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Edwardian Nursery

In larger Edwardian homes the nursery would comprise two rooms, one for daytime and the other for night time. In smaller houses one nursery room had to suffice. This room would be used for meal times, for learning, for playing and for sleeping. Nurseries should occupy healthy locations. This meant, a north facing, high room with small windows. Hygiene, cleanliness and good ventilation were all-important so the nursery was positioned at the top of the house away from the germs of other occupied rooms. Fresh air was circulated through the open chimney and the sash windows, were left open day and night. Draft excluders were laid along the doorways and cracks in floorboards were filled with putty.

The ceiling and walls were usually painted white or cream or papered with a washable paper. A nursery rhyme frieze might run around the room. Nursery floors were often covered with cork or linoleum and designed to be warm and washable. They would be covered with rugs too. The curtains were covered with a dark green fabric to keep the early morning light out. Miniature nursery furniture was fashioned in oak, stained wood or hygienic enamel. These suites might contain: -

Chairs
Table
Sofa
Cupboard
Toy table

Other pieces of dolls house furniture for an Edwardian nursery might include: -

Nursing chair
Easy chair for the nurse or governess
Clock
Medicine cabinet (with lock and key)
Dresser (to store plates and cutlery)
Fireguard
Wall and ceiling lights
Dressing table
Bath

Beds were made from wood, iron or brass. These had a woven wire base with a horsehair mattress placed on top. Young children would have a waterproof sheet on top of this and the bed would be made up with cotton sheets, two or three blankets, a pillow and an eiderdown or quilt.

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