Tips for New Parents About Nursery Design, Decor, + More
Meet Monica Lavin, an independent content creator, social consultant and founder of Lavin Label.
Being a new parent comes with its fair share of uncertainty — especially during a global pandemic. Curious about how expectant mothers and fathers were handling the current situation, our co-founder Erika Snayd turned to her friend (and mom-to-be) Monica Lavin to learn about her experience, design perspective and find out how she’s staying positive during these unprecedented times.
As the founder of the Lavin Label blog, Monica is no stranger to the art of design. In fact, she’s channeled her creative energy into crafting the perfect nursery for her baby girl — a process that has served as a positive, welcome distraction during COVID-19.
Read on to see what Monica revealed to Erika about her nursery must-haves, how pregnancy has impacted her design process, and why a shift in perspective made all the difference in her mindset while expecting during the pandemic.
First of all, congratulations! I know you’re due May 18, right? How has COVID-19 changed your perspective on pregnancy and giving birth?
“Yes! It first hit me a few weeks ago when I began hearing the media talk about how COVID was impacting pregnancies. There was talk about partners not being allowed in the delivery room. I was also seeing my doctor less frequently — normally I would be going every two weeks, but I haven’t been in over six weeks as a precautionary measure — so it was tough for me to handle at that moment.”
“Now, I’m feeling better about the situation, and it’s all about frame of reference. I’m looking at it as an opportunity for my husband Casey and I spend time together before the baby comes, and I’m busy working on the nursery.”
How has being pregnant changed the way you think about design?
“We recently renovated our home, and I kept the whole ‘if we have a baby’ thing in mind while designing the space. I didn’t want a coffee table with super sharp edges. I wanted to invest in fabrics that were durable and easy to clean. I wanted to make sure the paints and furniture were non-toxic.”
What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from other parents?
“One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten was to appreciate the time you have with your newborn. They say that the first two weeks you’re home from the hospital are hardest, so instead of thinking about how challenging they are, think about how special it is. They are only little for so long, so enjoying those moments (no matter how hard they are!) is so important.”
What are some of the pieces in the nursery that you’re most excited about?
“The thing I’m most excited about — which is probably the least practical item in the nursery — is a set of rattan chairs that have little bunny ears on the back. She won’t be able to use them in the first year, but they look so cute in the nursery!”
“I’m also excited about our crib, which I selected for two reasons. One, the design spoke to me — it has this beautiful caning that adds texture. Two, safety is very important, and the crib was BPA-free and finished with non-toxic paint.”
Have you incorporated your signature design style into the nursery? Does it coordinate with the other rooms in your home?
“My style is traditional, and the nursery reflects that. The other important thing for me was that the nursery decor was transitional — that it could grow with my child and not be too ‘babyish’ or too ‘girly’.”
“I also wanted to incorporate pieces that have meaning. Whether it’s sentimental artwork or by repurposing pieces of furniture, it’s important to me that the elements in the nursery are meaningful.”
“On Babylist, you can register for any product you want online, so by registering here, I was able to pull specific things from all over the web. You can bring in local brands and meaningful items this way.”
I love that you want to incorporate pieces with meaning! Sounds similar to the wabi-sabi principles we are trying to incorporate into our own home and designs. So tell me more about your design process for the nursery: How did you get started and what was your inspiration?
“For me, the first step in designing the nursery was picking out the fabrics. I went through a few iterations until finally, my husband said, ‘I think she just needs a bit of pink!’ So now, she has these beautiful pink walls. From there, I filled in the gaps with furniture, things I owned or recovered, and then artwork.”
To learn more about Monica’s nursery design and keep up with her journey into motherhood, visit lavinlabel.com. Looking for more nursery design and decor inspiration? Check out our children’s collection on Asher + Rye.