Having a baby in Hong Kong can get expensive. There are plenty of stores and sites that stock the best, most popular and essential baby items. However, most of us don’t have the space to store bulky items and years’ worth of clothes and toys, strollers and high chairs. Sometimes you want a little more control over what you’re getting without a hefty price tag, so we’ve compiled some great free and paid libraries and swap-it venues where you can get second-hand baby items. Not only is it greener for the planet, but it’s also lighter on your wallet!

Jump To:
Things To Consider While Buying Second-Hand Baby Items
Where To Rent Or Share Baby Items
Where To Buy Second-Hand Baby Essentials In Hong Kong
Forums For Second-Hand Baby Items
Facebook Groups For Second-Hand Baby Items In Hong Kong

What To Consider While Buying Second-Hand Baby Items

Not everyone will be comfortable with reusing baby essentials, especially when it is a question of hygiene. You may be more comfortable borrowing or reusing baby gear when it comes from a friend or family member. However, if you keep the following points in mind, you will feel a lot more at ease with the idea of recycling and reusing baby gear:

• Always examine the items you are going to purchase, especially when it comes to items that have moving or breakable parts.
• Check on guarantees and warranties for electronic items.
• Make sure that the item is one that can be carefully and completely cleaned and sanitised. This may not be the case for baby mattresses, as well as car seats and strollers where the padded material is not detachable.
• Look up reviews of items that you are purchasing as well as current safety guidelines, as these may have changed since the original user purchased the baby item.

Sites And Stores To Rent Or Share Baby Items

There are a few places around Hong Kong where you pay a membership or rental fee to borrow or rent something for a period of time and when you’re done with it, you just return it or swap it for something else. This can range from libraries for books (the most obvious example) to those for toys that are built to last! Breastfeeding mums who want to pump for a short period of time (perhaps those going back to work) can also look at a rental model.

Happy Baton

Happy Baton is dedicated to keeping quality toys in the cycle and using professional cleaning and thorough disinfection when the toys come back to them. It will help guide you in choosing the best toys for your child’s developmental stage, and if your little one is not a fan, just swap it for something new!

Happy Baton, hello@happybaton.com.hk, www.happybaton.com.hk

Hong Kong Toy Library

Hong Kong’s first public toy library is located inside the Central Library in Causeway Bay and has four play corners to suit different age groups and themes (Baby Play Corner, Pretend and Imaginative Play Corner, Creative Play Corner and Activities and Games Play Corner). You can reserve a play session in person or by telephone in advance.

Toy Library, 2/F Central Library, 66 Causeway Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, 2921 0386, www.hkpl.gov.hk

Read More: Public Library Services In Hong Kong – Taking Your Kids To The Library

Medela

Breastfeeding mums are often big fans of Medela breast pumps, especially the hospital-grade Symphony model. Although this model is expensive ($23,900), renting is much more affordable. Besides a $6,000 deposit, you can pay per month or for up to a six-month period and opt for monthly extensions, if you continue to express breastmilk.

Medela at Celki, various locations across Hong Kong, WhatsApp (for rental): 9752 0998, www.medelashop.com.hk

Where To Buy Second-Hand Baby Essentials In Hong Kong

Babies grow out of their clothes fast, so it makes perfect sense to recycle the clothes. Another item that they might want a lot of is books. After all, you can only read Dear Zoo and Goodnight Moon so many times!

Retykle

Retykle carries nursery furniture, strollers, car seats and more. There’s no better place to find designer baby and kids clothing without the fancy price tag (pay for the quality rather than the label). Because you buy second-hand rather than borrow items here, you do have the option to sell them back to Retykle once your baby has outgrown the clothes.

Retykle, 8/F, 44 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Sing Teck Building, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong, 3594 6533, WhatsApp: 5596 3446, hello@retykle.com, www.retykle.com 

Gathered HK

Gathered HK is a pre-loved baby clothing store where you can get barely used rompers and wonder suits for as little as $50. Donating in Hong Kong is not always easy but Gathered HK accepts all children’s clothing brands, including fast fashion ones.

