How to spend wisely on nurseries and children's rooms

A recent survey has uncovered the spending habits and design decisions of parents when decorating children’s bedrooms and nurseries.The study by Next Home found that a UK parent spends an average of £853 and 20 hours on a nursery, with more money and time spent redecorating approximately every two years. The average Yorkshire parent is more frugal and pays £575 to furnish and decorate a nursery and 58 per cent bought a mixture of second-hand and new items, while the rest bought everything brand new.It also appears that we are moving away from traditional décor. Over half of Yorkshire mums and dads opted for muted neutrals or bright shades in their child’s room instead of the stereotypical “pink for a girl, blue for a boy” colours. This is slightly above the UK average.Here are some tips on decorating a nursery*Get ahead. Aim to furnish a nursery before your baby arrives as you may not have the time and energy after he or she arrives.*Child psychologist Hannah Abrahams suggests using soothing pastel colours for babies’ rooms to support a calming atmosphere.A lighter base colour will also be easier to paint over when you redecorate, which you inevitably will as your baby turns into a toddler and starts to have a mind of his or her own.*Mix second-hand and brand new items to cut costs. Some nursery furniture is quickly outgrown so take this into consideration when buying as these are the sort of items you can find on auction sites and Facebook marketplace at a cut price.Multi-purpose items, such as a chest of drawers with a changing station on top and a cot that can become a toddler bed are good investments when bought new as they have longevity and can be re-sold.There is a very strong market for good quality, second-hand nursery furniture and furnishings.

The Jungle Jamboree range from Next.co.uk from £10 for a single duvet. Laminate floring with a rug is practical and hardwearing.

*As your child grows, their decor tastes will change. Don’t be tempted to change big ticket items, such as carpets to their favourite colour.Instead invest in a neutral coloured carpet or easily cleanable laminate boards or vinyl flooring that can be topped with rugs.

Picture, £20, from mintandmay.co.uk

*Rather than wallpaper, look for wall stickers, pictures and murals that are easily removable then you won’t be subject to endless decorating. According to the Next Home survey, the most popular children’s room themes include animals, superheroes and outer space.*Ensure that the lighting is right. Along with the “big light” have a bedside lamp with a low wattage, soft white bulb to create a more restful atmosphere before your little ones go to sleep.*Storage is vital so make sure you have plenty of it and not just for clothing.

Moon and Stars lamp, £16.99, from Lights4fun.co.uk

Fabric boxes are inexpensive and good for toy storage plus they won’t hurt if a little one falls on them or pulls them over. Ikea’s Drona boxes come in a range of colours and cost £3 each. Wilko and Argos have similar ones.