Page 127 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2024

tans, and muted colors seem to be the trend these days. We see the words “sophisticated” and “modern” thrown around a lot, but there are some good reasons to go in a different direction. Vision development experts say that a baby’s eyesight develops rapidly during their first year and at around three months
old, they begin to see contrast between colors and objects.
Try to use contrasting colors in your design scheme. Pastel or monochromatic spaces are not as good for developing eyes as rooms with intense color hues. Black and white might be one of the best combinations. But there are many wonderful shades of the classic colors available if traditional red, pink, blue, yellow, and green do not seem fresh enough. Corals, teals, oranges, and maroons can be fabulous. Artwork is also a beautiful way to incorporate vivid color.
It is important to control the lighting in the nursery. Windows need quality coverings that you can adjust as needed. Drapery offers a place to put shapes and patterns, which in addition
to eye development, also support brain development. Create ambiance and comfort with adjustable lighting. Put dimmers on overhead lights and lamps to reduce exposure to bright light and avoid electronic lights as much as possible.
The availability of music in the room is often overlooked.
Like color and light, music aids in brain development. Music effects all of us. It can soothe the rough moments. It can make us happy. It can calm the restless. It can do the same for baby. Watch the volume but share your favorites. Babies will react and you will discover which music gives you the effect you want. Playing music for babies has been shown to increase IQ and while that sounds wonderful, maybe a few moments of quiet with a colicky baby or a smooth bedtime routine is worth even more.
A nursery needs a comfortable chair for mom or dad. A glider is especially nice when you need to gently rock to the music to soothe the little one. A soft rug is a must have for tummy time on the floor. A polypropylene rug is the most hypoallergenic option.
Polypropylene
is a plastic but
considered by the
EPA to be the
safest. These rugs
are tightly woven
meaning less
shedding and less
loose fibers for baby
to breathe. They
are easy to clean
and free from toxic
chemicals. Read
the label before you
buy! They come in
great designs and
are less expensive
than most natural
fiber rugs. Natural fiber rugs are beautiful but hold off until your baby is spending less time with their face near the floor.
The importance of reading to babies cannot be overstated. Their room needs a place to display and store books. You can even frame pages or images from some of the classic children’s stories as art in the room. Add some framed photos of family members you can point to every morning and every evening. Start introducing them to the relatives early because those folks will be coming around often. When they do, show them to the nursery, hand them a book, and allow your baby and your elder to experience the pure joy that comes from cuddling together. Once upon a time, my child...
Holly Harrison has been a licensed interior designer for over 35 years. Shannon Stage has spent nearly 20
years in the giftware industry. Together they own Sassy Bird Interiors in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
Sassy Bird Interiors
122 Court St., Bay St. Louis
228.344.3181 | www.sassybirdinteriors.com
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
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