That's what I got also. I didn't make it all the way through but got confused while reading what the original topic was because it went in so many directions. It's hard on Houzz to discuss serious issues like that through text. So much gets lost in translation and can get completely misinterpreted. Without someone sitting right in front of you, it's nearly impossible to get it 100%. Couldn't figure out why politics kept getting brought up regarding government allowance, etc from posters. I'm sure she was just throwing her heart out there but not wording it in the best manner. Does sound like she has some serious hardships. I just thought Houzz might not be the best place to unload all of it. Unless you recognize her name and have followers her, it was really hard to understand everything. I'm really glad you caught it all Roo and could help her.

Yellow is a beautiful colour for gender neutral rooms, it can be either pale and sunny or gorgeous rich mustards like this above. The turquoise blues can be teamed with it for a retro feel and navy looks great too, on the other hand, lighter tones can be put with it against white as an overall colour, it works for either boy or girl. Typography or letter art looks smart and sweet in a nursery, bright primary colored alphabets in frames, eye test charts, or words that articulate your thoughts for your babies space look sweet too. You can start to tie in with your babies initials, monograms sticker on their linens, a custom cushion with colored embroidery on a casual armchair in the corner look great, mdf letters are cheap you can paint them with a sample pot or two for temporary colour. Same with a canvas, cover it with a staple gun or hot glue with a nice fabric you like from a fabric store, pick a pattern, print or theme, maybe pick a colour out from it and use on accessories, for example a fabric of sketched birds with leaves twigs and owls, in blues greens and mustards, you could get some mustard, green and caramel frames, pillows, blankets or lamps, cover the shade in the same feature fabric, suddenly you have great neutral walls, white furniture as your build off colour, temporary pattern in a canvas print for their wall, glue on white painted letters either initials or simply ABC onto the centre of the canvas to become a large custom print, tie in with a cushion in the. Same fabric, suddenly your print is scattered around the room, tied in with coordinating colours in linens etc, and some cute little quirky things, and it's already sweet and trendy for your little tot. Books and more books, are great they look good, and encourage a love for reading, you Both will benefit fro it early on, I have seen a bookstand that is a cloud shape, holding a dozen books or so, sits on the floor next to a chair, paint in a great blue, depending on your palette, this works for boy or girl, just adjust the colour tones to either sex once their born. Ie paler lilacs and things if a girl, or darker navy etc if a boy.

I agree with Brandi Nashi Hicks on timber and colours - think about providing colour with things that are simple to change like cushions, artwork, rugs and other accessories while keeping the basics of your home neutral - this way you can quickly, cheaply and easily change the look of your home as new trends or your tastes change. Don't worry too much about storage for when children come - the way you actually live in an apartment can vary drastically from how you think you'll live in it so put in what you need now, and then adapt your apartment to your family. Babies and small children don't need a lot of stuff - especially if you share cots, prams, clothing with friends and family so that you've got only what you need at that particular time - this works until they're at least school aged and provides a win/win solution to you and friends on storage and cost of little ones. Your future home looks as though it'll be a beautiful happy place to be a family and I hope you'll be very happy in it.

I wouldn't give up on doing something about those downlights. Either remove at least half of them or paint the ceiling darker to hide them. They make the room look as if it has an illness and your ceilings are high enough to tolerate the colour. In order to make your room suit you, work out how you use it most and make " rooms" with your furniture. It has to suit your lifestyle and your taste. Remember furniture doesn't need to be against a wall. Personally I hate texture. I don't like the look of it or the feel of it, so I don't use it and I don't care what suits other people. You need to be able to sit in your room and wherever you look should please your eye. I think the curtains are a good idea, but they needn't be sheer. If they are a solid plain colour you can pull them back by day unless you need them to keep the sun out and close them at night for privacy. If you don't need curtains and you just want the doors to look better then go for sheers. Good luck. Trial and error will help you sort it out.