We have recently been designing quite a few nurseries for our clients, which makes this the perfect opportunity to share some of our favourite Ikea accessories for your little ones. Ikea can be a daunting place to shop and can be hard to envision a chic, yet functional room for your kids when all of the baby stores cost a fortune. Ikea has some great options for nurseries, especially in terms of accessories and we find the key is to not limit your search to just the kids section. There are some amazing finds throughout the store that work for kid’s rooms too.

With spring upon us and summer (hopefully!) just around the corner, we’re finally able to start spending some more time outside here in Toronto. When the weather gets warmer, we always find ourselves wanting to invest more time into gardening and making our outdoor spaces more beautiful. But let’s be honest – between the freezing winters and humid summers, we end up spending more time indoors year-round than we’d like to admit. One of our favourite ways to bring an element of the outdoors into a home is by decorating with indoor plants inside a beautiful planter.

Plants bring vibrancy, life, and a punch of colour into a space. They’re key pieces in so many of the rooms we’ve designed and can be the perfect way to freshen up a forgotten corner. We especially love adding plants to more urban homes, like apartments and condos, because they can really help to make those spaces feel less cold. Trust us – adding the right plants to your home can really help you feel more connected to nature (minus the allergies!).

Given our love of designing with plants, it probably goes without saying that we’re always on the hunt for the perfect planters and plant stands. There are tons on the market at all different price points, but we’re huge fans of finding unique pieces by local artisans and on Etsy. If you’re going to spend more on your planter, prioritize versatility – sadly, plants don’t live forever and you may want to move the planter to different rooms in your home. If you’re looking for a classic piece with longevity, consider wooden, mid-century styles (like 10 below) or sleek and neutral pieces in black and white (3 and 4). Wicker and rattan pieces (5) feel perfect for summer and are trendy right now.

Ikea tends to be a polarizing brand – maybe it’s because their pieces are instantly recognizable (every screw and wooden dowel) or perhaps because you can buy a full meal along with your furniture (a plus in our books!). Some people love it, some people hate it – but no matter your opinion on Ikea, you almost certainly have something (or many things) from the furniture giant in your home.

We often get asked for suggestions on how to accessorize and style a room on a tight budget. One of our best tips is to head to your local bookstore (ahem, online is often cheaper). Investing in a few beautiful coffee table books is a quick and relatively inexpensive way to add colour and style to a space whether they are displayed on a coffee table or on a bookshelf. A bold, eye-catching cover or spine can add a fresh pop of colour to a room or serve as a great conversation starter. Books have a unique ability to show off your personality and interests and make your home feel like “you.”