Setting up the perfect baby nursery for the arrival of a baby into the house is almost as exciting as seeing that plus sign on the home pregnancy test or sharing the first ultrasound image with family and friends. But there are many things you must keep in mind when making your choices – room layout, nursery theme and colors, initial and future furniture needs, and storage needs are all part of the decision process.Fortunately, many parents-to-be begin planning their baby's nursery long before the birth of their child. Starting your planning early will give you more time to search multiple sources for ideas and to organize your thoughts to create that perfect room. Looking at other nursery designs in magazines and on the Internet can be a great source of inspiration during this pre-planning stage. And don’t forget to visit baby stores for ideas. Many stores are organized into vignettes to let you see a variety of styles and room settings.
Assessing Your Room Layout
What is the basic shape of the room, square or rectangular? What about the size of the room? These two factors can affect other decisions you must make about color and furniture. For example, you can make a small room appear larger by angling the crib in the corner. Choosing a light paint color for the wall can open up a small room. The same is true for furniture finish and window treatments. Lighter ceiling colors will make the room appear higher and more open and inviting.
A good tip here is to make a scale drawing of the room shape in order to assess furniture size and placement options before making a purchase. Another way to get a realistic picture of how the furniture will fit in your room is to tape newspaper together and cut to the size and shape of the specific furniture items you plan to buy. Then place the newspaper on the floor of your nursery where you want the furnture to go. This will help you determine if that particular furniture piece will actually fit and still allow you the walking space, etc. you will need.
Choosing a Nursery Theme and Colors
First of all - relax. You don't have to decorate with a theme if you don't want to. There are many modern and elegant furniture styles that will make your baby’s room special. However, nursery themes do add an element of fun to nursery designs, so if that's your idea of a nursery room, then go for it! Babies' and kids' rooms are often the only places in the home where you can let your creative juices flow.
Some parents begin by purchasing a crib set and basing the rest of the theme on this one item. If you do this, you can take your cues for paint and accessories from the color and décor of the set. Others prefer choosing a favorite paint color and searching for material and patterns that match. Whichever method you choose, picking one major item in a preferred style and working around that item is typically the easiest way to decorate any room, including your baby's nursery.
The traditional colors of blue for boys and pink for girls are still valid, but most people today opt for bright colors, like yellow, green, or even white. One thing to keep in mind is that you should select a semi-gloss or egg shell finish to make wall cleaning easier.
Selecting the Right Furniture
After you choose the furniture style you prefer, a major decision you must make is to determine what pieces of furniture are most important and will comfortably fit in your room. A crib is a must. Beyond that, you must decide what you can or can’t live without based on available space.
Don’t forget to consider the room’s work flow patterns and the need for certain items to be close to each other. For example, your changing table should be near, or attached to, a dresser for easy access to diapers and clothing while changing the baby. But you also need access to a diaper pail and baby’s personal care items like diaper rash cream, baby oil and cream (Burt’s Bees is my personal favorite), and a hair brush.
Many new mothers find that a glider or rocker is an essential item, but sometimes there just isn’t room in the nursery. That’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a rocker in the family room or an extra bedroom if you’re sure you need one. If space is limited, a wardrobe or armoire will provide plenty of storage and take up less floor space than a wide dresser.
Be sure to choose a furniture style that you won’t tire of easily, as you can use much of the baby furniture to grow with your baby as he moves into a big kid, or for another family addition down the road.
Tips on Increasing Your Storage Space
You can use the space under the crib with baskets or plastic containers that easily slide in and out. Another good idea is to make the most of vertical space with wall-mounted shelves. (But not above the crib where things can fall and hurt the baby.)
Most closets have a clothing rod hung at the right height to accommodate adult clothing. But since baby clothes are small, you can utilize the space beneath the rod by adding a second closet rod, or by installing shelves or a small dresser. Over-the-door and closet organizers can hang up and out of the way to hold supplies, socks, shoes, washcloths, hats, etc.
Planning your nursery is an exciting time and sets the stage for many happy hours with your baby. Our friendly, knowledgeable associates are always ready to help you in any way that we can.