Gathered HK, WhatsApp: 7074 0081, www.gatheredhk.com

Green Baby

A green social enterprise under the management of Caritas, Green Baby sells a wide range of second-hand baby products for charity to support unmarried and young mothers.

Green Baby, Room 15A, 3/F, Block C, Hong Kong Industrial Centre, 489-491 Castle Peak Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 3426 4584, greenbaby@caritassws.org.hk, www.facebook.com/caritas.greenbaby

reBooked

This social enterprise aims to promote a circular economy and zero-waste lifestyle by collecting used children’s books and selling them through its online shop and newly-opened retail store. Not only does reBooked save hundreds of books from our landfills, but it also promotes early childhood literacy by encouraging a love for reading at a young age.

reBooked, 1/F, 9 Mee Lun Street, Central, Hong Kong, hello@rebooked-hk.com, www.rebooked-hk.com 

Forums And Classified Sites For Second-Hand Baby Items In Hong Kong

Hong Kong has plenty of online forums and classifieds where you can look for second-hand baby items. Where possible, always check the items before you buy them.

GeoExpat

This online forum often has a good collection of strollers, baby carriers, toys and furniture.

GeoExpat, www.geoexpat.com

AsiaXPAT

This forum is often popular with foreigners for its wide range of baby, children’s and family essentials.

Asia Xpat, www.hongkong.asiaxpat.com

Carousell HK

This online classified site is ideal for those looking for anything, from furniture to toys, musical instruments, baby carriers, car seats and more.

Carousell HK, www.hk.carousell.com

Read More: Where To Buy Kids’ Furniture And Decor For The Nursery In Hong Kong

Facebook Groups For Second-Hand Baby Items In Hong Kong

Other than classified sites and forums, there are plenty of swap-it groups online. These are great options for cribs, changing tables, playmats, high chairs, strollers and other big-ticket second-hand items. Here are some more active ones where you’ll likely find something good.

Child & Baby Stuff Buy, Sell, Swap Hong Kong!

Here, you’ll be able to buy, sell and swap clothes, books, toys and all the items you need to raise a baby in Hong Kong.

Join Child & Baby Stuff Buy, Sell, Swap Hong Kong!

Baby And Mommy Stuff Marketplace

This is a platform were Mamas and Mamas-to-be can buy, sell or swap unwanted or used maternity wear, baby clothes and anything related to baby stuff.

Join Baby And Mommy Stuff Marketplace

Baby-Swap-It

This private Facebook group is a great place to pick up some pre-loved baby furniture or bigger toys and necessities like the Jumperoo or a bouncer. You have to act quickly in this group though as the best items get snapped up quickly!

Join Baby-Swap-It

Nearly New Kids

This is similar to Baby Swap It but has a smaller community, so there are fewer things to sort through.

Join Nearly New Kids

Cloth Diaper Chat and Swap Hong Kong

This is where to look if you want to pick up pre-loved cloth diapers, as some are barely used. The group is also full of lovely parents who are willing to answer questions and help troubleshoot cloth diaper issues, including yours truly!

Join Cloth Diaper Chat and Swap Hong Kong

Hong Kong Breastfeeding

Quite often you’ll find a mama offloading pre-loved pumps, pump parts or breastfeeding clothes among other items. It’s also a friendly community in which to ask questions and a lot of the time pre-loved items are passed on for free.

Join Hong Kong Breastfeeding (women only)

Editor’s Note: “Second Hand Baby Clothes And Pre-Loved Baby Gear In Hong Kong” was most recently updated in April 2023 by Najuka Redkar.

The post Second Hand Baby Clothes And Pre-Loved Baby Gear In Hong Kong appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Here at Sassy Mama, we’re a sucker for detail and decor and our children’s bedroom and play areas offer the perfect blank canvas to get creative with our interiors. If you’re in the process of redecorating, or perhaps you’ve got a little one on the way, here are some of the best stores in the 852 to inspire and channel your inner child.

From functional children’s furniture, to cute and comfy soft furnishings, practical storage solutions – or even custom-made furniture to personalise your space – here’s where to shop for kids furniture in Hong Kong.

