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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand this nursery trend?

187 replies

Habbs · 21/03/2019 16:59

Since being pregnant and constantly looking at baby stuff on Instagram my entire discover is full of baby related content. All I see is floor to ceiling white/grey nursery's, with all white furniture, big fluffy white rugs.. kids bedrooms all in muted colours, mainly white and grey, very gorgeous to look at.. but AIBU to think surely these aren't what kids want? And surely it's a recipe for disaster having SO much white? I feel like if the little ones had the choice it would be a lot more colourful and a bit more fun. Some examples attached!

To not understand this nursery trend?
To not understand this nursery trend?
To not understand this nursery trend?
OP posts:
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5
keepforgettingmyusername · 21/03/2019 18:49

Neutral and calm is best for the first couple of years. You can add colour as you go then.

GummyGoddess · 21/03/2019 18:53

Just remembered, it's a lie that there isn't anything bright in DC's room. We have this lampshade, but have a colour changing bulb. So we can hand DC1 the remote and he can change the colours, the entire cloud looks like it changes colour and it reflects off of the little raindrops. It's very useful when I need to contain him to the cot in the morning, he sits there pressing buttons for ages!

To not understand this nursery trend?
Onceuponacheesecake · 21/03/2019 18:54

They look lovely to me. Easily adaptable for when kids get older and want to add their own touch.

CountFosco · 21/03/2019 18:56

Every room in our house is painted trade white, why should the children's rooms be any different? I'm not redecorating every couple of years based on what they are interested in, e.g. my eldest loved ITNG at 2, Nina and the Neurons at 4, Rainbow Fairies at 6, Harry Potter at 8 and now at 11 Northern Lights. At each stage the previous obsession was despised as babyish (still likes HP now to be fair). White walls and neutral curtains and fabrics could accomodate all those obsessions without having to redecorate. It's the bedrooms that are designed with a 3yo in mind that don't last.

Our play room is also painted white although it does have an bright sofa. But a wall of bookshelves, the cupboard doors covered in artwork, the youngest's small world toys across the carpet all make it very colourful. But with the eldest fast approaching puberty it would be crazy to decorate it as a colourful playroom for small children. When the toys disappear (and they grow out of toys quicker than you can imagine, my 9 yo rarely plays with classic toys now, it's all things adults could enjoy like boardgames, craft kits, reading) you need something that is still relevant and flexible.

Having said all that instagram is not real. Those rooms are pretty but not practical, you need more storage with children than you could possibly imagine. Our toyroom is pretty perfect now (she says modestly Wink) but it's big and has a wall of bookshelves facing a wall of storage and there's still toys that don't fit into the cupboards (football table/toy kitchen etc). The art table can rarely be seen under the piles of creations and the floor as I've already said is covered with toys. But it does mean the bedrooms are in a reasonable-ish state.

AureliaJane · 21/03/2019 18:56

I think it’s quite nice and soothing and I like that it’s gender neutral.

Babysleeeeeeep · 21/03/2019 19:13

Those rooms are gorgeous. Completely perfect. I know no one in real life who has one like it Grin

thedisorganisedmum · 21/03/2019 19:28

I wouldn’t want my baby’s environment to be as bland and unstimulating as that. Babies need interesting things to look at in order to get their synapses firing.

which is why most children are taken out and about all day and not locked in their room staring at the wall. Babies are never left in their bedroom to "play" are they? By the time they are toddlers and destroy the place explore your home, they have bags of plastic tat colourful toys to stimulate them.

It's your house, you decorate it as you please. I love the neutral, and had it before the grey fashion. (didn't have any grey anyway)

I don't have loud and bright bedrooms when they are older either.

thedisorganisedmum · 21/03/2019 19:28

GummyGoddess
that is gorgeous!

WheresTheEvidence · 21/03/2019 19:30

Upto 6 months babies only see in black and white anyway so no need to make a nursery look like a circus has thrown up all over the walls. Then muted tones help calm a child allowing them to concentrate on their toy/book/play or to wind down to sleep. Once you've added in all their toys and books it soon brightens up

MariaNovella · 21/03/2019 19:32

which is why most children are taken out and about all day and not locked in their room staring at the wall

Better for children’s concentration to spend time in their rooms playing with toys for part of the day...

thedisorganisedmum · 21/03/2019 19:35

Better for children’s concentration to spend time in their rooms playing with toys for part of the day...

what age are you talking about?

