Melbourne local Steph Robertsonâs minimalist but colourful aethstetic flows throughout her home, including through the rooms of her two children, Harry, 3 and Grace, 1. Stephâs philosophy is buy once, buy well. Something she inspires other parents to do via Kids.Scapes. âI feel we are accumulating way too much as a species. Itâs hard to imagine your baby not being a baby, but a nursery is so short lived, so look for pieces with longevity, even if thatâs with someone elseâs baby. Having a baby can be an expensive time in your life too, you donât want to spend a heap only to have to do it again six months later,â she says. This is why she invests in artwork for her kids. The kind of stuff they'll want to take whith them when they move out.
Steph has also separated her kids sleep and play space â and she has two good sleepers so we're taking note. "If you can avoid it, donât have toys stored in a bedroom. I have prioritised creating a good sleeping environment for my kids, with no distractions except of course books. My kidâs room furniture is very minimal at the moment to ensure a feeling of calmness and to encourage sleep. It makes me anxious when I see nurseries with overstimulating wallpaper all over the walls; babies and kids need calmness just like adults within their bedroom space."
When it comes to finding the right pieces, Steph recommends patience over compromise. âIâve learnt itâs much better to wait and get the right thing when I can afford it, than compromise. In saying that though, the best thing isnât necessarily the most expensive. Itâs more about finding the thing that will work in your space, and have longevity. I often choose pieces for the kids, like reading chairs, art and lights, that can work elsewhere in the house too, so things can be moved around.â