Read more: 5 Nature Inspired Ideas For Your Hong Kong Home

Momomi Soft Touch Tatami Mats – Award-winning soft and safe play mats for the home and nursery

As parents know, little heads and hard floors don’t mix. Especially if your tot is learning to stand, walk, or likes to jump around a lot. These Soft Touch Tatami Mats from Momomi will immediately transform living areas into a safe space for youngsters to explore and play.

Using eco-friendly dyes (non-toxic and free from all nasties) choose from 11 different colours with different sizes (custom-sized mats are also available). Child and pet friendly, the super soft design is breathable (here’s looking at you Hong Kong humidity), easy to clean and quick to dry, plus the anti-slip backing will make sure there are no more accidents for fast little feet. An award-winning play mat, it’s doing something right! Give it a try in your own home.

Sassy Mama readers will get 10% off all orders using the code sassymama2021 at the checkout.

Momomi, contact@momomijapan.com, www.momomijapan.com

Kids Furniture Stores In Hong Kong

Flexa – Functional, sustainable and playful children’s room solutions

The Scandinavian contemporary designs at Flexa will transform your kids bedroom into a cool, chic yet fun space to hang out and play. With storage solutions, beds, desks and more.

Flexa, various locations across Hong Kong, www.flexa.com.hk

Bloom – Contemporary children’s furniture designs

If you’d prefer to keep your pad stylish and on-trend once the little tyke arrives, Bloom should definitely be on your radar. This ultra-modern range of designer furniture is beautifully styled, but also totally practical. The perfect stop if you’re planning to keep your pad stylish as your little one grows.

Bloom, various locations in Hong Kong, contact@bloombaby.com, www.bloombaby.hk

Indigo Kids – Kit out the kids room in one place with modern designs

Consider your decorating dilemmas solved. Its themed collections make it easy for those of us without an artistic eye to buy cute and coordinating pieces. Lines include furniture such as beds, bedside tables, desks, wall units and cots, plus bed linens, mattresses, cushions and even a selection of toys, books and a wonderful range of clever storage solutions.

Indigo Kids, various locations, 2805 5955, onlinehk@indigo-living.com, www.indigo-living.com

Kidniture – Make bedtime super fun with a fun themed bed

Kidniture will get little ones excited about sleep-time with its super-cute princess, fire engine and bus beds. Lovely designs and reasonable prices make this an attractive option for a themed room. Being Hong Kong-based (online only), you can easily email or phone them to place an order.

Kidniture, 9467 1437, jasonchow114@gmail.com, www.kidniture.com

Kids by Red Cabinet – Bespoke kids furniture in Hong Kong

Given the often ungenerous proportions of Hong Kong’s bedrooms, you may want to consider a custom-made approach to get the most out of every square inch! Kids by Red Cabinet is especially great for children’s beds with built-in storage to hide that growing pile of toys and out-of-season clothes. It also offers an insightful home consultation. For those who wish to purchase ready-made products, it carries stock of stylish play tables, bookcases, first beds, bunk and loft beds and nightstands.

Kids by Red Carpet, 11/F, Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2536 0123, enquiries@red-cabinet.com.hk, www.red-cabinet.com

Petit Bazaar – Luxury kids furniture, decorations and more

Petit Bazaar is a gorgeous store stocking luxury kids furniture, gifts, toys and decor from Europe. This is a treasure chest of fabulous stuff, much of which is eco-friendly, that’ll make your baby’s room beautiful! If you spend over $400 online, you can also qualify for free delivery in Hong Kong – bonus!

Petit Bazaar, various locations accross Hong Kong, www.petit-bazaar.com

TREE – Long-lasting children’s furniture store in Hong Kong

If you’re heading to Horizon Plaza, start at TREE up on level 28 and fuel yourself for the task ahead with a bite at the café (or you could go afterwards as a post-shopping trip!). The TREE kids range of furniture is perfect for investment pieces that will last until they are off to uni, and its eco-friendly ethos makes for less worrying about chemical nasties in the nursery.

