January 10 2014

Design Tips for Nursery

Creating a thoughtful living space is something we’re passionate about. Which is exactly why we were so excited to take a few minutes to chat with Tisha Morris, author of Mind Body Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time a book dedicated to curating a holistic home and discovering a whole new way of living within it.

Meet Tisha Morris.

Tell us about your new book? The title is Mind Body Home: Transform Your Life One Room at at Time. The idea for this book came from a house that I purchased in 2006. It was a Spanish bungalow that needed a complete renovation.  It was not coincidental that I had just ended a relationship and was needing my own personal renovation. As I made changes to this house, correlating aspects were taking place within myself – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I realized just how interrelated our energy is with our home. Our home is a reflection of ourself and being in tune with it allows you to create positive changes in your life. From the foundation to roof, it holds power to enhance your health, improve relationships, and attract prosperity.

Best advice for the at-home designer/decorator? Only have in your home items that you love. Don’t decorate based on what you think it should be or what others think you should have.  And definitely don’t decorate based on items others give you that you don’t really like but feel obligated to have in your home.

Best nursery investment a new parent can make? Just like any bedroom, the primary function and focus for a nursery should be sleeping. The crib should take central focus – with regards to placement in the room and investment. That doesn’t mean it has to be the most expensive crib, but splurge on soft, organic linens and blankets to make it a womb-like oasis.

Design trend you’re loving right now? I love mixing personal treasures with elegant enhancements. For example, pair the metal singing bowl from your trip to Peru with a stack of fabulous coffee table books. Or put a note from your love in an exquisite frame. Turn photos of your children into hight art canvas prints.

Advice on experimenting with color & pattern? The key is doing just that – experimenting. Have fun with it. Notice what you like and don’t like. I find that most of the time people know what they like but are unsure whether they should like it. Decorating is no different than dressing yourself each day. In fact, our decorating style and clothing tastes will usually go hand-in-hand. Notice if you are drawn more to prints or solids, lots or few accessories, flowy or clean lines.

How does the space we curate at home, ultimately effect our mood, and well-being? Your space is a reflection of you and you are a reflection of your space. So your space not only affects you, but can change you as you make changes to it. Just like a cluttered space makes for a cluttered mind. Every aspect of your home affects you. Think back at the different spaces you have lived in and how your life was different while living in each of those spaces. Think about your least favorite area of your house now, compared to your favorite room. Everything from the amount of sunlight coming in your home to where you hang your favorite art affects your mood.

Three things we’d find in your handbag right now? Moleskin Journal, Moleskin Calendar, iPhone + earbuds

Your design resolutions for 2014? To have a Nelson platform bench and Knoll Bertoia chair.

Tisha Morris’ 5 Ways to Feng Shui for Baby.

Because babies are developing all five senses, they are extremely sensitive to the energy of their environment and are therefore quite the feng shui enthusiasts. In fact, good feng shui engages all five senses. For babies, it is important to engage the senses, but to not overwhelm them. In doing so, the nursery should feel safe, peaceful, and nurturing. Here are some tips to create the ideal nursery environment.

Engage the Senses: Play soft or classical music in the nursery is recommended. Include textured items for the baby to touch and feel. Use gentle and natural aromatherapy in the nursery, such as lavender in an oil diffuser. Use a mobile above their bed is recommended to give them a sense of something around them as opposed to vast open space. Clearly, mobiles serve other functions as well, such as developing eyesight.

Reduce the Clutter: Although a baby may not be able to see clutter in the room, he or she can pick it up energetically. In fact, their sixth sense is the strongest, which makes them extremely sensitive to their environment. Although babies like small spaces, the room shouldn’t feel crowded due to clutter. It is important therefore to have the baby nursery neat and organized. In other words, it shouldn’t be a room that is also used for storage or other functions. Do not store items underneath the crib, except for soft linens. (This goes for adult beds too!)

Practice Organization Early: Despite their actions at times, children love organization. It gives them a sense of boundaries and therefore safety. Organization is a learned behavior that is picked up at early ages so set a good example early. Have designated places for clothes and toys. As your child gets old enough, start teaching them how to pick up after themselves and where certain items go. They will start to feel an ownership over their belongings and a sense of taking care of themselves that will continue to benefit them as they get older.

Choose a Soft Color Palette: Stick with soft pastels and avoid primary colors. Colors emit a lot of energy, particularly the wall color of a room. The bolder the color, the more energy it emits into a room. The softer the color, the calmer it will be on a child’s energy. Since the primary function for a nursery is sleep, use colors that promote sleep. Pastels, such as soft yellow, blues, and greens, and monotones are calming to the nervous system.

Choose Furniture Mindfully: Avoid large furniture items that give the appearance of towering over the bed. Babies want to feel safe, protected, and cradled, but oversized furniture can feel overbearing. Also avoid furniture pieces with harsh corners. Also be conscious of the history of the furniture that you place in a nursery. For example, an antique crib from the Civll War era carries with it the energy of its past. Consider the energy contained in family pieces and whether that it is positive or negative energy that you want carried forward for your child.

Tisha Morris is a feng shui consultant and author of Mind Body Home: Transform Your Life One Room at a Time (Llewellyn Worldwide) and Feng Shui Your Life: The Quick Guide to Decluttering Your Home and Renewing Your Life (Turner Publishing).

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