Decorating your newborn's living quarters can be a daunting task, Amany Abdel-Moneim writes, but plenty of fun is to be had here Perhaps the most striking development on the interior design and furniture scene is the attention accorded to nurseries in the last few years. An increasing number of stores and interior designers in Egypt are now specialised in decorating the rooms of tiny tots. A growing trend, it reaches its zenith at least in the experience of the present writer, a vast number of whose friends just happen to be brand new mothers. Parents to be are evidently paying far more attention to décor, to the choice of colours and furnishings, than previous generations. Some pay less attention to gender, selecting images that work for either boys or girls. Others exaggerate that element, emphasising gender-specific elements. Most select a look that matches the rest of the house; in this way, so their theory goes, the baby arrives into surroundings that reflect the lifestyle of the whole family; it becomes, immediately, an active member of it. But whatever the direction in which the process moves, colour inevitably rules. And the consequent broad spectrum of choice both feeds into, and is reflected in, a greater variety of baby-room goods on offer. "Being a new mother is a great responsibility," Nora El-Hariri, 27, testifies, "partly because you have to make decisions for someone else, and often before they even exist. Fortunately the first few choices are relatively easy -- you don't have to decide on a babysitter, for example. Still, decorating a baby's room taxes your imagination as much as your wallet, especially when, like me, you want to settle on a specific design theme." "Having a baby is a new and exciting time in one's life," interior designer Mahira Fathi explains, "but decorating a nursery for a newborn means a lot to do before the newcomer arrives. However, it does not have to be so daunting." Fathi has been in the business of decorating nurseries since 1985; and according to her, designing is a creative process, but it helps immensely to be organised. Writing down ideas and drawing little sketches goes a long way. So does approaching each aspect of the design as an individual task." Fathi stresses the fun component, which is particularly pronounced, she said, when young mothers and fathers start with an existing room, transforming it as if by magic. The experience of one 65- year-old grandmother, Shadia Badran, testifies to the contrary: "In the past babies' accessories were hard to come by. We used to bring only a decorated crib. At that time the prevailing attitude was that children outgrow everything in just a couple of years, which makes buying a waste of money." Fathi, naturally, disagrees: a design can be made to endure, she insists; nothing is easier than adjusting the design of a nursery to suit the needs of a toddler, and then older child. Optimising budget and manpower in the long-term requires working with flexible components. That said, according to Laila El-Zayat, head designer and owner of an outstanding children's furniture store, the bottom line will always be safety and comfort. El-Zayat's own story seems to embody the emergence of a trend to which new mothers and mothers-to-be consulted on the matter have come to subscribe. Frustrated by lack of choice when she had her own child, some 30 years ago, El-Zayat and her husband decided to start their own furniture and accessories business. They brought in a group of four creative designers: "With exception of wallpaper, our products are locally manufactured and designed. The concept informing us was that the baby should have more space to play, a sense of independence, to feel that she is in her own kingdom, as well as providing mothers with a high working surface to protect their backs and corner chair for breastfeeding." The notion of a decorative theme, though written into the process from the beginning, seems to have acquired more prominence as the years went by. "A theme is a great way to begin," according to Fathi. "Beyond the bunny and teddy bear" might be an appropriate title for this particular design thesis. A theme provides focus and inspiration, Fathi says; it also allows for the flexibility necessary for later updates. "Children's rooms are a very special part of the home and they should reflect the interests of the parents and blend with the rest of the décor. Enough of conventional design schemes." Whole lines of paint exist for children, she points out; and rightly so, considering the prevalent tendency to get excited and splash out when it comes to children's rooms. Sadly, this is not always possible. According to Sohayla, 36, the mother of five-year-old Ahmed, "to decorate my son's room according to one theme would have been beyond my budget. I needed a room that would be both practical and cost-effective. So I started with the bare necessities, adding and building up as I went along." For mothers like Sohayla, indeed, El-Zayat recommends the convertible crib, which comes in many shapes and designs and transforms from an infant's cradle to a toddler's and finally a full-sized adult bed: "Our convertible cribs conform to safety standards at every stage, from proper spacing to precautions against pinching. We also provide dressers, changing tables and other furnishings in affordable prices to match a flexible system that can grow with the child." Though a parent can take the child along to the store from a very early age, to ensure that they like the furniture being bought (such, indeed, was Sohayla's approach), Fathi insists that space should be left empty for the child to decorate as she grows older. El-Zayat, for her part, stresses "calm surroundings", for this, she says, will be the child's first individual space, the space were he/she will have the very first dream. She believes that the most effective start requires the parent to spend time in the space, "having a conversation with it", before buying the furniture and accessories that will go into it, "to get a feel for it in relation to your feel for its occupant". Themes aside, another trend revitalises historical styles with elegant lines and draped fabrics, making cradles look as if they have come straight out of a mediaeval nursery. But here as elsewhere keeping up can be expensive. According to El-Zayat, the recent trend of mixing styles, softening upholstery with slipcovers and draped fabric, and selecting accessories and furnishings for comfort rather than formality, can help reduce cost. Soft off-white colours and pastels, chubby pillows and billowing curtains take the edge off a late night nursing or a restless bout of colic. Others choose exuberant lines and colours, picking a favorite theme from a children's book, a famous artwork or a private fantasy. Whatever their inspiration, themes "can extend to walls, cribs, high chairs, toy boxes, windows and everything else," says El-Zayat -- yet it is not possible to do them on a small budget. Designing and decorating can be a fun and rewarding experience. One might choose either to address every step of the design process oneself, or seek professional help at certain stages. Should you feel overwhelmed by it all, in the end, a decorator or designer could always step in to do the job. Give it your best shot and see.