TREE, Horizon Plaza: 28/F Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong, 2870 1582

TREE, HomeSquare: Shop no. 101-102, HomeSquare, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, 2841 8844, onlinesales@tree.com, www.tree.com

Read more: Your Ultimate Family-Friendly Guide To Horizon Plaza

Lifetime Kids Rooms – Danish kids furniture designs with an extra special twist

What started as a small family business making pine wood beds for children, this store now creates furniture that will inspire the child in all of us! Think solid nursery cots to bunk beds with built-in slides – built in slides!

Lifetime, 138 Shatin Rural Committee Road, Shop 301- L3, HomeSquare, Shatin, Hong Kong, 2868 2801, lifetime@tavolo-inc.com, www.lifetimekidsrooms.com

Homeless Hong Kong – Imaginative children’s furniture

From kids tables and chairs to beds that will get your children excited to go to bed (tree house or tent bed anyone?), Homeless Hong Kong’s range of kids furniture definitely ticks the boxes for your children’s rooms. Contact them for a full catalog.

Homeless HK, various locations across Hong Kong, 9309 7120, info@homeless.hk, www.homeless.hk

Tavolo Kids Living – Stocking over 15 international kids furniture brands

Head to this store for a wide selection of kids furniture options. Kit out all your kids rooms, from bobs to teens, with kids beds, study desks, children’s chairs, storage and more.

Tavolo Kids Living, various locations across Hong Kong, 2331 2309, info@tavolo-inc.com, www.tavolokidsliving.com

Paidi Kidsworld – Ergonomically designed beds and kids furniture in Hong Kong

With over 90 years experience perfecting the perfect ergonomically designed kids furniture, this German brand caters to babies, tots and teens. Look out for the modular bed system, play beds, and desks for children of all ages.

Paidi Kidsworld, various locations across Hong Kong, www.paidihongkong.com

Mothercare – Staple children’s nursery furniture

Mothercare is a UK brand that offers a whole range of things for baby; quality basics, bedding, gear and a good quality selection of nursery furniture. With a wide range of well-known brands, it’s a safe bet to cover off the basics. With stores all over Hong Kong, you’ll be sure to find one near you.

Mothercare, various locations across Hong Kong, 2627 0035, customercare@mothercare.com, www.mothercare.com

IKEA – Large selection of kids furniture and decor in Hong Kong

It’s inevitable that you’ll find yourself at the big blue and yellow warehouse at least once while prepping your baby or kids room. You may be pleasantly surprised by Ikea’s great range of kids furniture, bedding and rugs. If you were so inclined, you could kit the room out from top to bottom (toys included!) in just one stop. Best picks include good quality bedding and colourful soft furnishings as well as clever storage solutions.

Ikea, various locations, enquiry@IKEA.com.hk, www.ikea.com

Eugene Baby – Huge selection of baby and kids gear

With stores all around Hong Kong, this place offers a huge selection of products, including a good range of furniture, and specialises in cool Japanese baby products. The shops are generally spacious with good prices – and we love, love, love the extremely well-organised layout!

Eugene Baby, various locations across Hong Kong, cs@eugenebaby.com, www.eugenebaby.com

Read more: 5 Ways To Kit Out A Nursery Without Breaking The Bank

Other Kids Furniture And Decoration Stores In Hong Kong

Nerd Kids For Living – A range of ergonomic kids chairs and desks, www.nerdkidsforliving.mybigcommerce.com

Decor8 – This online store has good range of kids furniture to choose from, www.decor8.com.hk

H&M Home – Check out the Kids Room section, www2.hm.com

Zara Home – Check out the children’s home options, www.zarahome.com/hk

Babatude – Online kids decor store with reasonable shipping to Hong Kong, www.babatude.com

Mirth – Home decor for kids,www.mirthhome.com

Majvillan – Super chic and stylish Swedish brand that creates possibly the coolest and cutest kids wallpaper with shipping to Hong Kong, www.majvillan.com

Kids Room DIY And Unique Decoration

Assia Bennani – Quirky, pretty wall art is the order of the day with one-off mural designs or tailored artwork to your room, www.assiabennani.com

Make and Do HK – Try your hand at various crafts from Macramé and embroidery, to dip pen calligraphy. A great way to make something truly unique that will personalise your mini-me’s room, www.makeanddohk.com

513 Paint Shop – DIY your own artwork or decorations, www.513paintshop.com

Yuen Fat Ho Paint Shop – Get kitted out with brushes and paint (don’t forget the dust sheets!), 77 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, 2546 8020

Read more: 7 Non-Toxic & Natural Cleaning Products You Can Make Yourself

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on the 4, August 2016 by Sassy Mama, updated by Sophie Knight in July 2019, and updated by Sassy Mama in November 2021. 

