With Amelie turning three in two months time, we thought it was time to revamp her nursery into a toddler’s bedroom. On the one hand we wanted her bedroom to be a comfy haven for her to play and sleep in. And on the other hand we wanted the update to be as sustainable and eco-friendly as possible. This proved to be somewhat challenging, but I think we succeeded. Here are our top tips for a sustainable nursery revamp.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
Keep it simple. Resist the urge to over shop. If preparing for a baby taught me anything, it is that you don’t need half of the things the ‘baby business’ tries to sell you. Likewise your toddler also needs a lot less than you think. I truly believe ‘less is more’ when it comes to an eco-friendly kids room. Before you make your way to the nearest mall, take a look around your house and repurpose some of your existing furniture. We updated an old dresser with a coat of non-toxic paint to give it a new lease on life. Amelie also inherited her granny’s childhood bed. We also repainted the storage draws our neighbours gifted us. They work perfectly below her bed. Visiting a few second-hand stores is also worth your while. You are bound to find a few pieces of furniture to decorate you child’s room with.
If you do want to get something new for your little one’s room, be sure to choose a few pieces that are made from sustainable materials and can be used for a few years (and in different themed future bedrooms). We opted for a table and chair set from https://www.declanandleah.co.za/ and the cutest Hippo ottoman from https://www.home.co.za/home
Choose your paint wisely
Paint can not only be bad for the environment, but also for your child’s health. When choosing paint opt for a trustworthy brand that contains mostly natural ingredients.
When wanting to update your kids room sustainably the most important question you need to keep asking is ‘Do we really need to do this or that?’ When it came to painting out the whole room the answer was ‘No’ (because seriously how dirty can a baby make the walls of a nursery in two years). So we decided to only paint one wall. After some deliberation we decided to have a picture painted on one wall. After more deliberation we decided on a picture from one of Amelie’s favourite story books. We commissioned the very talented https://anikenurnberger.com/ to paint the wall. And I am sure you will agree – it’s beautiful.
Consider insulation
One of the best decisions we made, before Amelie’s birth, was improving in the insulation of her room. Upgrading windows, especially in old houses like ours, is pricey but definitely worth it. We found that the new windows kept the temperature in the room stable, which not only is good for the planet in terms of electricity usage, but also has prevented her from getting sick during the winter. The new windows also have had a noise-cancelling effect which is great for little ones that struggle sleeping. Insulation can also be improved with thick curtains or good quality blinds.
Involve your little one
Get your little one to help you paint a piece of furniture. It will be a mess and you will have to give the piece a second or third coat, but getting them involved gives them a sense of ownership in their room. Depending on their age you can also give them the opportunity to make something for their room from eco-friendly materials such as rope, beads and wood.
Get a plant
Adding plants is a great and inexpensive way of creating an eco-friendlier space for your little one. Not only do they produce precious oxygen and help filter the air in your child’s room, they also teach kids a lot about the responsibility of taking care of something important. Plants come in all shapes and sizes, be sure to choose one that is safe. Choosing one that is low maintenance is also a good idea, especially if you want your child to take care of it.
Switch to LED
If you consider that LED light bulbs use anywhere between 25 to 80% less energy and last a lot longer than conventional bulbs, choosing LED bulbs is a simple way of creating an eco-friendlier kids’ room.
I’d love to hear your tips for sustainable and eco-friendly kids rooms.
Here’s to creating happy and healthy spaces for our little ones.
xxx
