Let your Cot Bed Take Centre Stage!
If you’re in the process of kitting out a nursery and wondering how on earth you’re going to fit everything in, then listen up: this new nursery trend is for you.
Most of us are conditioned to think that furniture should be positioned against a wall – but we also hear that you shouldn’t place a cot near a window, heater, blind, or anything else that could potentially cause discomfort or harm to your baby.
With all this in mind, it can be hard to find anywhere suitable for your cot bed, especially in a smaller room. But what if we told you, you don’t have to cling to the wall at all – the cot can simply go smack bang in the middle of the room, giving you more space around it.
Intrigued? Then read on for more details about this growing nursery trend. We think you’ll be hopping on board quicker than you can say ‘Feng Sui’!
Advantages of Placing a Cot in the Centre of the Room
There are several reasons why bucking the cot-in-a-corner trend and bringing your crib out into the open can be a great idea
1. Safe from windows and other dangers
The NCT recommends against placing a cot near a window or radiator, as babies are less able to control their temperature than adults. Being next to a sunny window or too-hot heater could quickly lead to them overheating, and a very unhappy baby!
Blind cords are also a concern, as there have been cases of babies becoming tangled in them if they’re too close. By moving your cot into the centre of the room, away from windows and blinds, you can avoid these potential dangers for your little one.
2. Access a cot’s storage
Some cots are now designed to jut out into the room, as they have storage features on both sides. For example, the Galipette Celeste Convertible Cot Bed has two drawers on one side, and a bench, hanging rail and more storage on the other – so you’ll want to be able to access both sides. You can still place the headboard or footboard against a wall if you feel so inclined.
3. Easy access to baby
By making your cot more central in the room, it will be easier for you to reach your baby when they wake up in the night, wherever they end up in their cot bed. No more stubbing your toe on the surrounding furniture and trying to stifle your cries of pain in the dark! Plus, when they’re (finally!) back to sleep, you can admire your adorable angel from all angles.
Fast forward a few years, and once they’re toddling around and you’ve converted your cot into a junior bed, central positioning will give them more options for getting into bed by themselves (we can dream, right?)
4. Space-saving
One of the best things about moving your cot away from the wall is – unsurprisingly – how much wall space you save! Instead, you maximise the often-unused space in the middle of the room and leave the walls free for other furniture. This can also work well if the cot needs to go in your room, and your walls are already occupied with your stuff.
By choosing a cot with built-in storage and a changing table, such as our incredible Galipette Sacha Convertible Cot Bed, you can eliminate the need for any additional furniture to go with your cot, saving even more space!
How to Maximise Your Centrally-Located Cot
Make the most of your new cot positioning with our top styling tips:
1. Anchor with a headboard
A cot that sticks out into the middle of the room can look like it’s ‘floating’. Anchor it to the room by placing a statement headboard or wall art behind the cot, such as the Galipette Celeste 3-in-1 Indoor Cabin. Not only does this create a fun, tepee-style headboard for your cot, but it also transforms into a kid’s wardrobe and desk as your little one grows.
2. Get rugged
Placing a rug underneath your cot can also help to anchor it visually to the room. There are other practical benefits too – rugs can provide extra insulation and noise reduction, and if your baby makes a bid for freedom during the night, they’ll have a softer place to land! Just make sure your rug doesn’t have any turned-up corners that could become a tripping hazard for you, undoing the benefits of your exposed cot.
3. Go mobile
Without a window or wall to look at, your baby will be staring at the ceiling even more than usual! Hang a fun mobile overhead to keep them occupied, or get creative and paint the ceiling in a fun pattern. Choose highly contrasting colours to attract your baby’s attention and help with their vision development – we’re feeling monochrome zebra stripes!
So, there you have it – so many reasons to shuffle your cot away from the wall and into the middle of the room. The only disadvantage we can see is that when your little one (inevitably) throws their toys out of their cot, there are more directions for them to go!