The post Where To Buy Kids’ Furniture In Hong Kong: From Nursery Gear To Decor appeared first on Sassy Mama.

In this edition of Cribz, we head over to our co-founder, Maura’s flat to check out her daughter’s gorgeous room. This original sassy gal, little lady Eve shows us her playful self as she relaxes, rests and recharges in her own room! From the open space, natural light from the windows and soft pale pinks, purples and greys, we’re sensing only chill zen vibes (which is key for any toddler room!). Maura dishes on what inspired this room’s colour palette, her favourite online home decor shops and where she catches a snooze from time to time!

How would you describe this room? Which style would best describe the room?
When Eve was born I didn’t know whether she was a boy or a girl so I decorated her nursery with a lot of whites and bright colours which could blend well with either a boy or a girl. After having her I noticed I started to blend in softer colours into her room and this has definitely transitioned into her current big girl room (we recently moved!). I have used quite a bit of soft purples, pinks and grey in the space as we have a lot of bright colour in the rest of our apartment, so for Eve’s room I wanted it to be a place that felt soft and comforting to her.

Where did you get your inspiration from?
I love these dolls from Pottery Barn and were inspired by them when creating Eve’s room. There is something so soft and pretty about them without coming off as too sugary sweet in my opinion. They feel peaceful and stylish and the soft colours have definitely inspired the main colour palette in Eve’s room. Totally not Cribz related but I have been known to bulk order these dolls when they are on sale to have on hand for when birthday party season comes around. They have been a total time saver which has saved me stress on the day of a kids birthday party!

How did you get your kiddo involved with designing her room?
I have bought a number of things from Etsy, such as Eve’s flamingo bedding, or Society6, like the decorative pillows that are in her room and I tend to have Eve decide between a few options I have picked out so she’s part of the decision making process.

We all get a lot of art from our kids, how do you display it?
I must admit, I feel like a #badmum in this department. I either tuck them away in a closet or sadly, some of her pieces have made its way into the trash bin (so sorry Eve!). I did just hear about a company called Little Bug Prints, which takes a selection of your kids original artwork and professionally photographs it and frames it all in one piece of art. I may check that out as it seems like a cool idea as my current method is in no way sentimental or even encouraging for Eve to keep being artistic!

Read more: Little Bug Prints: Keep Your L’il Picasso’s Artwork Framed

What was the hardest part of decorating this room?
To be honest, Eve’s room is the largest bedroom in our house so my challenge was how to fill the space up without spending lots of money on decorating it. I wanted it to feel homey rather than spacious and distant. The Decor8 table we have in the middle of the room has made the space feel more inviting.

What part of the room are you most proud of?
I love Eve’s teepee area in her room which was a gift from one of her besties for her birthday last year and I love the look that the teepee gives to the space. It is a nice little escape for her and I am not going to lie, I have squeezed myself in there for a mini snooze or two. I will often find Eve in there reading a book and enjoying herself and to me it is just the sweetest thing…

Another part of Eve’s room that I love are the shelves in her entryway that stores some of our favourite decorative storybooks along with pictures of our family. It is very important to us that Eve feels connected to her family members back in the US and we have had pictures of our family up in her room since she was born. I really think seeing them every day and being able to take the frames down (they are plastic so no glass breakage!) and talk about who they are has really helped with her connecting to them even if they do live so far away.

Is there anything in the room you would like to change?
I am not ready to do this yet BUT we have a couch in Eve’s room that could only be brought in via the window as it couldn’t fit through the door. It was totally dramatic getting it into the space and I know it won’t be an easy process removing it. I am nervous for the day I want to move on from it cause when it comes to decorating I tend to want to make changes quickly.

