Room of the Day: Toys Are the Theme in a Nursery for the Whole Family
Create a color-themed kid space that’s neat and tidy, and chances are it won’t be long before toys are all you see. Yet abandoning design for toys misses an opportunity to add character and function. Then there’s interior designer Jannicke Ramsø’s approach: Come up with a marriage of toys and decor that’s kid-friendly, coordinated and fun.
Bedroom at a Glance
Location: Las Vegas
Size: 180 square feet (16.7 square meters)
Designer: Jannicke Ramsø of Tiny Little Pads
Tip: “Include the older children in the design of the room,” Ramsø says. “It’s such a huge change for them to have a new baby come into their life.”
Ramsø had several challenges in designing her second child’s nursery. The space had been a master closet in a 1960s ranch-style home. It had an 11-foot pitched roof, one window and five doors.
She also wanted her toddler to feel a part of the new baby’s room even though they wouldn’t both be sleeping there. And she feared that her design would be overshadowed by toys, which she knew from experience can grow to dominate.
Location: Las Vegas
Size: 180 square feet (16.7 square meters)
Designer: Jannicke Ramsø of Tiny Little Pads
Tip: “Include the older children in the design of the room,” Ramsø says. “It’s such a huge change for them to have a new baby come into their life.”
Ramsø had several challenges in designing her second child’s nursery. The space had been a master closet in a 1960s ranch-style home. It had an 11-foot pitched roof, one window and five doors.
She also wanted her toddler to feel a part of the new baby’s room even though they wouldn’t both be sleeping there. And she feared that her design would be overshadowed by toys, which she knew from experience can grow to dominate.
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Her solutions came together in a colorful room that has toys as the primary focus and that her two children can enjoy together.
Ramsø, who was born in Norway, installed new Sheetrock and painted it white. A cheerful Danish wallpaper helps camouflage two sets of small double doors leading to the attic.
She removed the original hardware on the doors, picked bronze hinges to match the brown tree trunks in the wallpaper, and used brown ribbons as door pulls.
She painted the original hardwood floors white to keep the attention on the toys and patterns.
The Arteriors light fixture is a heavy metal piece she made kid-friendly by hanging pompoms from the candleholders.
Apple poof: Land of Nod; Dotty wallpaper: Ferm Living
Ramsø, who was born in Norway, installed new Sheetrock and painted it white. A cheerful Danish wallpaper helps camouflage two sets of small double doors leading to the attic.
She removed the original hardware on the doors, picked bronze hinges to match the brown tree trunks in the wallpaper, and used brown ribbons as door pulls.
She painted the original hardwood floors white to keep the attention on the toys and patterns.
The Arteriors light fixture is a heavy metal piece she made kid-friendly by hanging pompoms from the candleholders.
Apple poof: Land of Nod; Dotty wallpaper: Ferm Living
Ramsø wanted the room to feel kid-like and new but vintage at the same time, so she mixed modern furniture, such as the Ikea cubbies, with secondhand finds, such as the reupholstered chair, green stool and lamp.
Then she put in some pieces with sentimental meaning. There are two train sets — one that had belonged to her husband as a child and another that had been her father’s. Coloring books from Ramsø’s youth and heirloom needlepoint items add to the decor. Her grandmother made the blanket on the crib.
Then she put in some pieces with sentimental meaning. There are two train sets — one that had belonged to her husband as a child and another that had been her father’s. Coloring books from Ramsø’s youth and heirloom needlepoint items add to the decor. Her grandmother made the blanket on the crib.
She created a resting and play space for her older daughter, knowing that the toddler would be spending a lot of time in the nursery. The reading nook features a queen mattress.
Stuffed animals, such as the brown teddy bear, were Ramsø’s childhood companions. The custom pillow was made to complement the needlepoint items in the room.
Bedding: Ikea
Stuffed animals, such as the brown teddy bear, were Ramsø’s childhood companions. The custom pillow was made to complement the needlepoint items in the room.
Bedding: Ikea
The space, trimmed with reproduced vintage alphabet cards the designer found at an estate sale, is a cozy reading area for her daughter. It also provides a second bed for Ramsø and her husband when guests visit or the baby needs help sleeping.
A white curtain on a tension rod hides the baby’s clothing and changing area, on the opposite end of the room.
Ramsø pulls it all together with primary colors, especially red. The polka-dot crib bumper and skirt were made to match the mushroom light on the green stool next to the reading chair, shown in the first photo.
Ramsø pulls it all together with primary colors, especially red. The polka-dot crib bumper and skirt were made to match the mushroom light on the green stool next to the reading chair, shown in the first photo.