Designer shares 7 top tips to create a nursery every child will love

Looking to create the perfect nursery for your child? (Picture: Studio Augustine)

Whether you’re expecting a baby or looking to give your child’s room a makeover, interiors can be tricky. If you ask them, you might end up with wall to ceiling Spider-Man.

But help is here. Metro is partnering with the Ufurnish.com Home Awards, showcasing the homeowners, influencers, innovators, retailers and manufacturers transforming living spaces across the UK.

Last year, Augustine Atobatele – creative director and founder of Studio Augustine – took home the gong for Best Nursery and Children’s Bedroom.

A sea of blue, Augustine’s creation integrated a football net into the bedframe, plenty of storage space, and fun prints on the walls.

Looking to create the perfect nursery that your child will genuinely love spending time in? Augustine has shared his top tips.

Use a sensory-rich colour palette

First things first: let’s talk colour.

It’s not just about keeping up appearances here – as Augustine says that the ‘visual language’ of a nursery can influence both a child’s ‘cognitive development and emotional response.’

Don’t be scared to stray away from pastel tones and let your imagination run wild. If you’re struggling for inspiration, try starting with a textile, artwork or even a book that inspires you.

And if you’re not a fan of the whole ‘blue is for boys, pink is for girls’ mentality (we couldn’t agree more), then try opting for a nature-inspired palette by incorporating sage greens, ochres, or even terracotta.

‘These colours form a great base, creating a space that feels fresh and grounded,’ Augustine suggests.

‘Layer with sumptuous patterns from wallcovering to art as well as textile surfaces like bouche upholstery to patchwork woven throw for a multi-sensory experience.’

Incorporate artwork for visual stimulation

Just like colour, artwork can also be hugely stimulating for small children.

You needn’t splash out too much either – as Augustine says that even things like framing fabric swatches, vintage children’s book illustrations or museum art prints have largely the same effect.

‘Wall decals are also great, can start small and become larger from floor to ceiling level, but ensure some negative space to allow for visual rest,’ he shares.

Augustine recommends creating an area for each function (Picture: Studio Augustine)

‘What’s great about a gallery wall is the flexibility – it can evolve as your child’s mind develops.’

Prioritise functionality

In Augustine’s opinion, functionality is the absolute foundation of building any nursery – but this needs to be balanced with what he calls ‘adaptive potential.’

If you’re tight on space, try incorporating pieces of furniture that can serve multiple functions, such as a crib with wheels or a changing table that doubles up as a dresser.

Along these lines, Augustine recommends creating an area for each function – including sleeping, playing and reading – in order to limit clutter.

In his children’s bedroom, he incorporated a lot of play area and allowed for ‘multiple activities at the same time,’ marking each area with a different soft rug.

Don’t underestimate the power of lighting

Whether you’re a big light or multiple tiny lamps person, it’s important to consider the power that lighting holds in any space.

If your budget allows, consider installing multi-functional options – so ceiling fixtures that have dimmers for general lighting, but also sleep time training or task lighting for nighttime routines.

‘As with designing any other spaces in the home, we consider circadian rhythm, so consider the daily solar journey across your nursery space,’ Augustine explains.

Think adjustable window treatments that can filter morning brightness but still allow for afternoon warmth, or even sheer blinds made from linen that can be layered on top of blackout blinds.

‘Lighting can also bring artistic statement, so perhaps a celestial-inspired ceiling pendant, a sculptural table lamp that casts fascinating shadows, or a nightlight that projects subtle, shifting patterns,’ Augustine adds.

Consider sound, too

Just like light and colour, the sound profile of a nursery also contributes towards what Augustine calls its ‘sensory character.’

Along these lines, why not integrate features that can subtly alter the acoustics to make it a quieter space?

Augustine advises that a ‘plush rug is great at absorbing ambient noise,’ while ‘textured wall hangings reduce echo’ and ‘strategic furniture placement creates a sound buffer from household activities.’

Become a plant parent

Plants aren’t just pretty: they can also connect children to both ‘natural rhythms and materials.’ So, with that in mind, it’s time to get green-fingered.

Child-safe plants like the Peace Lily, as well as the Snake Plant, can do absolute bits towards improving air quality, as well as teaching little ones ‘lessons in nurturing.’

Kids spaces should ‘spark creativity,’ says Augustine (Picture: Studio Augustine)

Naturally, you’ll need to place them beyond climbing reach to avoid any soil-based accidents.

Likewise, it’s a good idea to use furnishings and décor made from natural substances – like wooden toys that have visible grain patterns, cotton textiles or even stone elements.

Design for development

Above all, consider your nursery as a space that’s not only fun and visually stimulating, but something that can accommodate your ‘child’s unfolding story’.

Augustine recommends a wall shelving system that can be reconfigured at different heights, or storage that can be arranged to transition between parent and child.

‘For reading nooks, I like the idea of a stacked shelving unit – a reading zone that matures alongside their cognitive development from illustrative books to richer reading materials,’ he shares.

‘Kids spaces like a nursery should spark creativity, leave spaces for eventual art display, open shelving awaiting a child’s curatorial decisions, or flexible areas that can adapt to emerging interests and key milestones.’

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