So the moment I am over this specific couch I am afraid I will have to live with it for a while as I don’t want the challenge of having to get it out of the house via the window! It’s the things you don’t think about when moving furniture into a space. Yes, Eve’s room can totally fit the sofa but we never thought how it would fit down a narrow hallway or door entryway!

What are your favourite design or furniture stores in Hong Kong? Any online options that you love?
I love the kids section at Mirth. It just feels so lovely to me. I also am a big fan of Petite Bazaar and Indigo Kids and as I mentioned I love Eve’s table that we got from Decor8 as it is a nice centrepiece for her room. For online options, I love Pottery Barn, Land of Nod and of course Etsy and Society6 for prints and pillows.

Read more: Best Homeware Stores in Hong Kong

What advice would you give to parents who want to redecorate their kid’s rooms?
Kids likes and dislikes change so much so if you are going to spend money on things, I say spend it on pieces you know will last a while and they (hopefully!) won’t have super strong opinions about. I also think that you need to be open to their interests and find fun ways to blend their style with yours.

If they love princesses and you aren’t so into the idea, perhaps get some really awesome and inspiring princess quote prints from Etsy (and use frames which you can easily swap out for new prints when their likes change). If they are obsessed with Star Wars, you can add some cool pillows that blend in great with your own personal colour preferences and taste while also satisfying their newly discovered favourites.

Read more: Check out more of our Cribz features here

Thanks to the talented Jenna Louise Potter from Lucky Fish Photography for all of the beautiful images above! Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/luckyfishphotography

If you think your bubba or kiddo has a cool room, send us a picture at sassy@sassymamahk.com and your room might be featured!

The post Cribz: Welcome to Sassy Girl Eve’s Soft Pastels Big Girl Room appeared first on Sassy Mama.

At 23, I had no desire to get married nor to have children. But life has a mind of its own and at 25, I found myself with a husband, two young chubby babies in tow and a life on the move, dragging suitcases from country to country every year or so. Needless to say, arranging a child’s nursery was not at the top of my list! When I reached 36 and found myself pregnant again with twin girls (and a whole host of interior design work experience now under my belt!), I realised this was my chance to finally create the nursery of my dreams. Here are a few tips I picked up along the way that will hopefully help you outfit the perfect little room for your new baby!

Mix and match: Interior design is like fashion. Avoid trying to create an “over-the-top look” such as princess themes if it’s a girl, or sports or jungle safari themes if it’s a boy.

Make it your own and not a magazine advert: Make it homey by adding family handmade accessories or heirloom furniture, such as grandmother’s hand-knitted blanket or an old family commode.

Be innovative with your fabrics: Mix and match colours and prints to inject a bit of zest into the space. Don’t get stuck on pink for girls and blue for boys: lilac polka dots, saffron stripes and almond green linens for girls and dark orange with denim cottons or grey accents for boys are all alternative choices that work perfectly well. Cath Kidston or Quadrille fabrics are some of my favourites!

Think about soft lighting: Ambient lighting is always a better alternative in a nursery; avoid spot lights and go for lampshades in soft tones. Some fun choices are this Egmont Large Musroom Pink Lamp and a Rabbit Lamp from Acorntoyshop.

Don’t forget blackout blinds to make sure your baby gets a good night’s sleep!

Wallpaper is always a good option for the whole room or for an accent wall with Fromental, ferm LIVING or Mimilou guirlandes stickers. Small space trick: Go for a pattern of horizontal stripes in fun colours – it will expand even the smallest of spaces.

Wood paneling will always add warmth to a nursery room and also adds a classical touch to the space.

Save a place with a comfortable armchair with a footrest and a small side table where you can bottle feed or read a bedtime story with your little one on your lap.

Think of storage: You can’t expect to keep a nursery spotless, but there are ways to lessen the mess: opt for a mix of closed cupboards and open storage if you don’t want the space to look too clinical. I like nice wicker baskets or fun armoires such as these Amsterdam armoires by Kast Van Een Huis.

Go for carefully designed accessories handcrafted with love and care such as the vintage fabric bird houses by Tamar Mogendorff.

