Lula Bunny Clock – LulaBird Designs – 30 GBP

Many years ago, I had a vision of the perfect colour for my living room walls. I went to the hardware store, selected a colour, and bought myself 2 gallons. When I returned home I got to painting and quickly realized that things were not turning out as I planned.

Upon realizing I had picked a bold teal instead of muted sea green, (I don’t know how I messed this up!) I stopped painting quickly. For at least a year two walls remained this colour, and to put it lightly, this mishap will go down in history in my family.

Many years later I have have found myself loving teal for the first time. There are so many great products available that incorporate the colour, which can so easily add character to a room. Not only does teal work well as accent pieces, but it works well in clothing too!

Today I turned to Etsy to satisfy my need for teal and discovered some great finds. Below is a round up of my favourite Teal children’s products, from nursery decor to clothing and more.

Nursery Art Print Matryoshka Dolls – Wallfry – $18 USD

Teal Damask Chenille Bib – Miss Emma’s Closet - $12 USD (Sale!)

Bunny BooKiddo Teal Pillow – Erin Flett – $35 USD

Free As A Bird Dress – Bitty Bambu – $41 USD

Teal & Pink Fairy Garden Mobile – Fischtale Designs – $85 USD

Retro Cupcakes Apron – Sweet Apronz N Cupcakes - $12.99 USD

Back in grade school, I remember learning the importance of smoke detectors and what to do in case of a fire emergency. This was drilled into our generation, and the result has no doubt saved many lives. Smoke detectors are such a simple way to to keep your family safe, and it is important to ensure it is in proper working order with the batteries replaced when needed. Until recently, I have never laid eyes on a smoke detector that actually has character and style!

The Chick-A-Dee smoke detector is a award-winning creative and innovative product designed by Louise van der Veld that has a a 1.5 year battery lifetime and a 3-year warranty. It is completely adorable to look at, with its design replicating that of American Black-capped Chickadee – and is available in pink, white, blue and green.

Along with being adorable, the Chick-A-Dee was designed with complete safety in mind. When smoke is detected, an 85db alarm is sounded, and once a minute a control light flashes. What an amazing product! You can learn more about Chick-A-Dee and where it can be purchased here.

Source: Oh Dee Doh

We have featured many different types of reusable wall art in the past, however, I just stumbled on a company on Etsy that truly captures the essence of whimsy and fun and I had to share! Los Angeles-based designers Pop & Lolli use fun characters and bold designs that are full of personality to perfectly suit the care-free attitude of children.

This line is unique from others of its kind as it allows for mixing and matching. The designs are all in a similar theme, so you can change things up if you feel that the room needs a change. Not only are they unique this way, but they are also PVC-free and are made using fabric!

Another thing I love about these fun designs is that they are so colourful that they allow for completely white walls in the background. I love white walls, but I shy away from them in bedrooms fearing they might create a cold environment. On the other hand I think that they are a perfect pallete allowing furniture and art and such as the Pop & Lolli products to shine through.

Head over to Pop & Lolli‘s Etsy shop to view their complete line of adorable wall art and get inspired to design your child’s room or playroom!

After two and a half years of living in my outdated farmhouse with two little boys and a revolving door with frequent houseguests, it is looking a little worse for wear. Now the time has arrived for me to undertake in a large quantity of minor home renovations. This will not be a quick and easy task, as I have literally every room in my house to redo and would like to get things in order in a short period of time.

The first room to tackle is my sons room. They will be moving from their current room back into their old bedroom, which is probably the most in need of a remodel. I am excited at this prospect, and the possiblities are endless with imaginations that know no bounds such as that of children. I already discussed with my 4 year old his hopes for his new room. The conclusion; he likes virtually everything and will be thrilled with whatever we choose. Good news for mom!

Recently we shared with you a dream room designed by Kuhl Design Build. Any child would love to sleep in this room, in fact I can think of a few adults that wouldn’t mind either. Unfortunately, this is not a realistic design for most of us with limited space, and limited budgets. Below I have provided some design tips and info to help those seeking inspiration for designing their childs room.

Source: La Maison Boheme

Don’t Go Overboard With Your Theme

Pick a theme, but don’t go overboard. I have previously revealed my obsession with globes. I tend to think that my homeschool/art room will be more of this influence then my boys room itself. The key here is not to go crazy with the theme accessories. If you have a flashy rug, go with more muted furniture in solid colours as shown above. Don’t overkill the theme with too much matching.

Source: Match Interiors

Less Is More

The saying “less is more” is ingrained in our brains for a reason; it is the truth! I love the room above which uses very plain colours as a backdrop to allow for pops of colour to give the room its personality. A beige rug and white walls are perfect if you love the simple and clean look, or if you love collecting rare and vintage pieces. You can add/change accessories to achieve the look you want. This look is also great if you don’t know what direction you would like to take, it will help you to learn more about your personal tastes.

