Move or Make Over: A nursery makeover for my new little girl

"I'm due my second baby in a couple months and I'm looking at moving my little boy, who is two and-a-half, out of the nursery and redesigning the room for his little sister’s arrival! I have his room ready to go but need to redecorate the nursery for our new baby girl. The décor is currently fairly neutral but I'd like to give it a feminine touch..."

Joanne Cosgrave, Ballincollig

What an exciting time for you all! Your little boy is at the perfect age to give him a new room and I’m sure you’re making the transition from a cot to a bed for him with this room change.

Redecorating a nursery the second time around is not half as daunting or challenging as when you would have been getting it ready for your first! You have now had a great practice run and will know the benefits of clever storage and a well thought-out room plan. The fact that the room has a neutral palette is also a very helpful starting point, meaning you don’t have to strip wallpaper or paint over strong wall shades.

Of course for little girls the first shade that comes to mind is pink but I get the impression you like a more neutral palette and am therefore going to recommend some beautiful warm shades of off-white and beige.  Crown Paints do have some gorgeous subtle and contemporary shades of pink that you might like to consider though.  Do call into your local Crown Decorating Centre or DIY stockist and pick up the selections of colour cards to browse the colour schemes. If you'd like a feminine feel to the room, Elegant Rose from the Crown Colourmix Classic Collection is a wonderful, subtle dusty pink that will just add a hint of the shade to your walls. Teamed with white or dark wood furniture, it will make a stunning backdrop for a baby girl’s nursery.

Looking to the off-white spectrum, there is great choice in the Crown collection. White Light or the Warmer Beige White from the new Ultimate range will give the room an immediate light-filled, fresh feel and allow you to accessorise as you please with other colours. The Ultimate range is ideal for a baby’s room as it has a superior tough paint film that is bump and scuff free (I’m sure older brother will still enjoy a play in there from time to time!) and has an ultra cleanable surface, essential for little hand prints and other inevitable accidental marks!