Southern home: Smart solutions for the children's rooms, The

Southern Living, May 2002 by Jernigan, Sarah

Growing in Style

Consider these ideas to create a room that children of any age can enjoy.

Challenge

Aren't children's rooms always a challenge? Thank goodness for those nine months before a baby arrives. While keeping a budget in mind, these parents wanted to use furnishings their children could grow with, repurpose perfectly good hand-me-downs, and create a space that is colorful and fresh enough to nurture a young imagination.

Solution

Furnishing a nursery or child's room is likely to be the first time you purchase items geared to specific purposes such as cribs, changing tables, and rocking chairs. These parents planned their children's rooms with several playful solutions for the basic necessities, including lots of storage and fun.

For example, in the boy's room shown here, an armoire was outfitted as a changing table, and a versatile twin bed is in place when baby becomes a big boy. In the girl's nursery (see photos on page 144), sheets are used not only on the bed, but also as window treatments and a washable changing pad cover. The floor was painted for easy cleanup and as an inexpensive alternative to carpet.

Use these clever ideas as inspiration, and you'll have a room that will live with your child well into the teen years. SARAH JERNIGAN

SEVERAL IDEAS TO GROW ON

Consider leftover family furniture. Use paint and stain to refresh old pieces.

Bedding plays a key role in a nursery. Make choices for use with more than one child, as well as something versatile for both boys and girls.

Storage is important for children at any age. Use shelves, chests, bookcases, or under-bed compartments for blankets and clothing when they're babies and later for toys.

Collect cheerful art children can enjoy for years. The Starlings chose folk art as a companion for daughter Jane Perry's neutral bedding (see page 144). A family friend created a playful painting for the Johnson nursery (shown above crib at left). Colorful animated characters make it friendly and fun.

Keep in mind that safety is always a concern with baby furniture, especially when adapting an old piece for a new function. Never leave a baby unattended when placed on an elevated surface such as a changing table.

Adjust standard closets with shelving and racks to better accommodate clothes and save space. 10.

Low Cost, High Style

By choosing bedding and furniture that will grow with each child, both sets of parents made good investments that not only have more than one purpose but will also last for a long time. Jane Perry Starling's bedding is a versatile white, while Britton Johnson's parents chose primary colors that are cheerful enough for boys and girls. Twin beds are also used in both rooms.

Space Saver

Instead of a one-use changing table, the Starlings wanted something more permanent. They opted for a chest large enough on top to accommodate an oversize changing pad-a removable cushioned support with a curved center to keep a baby in place. "This chest will never get old," explains mother Summer. "We spent a little more money and got something that we will use a lot longer."

QUICK-CHANGE ARTIST

Furniture with more than one function: Rather than purchase a changing table that's good for only one purpose-changing diapers-- Amanda and Jay Johnson created one from a hand-me-down armoire for son Britton. "My parents weren't using this piece anymore," says Amanda. "We thought it would be great for this."

A coat of white paint and a distressed finish gave the forgotten piece a new lease on life. Now, it matches the crib they purchased. A standard changing pad placed inside provides comfort and safety for the baby. Amanda explains, "Jay added a shelf for all the lotions and things so everything is in one place."

Refinished floor: When Sumner and Jeff Starling removed the wornout carpet from their nursery, they discovered hardwood floors. Refinishing can get expensive, so as an alternative, they chose a decorative, distressed paint finish that lightened up the room and complemented their furniture. In a weekend, they had a fresh new look without the headaches.

Many paint manufacturers offer a floor or porch paint that's built to handle the wear and tear of constant foot traffic. The Starlings sanded and used a primer for the first coat. Then, white floor paint was applied with a roller.

For a decorative tone-on-tone effect, the couple chose to have an oversize checkerboard pattern painted over the base coat. (A professional artist applied the pattern using a quarter-tint of the wall color.)

where to find it

GROWING IN STYLE

Pages 142-144: (yellow nursery) Wall color is Benjamin Moore 2/c#352; bedding used for valance is Tweedle Dee by Designers Guild, from Three Sheets, Homewood, Alabama; valance by Sheri Corey; floor paint is Benjamin Moore Epoxy floor paint; folk art angel by artist Lila Graves; changing pad from Babies & Beyond, Hoover, Alabama; (primary-colored nursery) painted chest of drawers by Diane Y Sewell of A Touch of Whimsey, Atlanta, (770) 565-4706; bedding and headboard fabric from Fabric Jungle, (205) 956-2226 (R).