Source: House To Home UK

Go Bold Or Go Home

I see this as a fresh take on your classic blue boys room.  The tone of the blue is modern and bright, and looks best paired with crisp white trim and a light coloured carpet. If you keep the ceiling and floors simple, you can do as they have done in this photo, and pick a bold patterned fabric for the curtains. This is also a great way to incorporate a theme and incorporate accent colours so that you know what direction to take for the rest of your room.

Source: The Design Files

Go Retro

There are vintage blogs popping up all over, and I adore them. This is the greatest example of what you can do with retro items, and retro inspired items in a child’s room. Go to thrift stores, hit up yard sales, visit Etsy; the possibilites are endless. Once again, I think it’s important to note the white walls. There is defintely a defined colour palette in this room, and everything works beautifully together. I would venture to say that this designer did a little DIY work, perhaps painting the clock to tie it in. Another great option if you find a piece that you love but it doesn’t work. Transform it with a little paint!

Source: Design Sponge

Have A Little Fun!

Most importantly above all is to remember that this room is for your child, and kids are all about fun and imagination. Don’t be scared to dive in with the bold colours and funky fabrics. Take your time to plan out your design, think things through and you and your little guy will be pleased with the result. Your child’s room should incorporate an area for books and some toys as well depending on the size.

Photo: Source

How neat are these animal silhouettes? Cut outs in the shapes of giraffe, reindeer and pigs are used as an index for books or CDs and protrude from your shelf to offer a little whimsy to your decor. They are an excellent idea for those looking to sort their music by genre, books by age or to just add some fun to your shelves.

These Japanese cut-outs are designed by Hiroshi Sasagawa, a graduate of Tokai University. Hiroshi has been involved in various design projects and won the KOKUYO Year Award in 2004 as well as the Yupo Design Grand Prix in 2004.

For more info, visit H Concept.

Vintage inspired cupcake toppers – 3 Sweet P’s

Free download for the vintage inspired cupcake topper

Next weekend my youngest child will celebrate his 3rd birthday, and like most young boys, he lives and breathes superheroes. After my 4-year-old’s last minute birthday party (we were quite ill right before it,) I have felt compelled to kick-it-up-a-notch, so to speak, and attempt to go all out with decorations and really try to allow my kids to feel like they are superheroes for a day.

My searches for fun and exciting ideas have led me to many unique and handmade products, which I hope will help inspire you and allow you to set your child up for a day of fun.

Vintage Superhero Party Invitations – Anders Ruff

Printable invitations that are inspired by the classic superhero cartoons of the 1960′s

20-Pack of Superhero capes - Pip & Beans -

Every kid gets to be a superhero!

Superhero Party Collection Printables – Bird’s Party Shop

Personalized and quick, such a great idea for moms who need a little help in the craft department like myself.

Superhero Party – The Party Dress

Arguably the most impressive superhero birthday party I have seen. The details that this mom put into her sons party are amazing.

Superhero control box – Bright Eyes + Blue Eyes

A fun and simple craft for all ages

Superhero Backdrop for photos and play – Domestic Charm (photo by Melissa Young)

What an interesting concept! Leaning Molds are composed of two separate pieces that are made out of recycled plastic.  This furniture system is designed so that people lean up against it instead of sitting. Each piece is meant for a different purpose – one for leaning and the other for back support. The pieces fit together like a puzzle, attach to the wall and can be used side by side, or separately.

You can use them in different ways to create various patterns or individually as just one piece.

The style isn’t really suited for my own taste, but it sure is modern! Is this something you would consider for your home?

Price: $96.00 from ShopSCAD

It’s geometric, it’s retro, it’s cool! Designed by Australian company Little Nest, the Ball Chair by Ero Aarnio is an excellent choice for the contemporary home. It reminds me of a cocoon of sorts with the globe shape. As a child, I would have loved to hide and curl up with a nice book in this exquisite piece of furniture!

This chair is an exact child-sized replica of the 1963 Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio. As part of their debut range of replicated furniture, this pays tribute to 20th century modern classic furniture designs.

The Ball Chair is made from sturdy molded fiberglass shell and features a fully cushioned interior. It is designed for children 2-8 years of age up to 80 lbs and is available in green, orange, red, black, purple, royal blue and white.

Price: $695.00 from Clever Tomato

For those of us who prefer eco-friendly furnishings for our baby’s nursery, this clock is perfect! Made from sturdy, laser cut, 3 ply bamboo, these eco-friendly time tellers are as Modern as they are green. The silent clock motors make them ideal for nurseries! The owl comes in a smaller size measuring 5″ x 7.5″.

The squirrel is slightly larger measuring 7.5″ x 10″.

Hedgehog and Elephant clocks are also available. Get them from decoylab on Etsy.

Mae’s fabric wall stickers were designed for children in mind! Unlike many decor stickers, wall stickers or reusable and washable wall decals, Mae’s can be scrunched up, smoothed out and rearranged over and over again. These stickers don’t mind grubby fingers, wet hands and a quick wash – they’re tough!

On top of their ruggedness, Mae products are eco and environmentally friendly. Mae uses eco inks and recycled cardboard packaging.

These stickers are made to last and will for years to come (whether you take care of them or not).