
– Checkatrade launches cost calculator to help parents budget for their dream nursery –
– Celebrity styles inspiring parents to spend £2,000 and dip into savings for the perfect nursery –
– Millie Mackintosh, Giovanna Fletcher and Dani Dyer most likely to inspire new parents’ design choices –
– Molly Mae Hague’s £10,000 all-white nursery a favourite with Gen Z’s –
– Gender neutral designs, murals and timelessness key with parents-to-be –
– Checkatrade painter and decorator reveals money-saving tips to get the celebrity nursery look –
Parents are spending £2,000 on average on the dream bedroom for their babies in a bid to emulate celebrities’ designer nurseries, as nesting – or getting the home ready for a new arrival – is fast becoming a status symbol. One in 10 (10 per cent) claim they even would be happy to spend over £5,000 on a renovation, and two in five (41 per cent) have dipped into their savings for the occasion.
Millie Mackintosh (26 per cent) and Giovanna Fletcher (25 per cent) have most sway on the design decisions of mums and dads-to-be as they bid to give their baby the best start in life, according to a new study from Checkatrade, with two in five actively designing a room that will aid their kid’s development (43 per cent).
To assist with rising costs, Checkatrade has released Nursery Numbers, a calculator on their website to help parents estimate the cost of renovating their dream bedroom for their newborn. Parents can input all the features they’re after, from white noise ceiling speakers to blackout blinds, to which the calculator will then provide a breakdown of indicative costs.
No longer just about having a fresh paint job done in time for the new arrival, parents are increasingly looking for tradespeople to take on more bespoke building jobs. These include installing dimmable light fixtures (38 per cent), built in baby wardrobes (29 per cent) and hot water taps for a tea and coffee supply during night feeds (9 per cent), and refitting floors and carpets (20 per cent).
The top 10 celebrity nurseries are:
- Millie Mackintosh (26 per cent)
- Tom & Giovanna Fletcher (25 per cent)
- Dani Dyer (23 per cent)
- Lucy Mecklenburgh (19 per cent)
- Molly Mae Hague (17 per cent)
- Binky Felstead (15 per cent)
- Rochelle Humes (15 per cent)
- Mrs Hinch (15 per cent)
- Khloe Kardashian (10 per cent)
- Stacey Solomon (10 per cent)
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Molly Mae Hague’s neutral-themed bedroom for baby Bambi, complete with cloud chandelier, was Gen Z’s preferred option by a long way – favoured by a huge 50 per cent of young parents.
When it comes to the hottest designer trends, gender-neutral bedrooms (23 per cent), woodland animals (25 per cent), and wall murals (19 per cent) have all caught parents’ eyes while natural light was a clear winner, with 41 per cent of parents prioritising it for their kids.
Colour is still a key decision for parents and those expecting. While pink (13 per cent) and light blue (11 per cent) are still some of the most popular tones for boys and girls, they were beaten only by white (19 per cent) and grey (14 per cent).
Checkatrade member, painter and decorator David Couson from Grand Finishes commented: “There’s been a massive change in what parents want for their kids over the years. I often get asked for my advice in bringing some luxury and a point of difference to bedrooms, as well as what small, cost-effective changes can be made to make a big impact on a room. I’d always advise to make one sweeping change, whether you’re painting a wall or installing an interesting light fixture, and then concentrate on the details to keep costs down.”
Checkatrade member Couson reveals how to get a celebrity nursery on a budget, with these top tips:
- Flooring – Can’t afford to replace the flooring? Invest in a washable rug instead
- Artwork – Find free images you like online and print off at home and frame them, i.e. child’s initials or use Canva for free to design your own artwork
- Pre played – Most nursery furniture doesn’t have time to get much wear and tear, so check out preloved furniture on eBay and Facebook Marketplace
- Themed nursery – Create a themed room by using peel and stick graphics, or alternatively use wall mural wallpaper
- Stenciled walls – Feeling artistic? Paint clouds on the wall using a store-bought stencil to create a dreamy nursery, paint stripes or create a charming effect by painting partially up the wall with a scalloped edge, again using a stencil to get it spot on
- Flexible furniture – Save money on your cot by choosing one that adjusts into a toddler’s bed
- Scandi style – create chic, but cheap Scandi style with rattan baskets and cribs
- Four poster cot – Create a four-poster cot by buying a canopy, or play tent with a wall mounted tent canopy over a corner for reading or to play under
- Wall shelf – Seek a chic inexpensive balloon, cloud or elephant wall shelf
Checkatrade’s Nursery Numbers cost calculator can be found at https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-decorating-nursery/.