Amie Hazel Interiors | Interview with Taryn Pratt Photography

Amie Hazel Interiors: A psychology focused residential interior designer in Franklin, MA

Finding out you are pregnant is one of the most exciting times in your life! I know the very first thing I did when I saw those two happy lines was begin thinking about what I wanted my first child’s nursery to look like. For some, that is is an exciting adventure on which to embark, and for others, the decision fatigue has already begun and it feels like another overwhelming thought of what it is to become a parent. I chatted with Amie from Amie Hazel Interiors who shared her expertise on the subject area to help new moms in the Central Massachuetts/Rhode Island area have a little bit of help in the new nursery area. So I hope this helps because I know I certainly learned a lot from our call!!

1. Tell me about your brand – what makes you passionate about interior design?

Amie has been passionate about psychology since high school, but she discovered that interior design merges psychology and art – her two passions. She specializes in emotional psychology. Her tag line is “where emotion meets design”. She uses the psychology of the individual to influence all design elements.

There are not many general rules and as every single person is different, Amie takes the time to ask lots of questions and get to know her clients so she can tailor her approach to each client.

2. I know that you use emotional psychology in your design approach, what would that look like in a nursery setting?

There is a lot of visual psychology that goes into a nursery. Of course for the baby after a few weeks or months, but especially for the parents there. 

Paint color is the most impactful visually so Amie suggests you pick a calm or soothing color. She says to not pick yellow or grey because yellow is very stimulating and grey can bring on depression. She mentions that these colors can be design aspects, but she advises to not make that a wall color. She suggests pale pinks or very pale blues. Blue is a fantastic neutral wall color. 

Amie also recommends having multiple sources of lighting. She suggests two or three additional lamps or wall sconces that are at different brightness levels. She explains that for example, if you need to change the baby at 2 am, you don’t want the super bright ceiling light, but you want want a dim light that still gives enough light to see. And even if the sun is up, it is nice to have the different light options. 

She also suggests having something plush in the room. For example, plush pillows for the rocking chair or a plush stuffed animal. These visuals help to minimize stress levels. And she also suggests comfort over style.

3. Because nursery trends come and go, what design choices would you recommend for parents who want a space that feels timeless both in person and in photos for years to come?

If you want a theme, go for it. If you want a timeless room that will grow with your child, a monochromatic theme is a good go to. You can add different textures or you can have a white theme, with off white furniture, or a tan crib, etc. She also suggests bringing in wood when you can like a light wood floating shelf.

4. How can parents balance creating a picture perfect nursery with the reality of daily life (diapers, laundry, etc.) without losing that beautiful cohesive look?

Amie recognizes just googling diaper genie covers or other ways to sort of hide the necessary aspects of a nursery.

5. When would you recommend a client work with an interior designer?

Amie specializes in helping people with paint color. You can hire someone to just come in for a paint color and then they can give you more ideas for the layout of your nursery. She suggests a two hour consultation and the designer can give you great ideas for your nursery and other areas of your house!

6. If a client wants to work with you, what are the next steps?

You can reach out via phone or email to Amie. She offers no obligation phone calls so if you have no idea or you’re feeling nervous, you can just reach out and Amie will talk things through with you and help get you started! You can reach Amie at 508-507-8282 or at  amie@ahazelinteriors.com.

7. Any other advice or thoughts for first time moms?

She suggests you ask dad about the nursery design because he actually does care even if he says he doesn’t. She also says that often we are unaware of how much the visual environment can affect us emotionally and psychologically. There might be something that bothers you in your home and you don’t even realize it so her two hour consultation can really make a huge difference in your house. She also suggests googling psychology in a nursery and you can learn so much about planning your nursery!

If you’re looking for other resources for new moms, be sure to check out the blog post highlighting the absolute CUTEST boutique HERE.