childlike?
ReplyDeleteHow can we really decorate their room to what they would like? when they cant really communicate that with us?...all I have tried to do is jazz Jacq's room up to reflect his personality...boyish, fun, energetic and cheeky...for all I know he probably doesn't like red, white and blue..lol
I do know that children respond in a positive way to colours and shapes..and I tried to make Jacq's room fun..and surround him with the things he loves to play with. Im sure you will do a fab job of Grace's room...and she will grow so quickly that you will find yourself changing things round a little again.
Im sure Grace will love her happy room :) x
My boys could live in a box and they wouldn't notice. I think as long as they can see Mummy and Daddy's faces and they are surrounded by love, you can do anything with kiddies decor. Go with YOUR heart. You will be the one spending just as much time in there. I think your choices are just perfection. Yellow is such a happy, positive colour. A-M xx
ReplyDeleteI disagree -- I think the yellow fabrics would be PERFECT for Graces bunting. I don't feel at all guilty for introducing 'adult' ideas to childrens decorating... I don't see any reason why you cant! And while Grace is still too young to demand Wiggles paraphenalia, I dont see any reason not to have fun with her room now, while you can! xo Nicole
ReplyDeleteOh Amanda- I think your canvas is divine!! I think it can incorporated beautifully into a little person's room with other prints. I am ordering a print from My Sweet Prints later this week, as Olivia really wants one of the 'O' initial prints in yellow. Have you had a look at Janette's etsy shop? I think a yellow 'G' or something similar would balance beautifully with your own gorgeous handpainted canvas for little Grace. You are such a clever artist and Grace's nursery sounds like it is going to be stunning, I can't wait to see it:) - Tina xx
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about nursery decor Amanda! But I think the fabric above is so lovely and with our babies being at this young age, it's probably the only oportunity we will have to decorate their rooms the way WE want to.
ReplyDeleteBy the time they go into their 'big kid bed' they will want to have a say in their room decor (and the choices may be cringe-worthy when coming from a 3 year old) hehehe.
So I say do what you want to do with her room and just add some pretty little kiddy stuff. Have to seen www.belleandboo.com?
Janette x
I really like the fabrics you chose with the yellow theme, they're very sweet and not too grown up at all. I always like to choose things that will suit my girls for a while and I give them a choice of a couple of items, usually none of them have Disney princesses in them, so we both stay happy.xo
ReplyDeleteI love that combination of patterns, is the top right fabric or wallpaper?
ReplyDeleteI think you can do a base that will suit a baby through to teen and then accessorise with their preferred 'theme'
I think it's all lovely. The only idea I have to make it less grown up would be to paint some cute animal silouettes etc on more canvases and then hang them in a group on the wall.
ReplyDeletePS Thanks for your lovely comments about my Harry Horse :)
I've just discovered your blog! I don't think the fabric is too 'grown-upish' and the other delicate florals tone it down. My son is 9 and my daughter is 7 and I've always decorated slightly older as they grow so quickly and if you don't go too babyish it is easy to update without having to do a complete re-do.
ReplyDeleteAs they have gotten older they've definitely had input, but I always have the final say! They are easily persuaded lol
Hi Amanda, I hope you are enjoying your 'girly time'! I love that selection of fabrics and patterns, but if you are unsure you could use a more neutral base colour and just touches of the other designs, so if you change your mind you don't have to redo the whole room.... That is what I am facing at the moment! My girls were allowed to choose a colour for their rooms (aqua if you don't mind) and as we were so sick of looking at bare plaster walls, their entire rooms ended up the one colour. Yuck. It was supposed to be temporary... but you know how that ends! So, now I'm trying to choose something they like, but also won't hurt your eyes!
ReplyDelete:)
Karlyn - I can picture you hand in hand with Spiderman at the supermarket :) It scares me that Grace will one day want a Barbie or Dora The Explorer doona :)
ReplyDeleteAnna - thanks for your sweet comments - you've made me feel much happier after I was feeling disappointed earlier. I laughed when you said Jacq probably doesn't even like red, white and blue. It's true though - at this age it's hard to know what our little ones like and instead as you say just make their room a happy place for them to enjoy. I really like your suggestion of adding some 'texture' like felt butterflies onto the pattern I did (I got the design off something I'd seen so adding little touches like this would make me feel like it's more of my own creation).
ReplyDeleteA-M and Nicole - You have both made me feel less guilty about choosing things I like in Grace's room. I was quite happy with the fabrics, it was more the pattern I painted that I was unsure of.
ReplyDeleteTina - thanks for your kind words but I totally got the idea from a design I'd seen on the Kanvas site so I can't take any credit for it apart from copying it with my paintbrush unfortunately. Yes, Janette's prints are lovely - might go back and check her Etsy shop again.
Janette - yes Belle and Boo is one of my favourite children's art stores - I am hoping to have some of these framed in Grace's room when I changes to a 'big girl's room'.
Catherine, Melissa & Sarah - thanks for your sweet comments. Everything you've written has made me feel more confident to go with what I've chosen. Mel - the top right is the pattern I painted onto card (cannot take any credit for the design though).
Jo - so nice to have you pop by. I totally agree with what you're saying about decorating slightly older so that their decor lasts that bit longer.
Flick - I love aqua - would love to use it for a nursery for our next baby one day.
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. I love what you have chosen above, I think it looks perfectly fine for an 8 1/2 month old, it's bright and cheerful and very girl like. You should decorate with what you like as well since you have to be in that room a lot of the times too. None of it will really matter to Grace until she is at least 5 years old and then it still probably won't be about how the room is decorated, but what clothing she wears and what toys she has. I think adding her stuff like childrens books and stuffed animals on the shelves as well as maybe a few pictures that might fit a childs room would be plenty to make it child like, then it is easy to change later.
My husband is away at the moment too, it's nice sometimes just to have yourself and daughter isn't it. As far as the decorating goes I am sure by looking at this colour palette that she will love it!
ReplyDeleteMel & Simone - thanks so much for your feedback. I would really like to add some toys/books on display as you say Mel - just need to find the perfect shelf... am on the hunt! x
ReplyDeleteRuby's room when she was a baby was aqua - I loved it! So fresh. Her room is all white with pink now, but we've just painted her wardrobe aqua and it's fab!
ReplyDeleteI can see it in her room. I think it depends with what else you put it with...in fact I think it'll look great. Hope you had a great girls weekend :) Some mother and daughter time alone...how perfect.
ReplyDeleteLou
xx