If you're looking to give your nursery a much needed makeover, but you've been putting it off for some time as you're stuck for ways to make it look on-trend and easy on the eye- it can be difficult to decide what it is you actually need and how to create a stylish but yet child friendly room.

Parenting on Female First

Parenting on Female First

Children's interior specialist, Naomi Callan, shares her tips on what's hot in children's interiors this autumn/winter:

Animal/woodland themes

The current trend for all things animal continues and this is a particularly popular theme in Children's interiors

Retro classics

Many parents are in the 30 to 45 age range and so patterns, characters and furniture that hark back to their own childhood give them comfort so they feel these are good choices for their children. 1950s inspired designs are proving popular.

Geometric and Harlequin designs

Geometric patterns are bang on trend at the moment and these are ideal for those wanting to create a unisex children's room to suit all ages.

Story-telling décor

There is a whiff of fantasy in the air, think fables and fairy tales and those whimsical touches that bring a real sense of fun to interior schemes. Wallpapers are one of the most effective ways to achieve this look.

Raw

The raw unfinished look is strong, as it feels honest and natural and green, which ticks all the boxes for many people when it comes to children's interiors right now

Rainy days can be a pain- keeping the kids busy and enthused can be tricky, but we have 8 simple steps towards a fun afternoon building castles from your very own bed sheets!

  1. Choose your cot or bed first. It is often the biggest item and it's a good idea to base it on the style of the rest of the house, then select furniture to accompany it. Be brave and introduce a statement piece of furniture, or a cool wallpaper, or unusual wall stickers.
  2. Think of the size of the room: if it's small, choose light colours to create an illusion of space and go for small, multifunctional furniture ie, a changing table with drawers underneath, or upholstered storage boxes that double as seats.
  3. A safe environment - opt for environmentally friendly, green products for a child's room. All Castle for Rascals products are ethically sourced and safe for children, eg the NaturePaint range is the only one to have the prestigious Zero VOC symbol
  4. Choose fabric and bed linen before selecting your paint. These determine the style and theme of the room and it's far easier to match a paint to a design feature, than the other way round.
  5. When choosing your colours, think about the rest of the house, the walls don't have to be bright and bold just because it's a junior room.
  6. Versatile furniture - there are many products that grow with the child, such as height adjustable desks. Choose a nursing chair that can be used elsewhere in the house, or which can be re-upholstered, when you are past the baby stage.
  7. Use a creative sites for inspiration, like Pintrest, and work out what is similar about the images that appeal to you. Ie all white with splashes of colourful art and cushions, or soft muted pastel colours with hints of pattern etc and then use these as a template. Use in combination with our moodboard.
  8. Use your textiles and accessories to update the style/ age/theme or your child's room as they grow. Blankets, cushions, rugs, lighting and bed linen can set the tone of an otherwise plain bedroom, so you can update it easily.

Naomi Callan, founder of children's interiors website www.castlesforrascals.co.uk, said: "Many new or expectant parents want the wow factor, so we're seeing great demand for original design in the nursery and parents are also looking for products from eco-friendly sources."

by for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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