Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Wednesday 10 april 2019
Creating an eco-friendly nursery, from paint to fabrics

By MELISSA RAYWORTH items that can be used for tical on two levels. Tired,
Associated Press decades — even genera- busy parents don't have to
When interior designer Jen- tions — to come. change light bulbs as of-
ny Dina Kirschner was de- "Look at furniture that's ten, and LEDs waste far less
signing a bedroom for her going into your nursery as energy than conventional
first baby, she wanted to long-term furniture, things bulbs. Opt for items con-
create the healthiest pos- they can use for their life- structed from sustainably
sible space — for her baby time," he says. "We didn't grown materials or made
and for the environment. really buy pieces, with the with environmental con-
She began by choosing exception of the crib, that cerns in mind. Queen's firm
healthier paints, natural- were intended for a nurs- makes small seating poufs
fiber rugs and organic fab- ery." from canvas fabric rem-
rics. For his children's nurseries, nants left over from other
"Babies put everything in Yip chose dressers with a manufacturing.
their mouths," Kirschner removable diaper-chang- "We really use every ele-
says. So her goal is "try to ing tray on top, rather ment of material that we
protect them as much as than buying a dedicated can," she says.
possible from exposure to changing table that his PEACE OF MIND
those things that can be family would get rid of Kirschner points out that
avoided." once the kids were out of some new parents struggle
Creating an eco-friendly diapers. to balance their desire for
nursery has gained new at- He also suggests looking at a healthy space with the
tention lately, since news second-hand furniture and convenience of synthetic
reports have said Britain's vintage items rather than fabrics and rugs that are
Prince Harry and Meghan buying something newly easy to clean. Life with ba-
the Duchess of Sussex plan manufactured. bies can be messy.
to paint the nursery for These designers also rec- "I have a lot of clients with
their soon-to-be-born royal ommend choosing chairs kids and babies, and they
baby with all-natural, veg- or tables that could be all want these synthetic
an paint. used elsewhere in your textiles used everywhere,
That's the general ap- This photo shows a nursery by interior designer Jenny Dina home in the future. because they are so stain-
proach taken by Brooke Kirschner. Non-VOC wall paint, organic cotton bedding and an And light the room for the resistant and virtually inde-
organic cotton mattress can help create an eco-friendly and
Berrios, an early childhood healthy space in a new baby's bedroom, says Kirschner. long-term: Yip points out structible," Kirschner says.
education teacher, when Associated Press that we often leave lights "As a designer, I have to
her son was born six years on in a nursery, so choosing warn them that these are
ago. Berrios, an instruc- nursery with non-VOC paint ment can have an impact." long-life LED bulbs is prac- not healthy."q
tor at the Kremen School (paint that doesn't contain What are the best ways to
of Education and Human volatile compounds which make sure your baby's nurs-
Development at Califor- give off gases) and bought ery is healthy, and has as lit-
nia State University, Fresno, organic cotton towels and tle negative impact on the
was familiar with research bedding. environment as possible?
into the impact of toxins on "I always get called hippie- DO SOME RESEARCH
children's brain develop- dippie friend," she says. But Some furniture upholstered
ment. She painted her son's "toxicity from the environ- with 100% natural fibers
may have insides that in-
clude formaldehyde, flame
retardants or other un-
healthy chemicals, Kirsch-
ner says, so find out what's
in them.
High-quality natural fiber
rugs can actually last lon-
ger than some synthetics.
And they can be left un-
dyed, or colored with veg-
etable dyes.
Designer Paula Queen,
founder of the children's
decor line Lil' Pyar, suggests
asking what dyes have
been used on the rugs and
fabrics you choose for a
baby's room.
Also, ask where the items
are being made and
whether they will need to
be shipped. Buying locally This photo shows a nursery by interior designer Jenny Dina
This photo provided by designer Paula Queen of Lil' Pyar shows is the greenest option. Kirschner. For parents seeking an "eco-friendly" baby nursery,
Queen's Kitab Pouf, made from canvas fabric remnants left over BUY FOR THE LONG TERM Kirschner suggests researching the materials used not just for
from other manufacturing, which might otherwise have been the surface upholstery, but also in manufacturing of the interior
thrown away. Interior designer and HGTV of any furniture you purchase.
Associated Press host Vern Yip advises par- Associated Press
ents to choose nursery