Pick coloured patterned rugs – Madeline Weinrib is a great choice – to jazz up a neutral nursery.

Opt for a touch of retro with revisited vintage furniture; I personally love the Les Gambettes collection (pictured below)

Children do grow you know! Think about transformative furniture – from crib to bed and from changing commode to chest of drawers. A few good brands are Laurette and Kalon Studio.

Innovate with colours. A gender-neutral room does not have to be green or yellow: creams, taupes and beiges offer a soothing nursery atmosphere. If you like to experiment, try painting one of the walls or the back of a bookshelf with a bright colour (try “yellow cake”, #279 from Farrow&Ball) or if you want a more subtle look, go for an almond green or subdued grey shade. Pick two or three colours and repeat them throughout the room.

Create that “designer look” with character furniture that will stand the test of time such as Alvar Aalto tables and chairs from Artek or the more tropical looking Acapulco chairs.

And finally… go green! Invest in non-toxic materials such as VOC-free paint, a wise choice that will keep nasty chemicals out of your baby’s room.

Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting if you can. Carpeting, as well as the glue and backing used on it, tends to contain high levels of chemicals and often traps dust, dirt and allergens. Natural wood floors finished with non-toxic oils are one of the smartest choices you can make in a nursery. If you still want carpet, opt for an untreated 100 percent wool carpet and have it installed using a tack-down method rather than glue.

When you choose your crib, go for a natural one made out of solid wood with a non-toxic, water-based finish. A nice option is the maple crib from Kalon Studios.

Traditional mattresses are filled with fire retardants and other chemicals that give off harmful fumes, so consider splurging on a natural mattress. Naturepedic is a wonderful company that produces organic mattresses completely free of chemicals.

And now get back to designing, mamas!

If you’re interested in gaining more interior design tips and tricks, Insight School of Interior Design offers full-time or part-time courses (1-day courses, 3-month certificates or 1-year diplomas). Find out more information here.

The post How to Decorate a Nursery: Eve Mercier’s Tips and Tricks appeared first on Sassy Mama.

When my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, we couldn’t have been more thrilled, but once I got over the seemingly never-ending hurdle of the first trimester, my nesting instinct kicked in (big time). As an interior designer, I have long dreamed of the day when I would get to create a one-off space for our little bundle of joy: beautiful bespoke rugs, decorative blackouts, Farrow and Ball-ing the walls until I was happy with the exact shade of cotton… but I never anticipated being faced with the problem of not having a nursery space! Living in Hong Kong where space is so limited, I had to face the fact that our first baby would not have a nursery (not immediately anyway), nor would we really have tons of space for all the nuts and bolts that come with having a child (who would have thought a tiny little bub would require so much stuff?)

The good news is, mama, it’s completely doable to raise a baby in Hong Kong even with limited space by incorporating just a few design tricks! I have put together a list of products and tips to help you maximise your space and accommodate your precious little cherub without feeling like you’ve been ‘pushed out of bed’ or forced to turn everything pink or blue!

Space-Saving Products

Cribs
Our baby is going to be in our bedroom, where there really isn’t enough room to swing a cat in, so we had to search high and low to find something that would replace the moses basket (why can’t babies stay small forever) but sit snugly in the space we have. My husband and I came across two fantastic brands that address the issue of space without compromising design. The StokkeSleepi Mini is designed to grow with your baby, which is ideal. It comes in a variety of colours and is also on wheels so you can easily transport it to and from the living room – perfect! (Little Whale and Mothercare also stock Stokke items.)

Baskets
Baskets will become your new best friend; they are the simplest way to store things away neatly and get organised without looking too cluttered. Mamas and Papas does a range of nesting baskets, and Zara Home also has a variety of storage baskets and boxes so you can display or discreetly store those nappies, swaddles and toys that you will inevitably start to accumulate (because the Jellycat range is just too cute).

Bouncer
We opted for the Stokke Steps bouncer as this product not only has a very ergonomic design that allows your baby to move and sleep naturally (and I’m a sucker for Scandinavian design) but it neatly flat packs away so you can conveniently slide it straight under your bed or sofa when not in use.  Products like this are a dream in Hong Kong, where space is at a premium.