Mine had more than enough time to play when I was cleaning, cooking and doing the usual laundry and chores! Better be outside most of the day in the fresh air otherwise.

VelvetPineapple · 21/03/2019 19:38

Houses in general are more grey and white nowadays. People want kids rooms to match the rest of the house instead of clashing.

radioactiveimagination · 21/03/2019 19:40

We've done our nursery grey and white with a colourful blind and have other colourful touches, like the Ikea toy storage unit thing with big plastic storage boxes. Their toys are all different colours and it is a nice room for kids to be in as well as adults without being too 'busy'.

GummyGoddess · 21/03/2019 19:45

@thedisorganisedmum It was only about £20, just google cloud raindrop light.

Definitely good with the coloured bulb in, DC often asks for it to be 'hot pink'. It seems to have helped him learn his colours too.

BarbarianMum · 21/03/2019 19:52

Look at it this way, this is the only time in the next 18 years or so you'll be able to decorate their room how you like - by 2.5 theyll have plenty of opinions and no taste and so it goes on.

Springwalk · 21/03/2019 20:03

I like the nursery style tooo. Soothing, calming and very adaptable. Also gender neutral which is great.

My children have changed their bedroom colours loads. I have been able to accommodate their endless changing tastes by sticking to neutral colours - and then we add cushions and accessories. It means they don’t get tired of their rooms and I don’t need to keep redecorating.

Calm, well ventilated, quiet rooms are key to a good nights sleep.

NoNoNoOohmaybe · 21/03/2019 20:06

Meh, my kids soft furnishings, walls and carpets are all in greys and neutrals but then they're covered in a vomit of bright toys etc.

I would ask them if they'd like a different colour scheme but they'd probably say yes and I fucking hate decorating.

Littlemissdaredevil · 21/03/2019 20:07

My DD’s room is light green. The furniture is white but carpet is what was in there originally.

I don’t understand why everything has to be co-ordinated and white - even the toys!

ChristmasArmadillo · 21/03/2019 20:08

Mine is nearly identical to one of those. Blush I love it. It’s soothing, visually relaxing, and all the white bedding etc can be bleached which I find most useful with a baby. All of their colorful and less “aesthetic” items are in the playroom.

Jean1234 · 21/03/2019 20:13

I remember I brought my little girl a beige and cream play-mat before she was born. I thought it would go with my living room haha!

When she played on a friends play-mat - multi coloured - she loved it so much more than hers!

Lesson learned!

Shakeitoutnow · 21/03/2019 20:18

I did agree and my nursery is bright primary colours but I regretted it after seeing friends nursery which is this style and very calming.....too scared to ask DH to redecorate though Wink

RayaJambalaya · 21/03/2019 20:20

@Habbs OMG YESS!!! I don't understand it at all. How fucking boring. Does my head in!!!

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 21/03/2019 20:21

People who night feed in the nursery can I ask how that works? Genuinely interested as I thought of do that but when it came around it didn't seem to work for us .
DS is four months and sleeps through from about now, just put him down, to someone between six and half seven and he's still in with us in a next to me, when he was still waking at night to feed I'd roll over pick him up and breastfeed in bed, even when he was having formula top ups at night I'd come back to bed to feed, I'd leave the landing light on and the door open a couple of inches so I could see but it wasn't too bright. He'd feed, wind then go back to sleep pretty quickly and I'd pop him back in the crib. His nursery is only really used for changing and storing his things at the moment. I do pop him in his proper cot to watch his mobile while I use the toilet

TheVanguardSix · 21/03/2019 20:38

She chose her own rug the other day - she's only 14 months but she bloody loves this rug, she goes and lies down on it and gives it kisses!

Dare I burst your bubble? Wait until that rug sees a few bouts of norovirus. Grin

RainbowMum11 · 21/03/2019 20:44

A bedroom/nursery in calming colours seems quite sensible really!
Save the bright colours for their play area.
You can always & easily add & change wall stickers as they grow, and is loads cheaper than a full redecoration anyway.

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