Five Minutes With...Jason Peterkin
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There has also been a significant increase in searches around terms such as ‘every kid playrooms’ (+75 per cent) and ‘unisex kids clothes’ (119 per cent).
It seems that Generation Z is leading the way with inclusive attitudes surrounding gender - and we’re here for it, said Jason Peterkin, director of online blind retailer 247 Blinds.
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Hide AdWith parents now seeking out gender-neutral choices, interior enthusiasts have been embracing the trend.
We're seeing a shift in the way parents are decorating their children's bedrooms, with educational prints and colourful patterns now taking centre-stage over more traditional decor.
If you're looking to incorporate some colour and excitement into your child's neutral bedroom, accessories are a great way to add that playful touch.
Opt for animal print designs or stylish repeated patterns such as polka dots or stars.
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Hide AdPatterned blinds are the perfect accessory for livening up the room, be it a bedroom or playroom.
Team a fun and colourful pattern with matching cushions, wall prints or a throw to add those all-important finishing touches to your room.
Begin with a neutral backdrop…
A blank canvas is the starting point for any room.
When it comes to your staple colour, keep it simple and strip back to basics with a neutral backdrop for your nursery. Interior designer and founder of the Slovakian Mimesis Studio, Marek Cegledy, insists that neutral colours are the best place to begin.
He said: “Children’s bedrooms are an ever-changing thing and neutral colour palettes are far easier to adjust to a child's ongoing development.
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Hide Ad"We wouldn’t usually totally refurbish our child’s bedroom every five years to fit with their advancing age, so a gender-neutral beige or cream base is more practical - both for the child and the parent.”
Now that you have your neutral background, it’s time to introduce a splash of colour. Why not try ditching the staple baby pink and sky blues and opt for a less traditionally gendered tone?
Aarti Popat, an interior designer who strives to create meaningful, homely spaces in houses, has a few suggestions when it comes to colour.
She said: “I don’t believe in the age-old belief that boys like blue and girls like pink.
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Hide Ad"I have both and I try to steer them away from gender stereotypes - lead as you want them to believe.
"Colours that I feel work well with gender-neutral spaces are oranges, greys and even purples.
"Using different depths of the colours works nicely too.”
A nod to nature and learning…
If you’re keen to steer away from a football-themed boy’s den or a fairy-princess girl’s paradise - we recommend incorporating trending bedroom designs with educational interests such as wildlife, the alphabet and world cultures, that will help to encourage learning early on and help eliminate enforced stereotypes.
Natalie Lockwood, an interior designer based in Yorkshire, has shared her thoughts on why she thinks moving away from ingrained gender conventions is a good idea. She said: “Once you begin to think about the design of a child's bedroom or playroom without gender stereotypes, you have the freedom to create a much more inspiring, calming and interesting environment for your child.
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Hide Ad"Using themes and ideas based on nature, animals and the world that surrounds us is a great way of doing this.”
According to the Pinterest trend report, search around ‘Inclusive Educational Posters’ has increased by 91 per cent since last year.
Though life-lesson wall hangings and slogan messaging are renowned for being a little cheesy - we believe that spreading positive energy only encourages positive opinions, ones that can really benefit your child’s attitude towards life.
Who doesn’t love a bit of ‘live, laugh, love’...
Be it inspirational quotes or educational pointers, adding a little depth and care to your nursery can help provoke insightful ideas and spark your child's awareness for the world from a young age.
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Hide AdAarti Popat added: “The trend for gender-neutral spaces comes hand in hand with our growing understanding of children's emotional needs in the early years and how their environment can help to stimulate and inspire them.”
Simply adding a little inclusivity into your interiors can help you weave valuable life lessons into your child’s every day.
For more on 247 Blinds and ideas on how to spruce up your home visit the website https://www.247blinds.co.uk/
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