Creating a Relaxing Atmosphere in the Nursery and Playroom

The early years of a child’s life are the most formative ones for their development. Before the age of eight, they undergo rapid physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth.

This critical period sets the foundation for their growth later in life. As parents and caregivers, we can set the right environment that fosters their individual development during this time. One way to do this is to give them a safe and nurturing space at home.

While it seems fun to decorate a nursery or playroom in vibrant colours and fill it with brightly coloured toys, doing so can cause overstimulation and fussiness. And we all know that dealing with overstimulated kids on a daily basis can lead to emotional disaster for both kids and parents. So instead of recreating a busy play yard at home, strive to make your nursery a relaxing and comfortable haven.

A relaxing atmosphere sets the emotional tone of a room. It fosters positive emotions that help nurture happy, well-rounded children. It promotes holistic health as it nurtures physical, mental, and emotional development. A calm and peaceful atmosphere also promotes better quality of sleep. For parents, sound sleep for children means sound sleep for them too.

1.       Minimise noise

Loud noises can disrupt sleep and cause anxiety. If you live in a busy neighbourhood, exposure to outside noises for most of the day can negatively impact your child’s growth. Try to block outside noises using noise-blocking curtains or soundproof wallpaper. Instead of upbeat children’s songs on loop throughout the day, play ambient sounds or soothing music.

2.       Maintain cool temperature

Room temperature also affects your child’s health. High temperatures can make kids irritable and prone to dehydration, exhaustion, and illnesses. Extremely low temperatures are equally detrimental, leading to colds and respiratory diseases. So, it is important to maintain a comfortably cool temperature indoors.

For babies, the recommended range is 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For older kids, temperatures between 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit are most suitable. Aside from the age of your child, the ideal temperature for your nursery depends on other factors, including humidity and climate.

3.       Use warm lighting

Warm lighting promotes relaxation and makes the room feel welcoming and cosy. Its soft light creates a calming atmosphere that’s perfect for nurseries. To create a calming environment, use bulbs with colour temperatures below 3000K. If you have older kids who need brighter lights for reading or doing homework, get a desk lamp with colour temperatures around 5000K. If you want a dash of fun, string some decorative lights or fairy lights in one section of the room.

4.       Add touches of nature

Nature represents tranquillity. Adding touches of nature can promote a sense of calmness. Use wood and natural materials like rattan for your furnishings. Use seashells, leaves, or flowers to decorate the room. Add a few pots of air-purifying plants to improve the quality of indoor air.

5.       Use a subdued natural palette

Bright colours stimulate creativity and rouse happy emotions. But if you want a relaxing atmosphere, neutral colours are more appropriate. Natural tones have a soothing impact that calm restlessness and reduce anxiety. Use light or cool colours such as blue, green, or purple and layer in shades of cream. Add just a few touches of warm red, yellow, or orange for accents, but keep most of the elements in the room neutral in colour.

6.       Include soft elements

Cosy materials and soft toys with soothing texture give comfort to young kids. Put a soft rug in the reading corner, use comfortable rattan chairs, and throw in some floor pillows. Stuffed toys and plushies also give comfort while developing a nurturing spirit in kids.

7.       Keep the room clean

A dirty environment triggers stress and harbours germs that negatively impact health, which is definitely not an environment conducive for relaxation. So, keep the nursery and playroom clean at all times. Keep bedsheets, pillowcases, rugs, and carpets fresh by washing them at least once a week. It’s better if you can do so weekly as kids tend to play and sweat a lot.

8.       Add personal touches

Personal touches like family photos and kids’ artworks give children a sense of belonging. They serve as visible reminders that they belong to a loving family and are truly loved. They strengthen family bonds by helping kids feel connected.

9.       Fill the room with relaxing scents

Use soothing fragrances to enhance relaxation. Essential oils such as lavender, heliotropin, and peppermint can also promote sound sleep. Use air purifiers that double as scent diffusers to safely infuse your room with fragrance.

10.   Have ample storage space

As they grow older, children require more room for movement. They need space to crawl, walk, dance, jump, play, and do other things that are vital to their growth. But they also need lots of materials such as books, toys, and art supplies. Make sure they have both materials and space by having ample storage for everything.

The environment your kids grow up in impacts their life as adults. As they spend most of their early years in the nursery and playroom, make an effort to make these rooms beautiful and relaxing spaces.
Balance aesthetics and function, so they become conducive to developmental growth. Invest in pieces that promote relaxation to nurture caring and amiable children.