5 WAYS TO DECORATE A BLANK WALL {IN A KIDS SPACE}

Big blank walls can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be! Here are my tried and true ways to turn a blank wall into something special for a nursery, child’s bedroom or play space!

1.Use wallpaper (or decals):

Wallpaper provides instant gratification and BIG impact. I mean, why not?! Kids’ spaces are the perfect opportunity to do something temporary or different than you would do in other parts of your home and it is FUN! Why not try a bold pattern? Or a print that really speaks to you in this moment? While old traditional wallpaper can be difficult to remove, the new paste on wallpaper is relatively simple to remove and there are SO many peel and stick options now that there really is no good reason to skip this fun trend. If you haven’t already, see our roundup of favourite wallpapers that will transform any blank wall in sight.

2. Add a bold focal point:

A huge piece of art, large letters, a big storage unit, even a fireplace - these all add a point of focus when you walk in the room. Try to make the key focus the wall opposite where you enter the room to give the most immediate eye catching detail.

3. Create a gallery wall:

You know I love them and they fill a wall so well! You can choose a simple grid pattern or get creative and create a more eclectic gallery wall; both will work equally well to decorate a blank wall and add personality. A quick tip for keeping gallery walls cohesive is to space the frames 2-3 inches apart.

4. Add a storage unit or shelving

Serving dual purposes of decoration and adding functional storage, a storage unit or shelving can be a lovely way to fill a blank wall! If you are wanting the most storage, consider at least one part closed storage while leaving some shelving open for styling favourite objects or rotating seasonal toys. I love using a mix of open and closed shelving to fill a huge wall, like we did in the playroom below.

5. Get creative with paint!

The most affordable way by far to decorate a blank wall is to get creative with paint. There really are SO many options - a bold colour, a half wall, a mountain scene, a mural! This is the perfect opportunity to try your hand with paint and an interesting colour.

Source: Room to Bloom

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5 WAYS TO ADD TEXTURE TO A BABY OR CHILD'S ROOM

Texture is what gives a kids room that cozy factor and entices you to step deeper into the space. It’s the things that you can ‘feel’ and the things that add dimension and in my opinion, all baby and children’s spaces need a little (or a lot of) texture. Texture is what truly brings the space to life!

girl’s room e-design project

There are lots of furniture items that can add texture to a room (hello grasscloth covered dresser!), but today I want to make it easy and share 5 ways you can add texture no matter what your furniture is. Sound good?

ONE. ADD A RUG

This is a simple way to add texture and nearly any rug will give an instant cozy lift to a space. Look for natural fibres; my favourites are wool or cotton. The boho shag rug below adds SO much texture with just one item!

TWO. LAYER A BLANKET

Adding a blanket to any part of a kids room instantly makes the room say, “hey…come on in and snuggle up”. Just think about a blanket draped over a crib, or a chair, or even draped out of a basket.

THREE. ADD LIGHTING!

You wouldn’t really think of it, but I believe adding a pendant light (especially this feather light), a wall light (even a nightlight!) and a task light (on dresser or desk) adds an extra layer to the whole place.

FOUR. PUT UP WALLPAPER OR WALL DECALS

While my true love affair will always be wallpaper (just order a sample to FEEL the texture and see the sheen), decals are a fabulous lower cost alternative that still give big impact, dimension and texture!

FIVE. INCLUDE SOFTIES!

Every baby and little one deserves a special stuffed toy and soft patterned pillows will provide a similar textural effect. There are so many adorable options on the market, it’s truly the EASIEST way to add a little texture.

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5 WAYS TO...FRESHEN UP FOR SPRING!

After a long and rainy winter, I think it is finally fair to say that Spring has arrived! What better way to bring it in than filling the house with some fresh life. I've rounded up my top five ways to freshen our kids' spaces and home for Spring.

1.     Fresh flowers: There is something about bringing flowers into the home that clears the air and makes the room feel new again. These ones from Landeau are a total indulgence (they were a gift!) but a table can even be transformed with flowers that you have picked along a walk and kids LOVE helping to put them into vases, especially in their own rooms.

2.     Fresh pillows: I love changing out the throw pillows in the kids' rooms and adore these ones from Anthropologie! Swapping out simple accessories like pillows makes the room feel new again.

3.     Fresh air: Once the outdoor temperatures are well above zero, open up the windows to let in some fresh air, even for 10 minutes. This boost clears the house of stagnant air and makes the whole place feel fresher. 

4.     Fresh linens: Flannel sheets are cozy for wintertime, but once spring arrives (or even before), change to light weight cotton in a fresh print to give a new lease of life to the kids beds. This new Jamie Kay blanket is perfect; 100% cotton and so cozy! 

5.     Fresh art: Sometimes all it takes is swapping out the photo in the frame. A few new prints can go a long way in making the kids feel new inspiration for play in their rooms or playrooms. These ones from The Animal Print Shop will always be some of my favourites; they were the ones I loved most for my son Xavier's room and also because I've never met a child who doesn't love animals!

What are your favourite ways to freshen up for spring?