Design Tips

Wall Art
You don’t have to paint a nursery or add a decorative border to add that je ne sais quoi quality to your baby’s sleeping area. Wall stickers are perfect for adding a personal touch without removing any of the paint from your walls. They are fun and come in a variety of designs. Check out notonthehighstreet (ask a friend in the UK to ship it out to you) and Tiny Footprints.

Alternatively, printing in HK is such great value for money, so why not try your hand at making your own art? I purchased an oversized frame from IKEA and created a simple design on Photoshop. For those less IT-savvy mamas, try creating a photo montage using eclectic frames that can provide that splash of colour you’re craving, and a personal touch you can be proud of!

Wardrobe
We had to clear out a section of our wardrobe to make way for the endless supply of sleep suits, baby grows, etc. I found a small chest of drawers from IKEA that nestled into one side of the wardrobe and allowed for hanging space on one side and a wicker basket to sit above the drawers. It was super simple, yet very effective for those first few months.

Changing Station
This was one luxury we decided to dispense with, as we have a large work surface that we never use in our bathroom. I ordered a small changing mat from Amazon and added another storage basket to the window ledge, which I personalised with empty jars and boxes for easy access to nappies and products. I also created little signs for the baskets to add charm to those previously neglected areas. They were really easy to make; buy some chalk paint and make sure you spray it in a well ventilated area or have daddy-to-be do it for you. Then punch holes on either side of the card once dry, thread the rope through, and use a white chalk board pen to personalise with any message you want. The beauty of it is you can change the message as much as you like by just wiping it off with a cloth – I love simple things! (Sham Shui Po is where I find all of my DIY saviours.)

Pinterest
If you don’t already have a Pinterest account, I am a huge ambassador of this! It’s super simple and acts like an online concept board. There you can create a design folder and start pulling ideas from all over the internet to help you highlight what you want to cover design-wise and tips for brightening up small spaces.

I really hope this has given you a few ideas and inspired you not to lose that nesting instinct but to address your design and space dilemmas in a clever, Sassy Mama way!

Happy decorating mummies!

The post How to Survive Without a Nursery in Hong Kong appeared first on Sassy Mama.

We’re starting a whole new column here on cool kid’s rooms around Hong Kong. Inspired by a popular MTV show, we’ll be taking a look at how mums all over the city are decorating their nurseries and kiddo bedrooms. We’re excited to see how mamas make use of the space they have, incorporate special pieces of furniture or art and style the bedrooms to be a place of rest and play.

In this edition, we check out Henry’s galactic bedroom and ask his mama, Laura to share more about how they decorated his room.

How would you describe Henry’s room?
Outer Space.

Where did you get your inspiration from?
Taking inspiration from his astronaut bedcover we bought from Indigo Living I themed his whole room. I went on to Etsy to see what wall decals were available and I saw this awesome one of the earth and moon and thought it would look fantastic reversed out on a blue wall. To be honest I did go a little crazy online shopping at Etsy and ended up buying three packs of space related wall decals.

How did you get Henry involved with designing his room?
Henry definitely picked the theme… I couldn’t get him out of the show bed at Indigo so I knew that astronaut bedcover was the winner. He then helped pick which space stickers he liked with a little persuasion from mummy! I then enlisted the help of my husband to help apply them to the wall. I wouldn’t say Henry was exactly helpful in that respect, but he was very good at tidying up.

What was the hardest part of decorating this room?
Finding space for all of his toys!

What part of the room are you most proud of?
The blue feature wall with the earth, moon and stars. It was a bit of a job to apply the earth, as it came in sections, but it was well worth it as the result is pretty eye catching.

Is there anything in the room you would like to change?
I still feel his toys are taking over so any clever storage ideas would be very welcome!

Check out some of our creative storage solutions for small spaces!

A huge thank you to Kim Bacon from Kim Bacon Photography for the beautiful photos of Henry and his room!

If you think your bubba or kiddo has a cool room, send us a picture at kat@sassymediagroup.com and your room might be featured!

The post Cribz: Welcome to Henry’s Outer Space Room! appeared first on Sassy Mama.