In recent years as the economy has boomed, a certain sector of the retail industry has enjoyed a remarkable explosion: products for babies and kids. In days of old, the prevailing attitude most people had toward clothing and furniture for their kids was one of economy–after all, kids outgrow everything in a just a couple of years. But nowadays it's more common for parents to go all out for everything. All the very latest fashions for their little one, right down to the label on their jeans, and the indulgence doesn't stop with outfits. The home decorating sector for kids has had a boom as well. For many families, hand-me-downs are a thing of the past.

There's now an absolutely vast selection of not just the usual wallpaper and bed linens aimed at the little people, but serious furniture–club chairs and ottomans, sofas–scaled down to kid sizes; things that they used to have to grow into are now being made just for them. Some say it's great: kids are finally being catered to on their own terms, even in the furniture world. Some others say the trend only encourages people to spend more money on things they don't need.

Who's to say who is right? Certainly not us here at Sheffield. Truth is, the stuff is most likely here to stay, like it or not; so we're here to help you figure out how to wade through all that's out there to create a place that's just right for your child or for the child's room of a client. We'll tackle it in three sections: this month we'll give tips on getting together a baby's room, or nursery; then next month we'll get into rooms for bigger kids. Then last but not least, we'll share some insights on decorating for teens.

Let's Start With Lighting:


Before you go out looking at wallpaper and fabrics and paint, the best place to start when planning a nursery is by going into the room you've chosen and spending some time there. See what it's like at different times of the day, find out if a particular window is more drafty in the winter than another. A spot with too much sun in the very early morning may have junior waking you up earlier than he would in a shadier spot. Or a corner that's constantly lit by the street light outside may keep the baby up all night. Many people get attached to the picture they have in mind of the perfect nursery and determine to make it happen come hell or high water, but that mental image isn't always in line with the needs of a real baby. It's important to keep practicality in mind first and foremost. To get a feel for the child's room–spend some time there. In Unit One, Sheffield students learn how to "have a conversation" with a room. When you have a "conversation" with a child's room, think like a kid.