I'm Brooke, here to publicly share my design addictions, product lusts, general obsessions and justification for cramming way too much pattern in any given space. « Tips For Decorating Your Nursery
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Because 2 of my close friends (that I know of) are pregnant, and my sister-in-law and another friend each had a baby this week, and because I get asked nearly every day when I’m having kids (and because EVERY time I’m sick, and I’m talking stuffy nose and sore throat, symptoms that clearly point to ‘cold’, someone *still* says, “Maybe you’re pregnant!” ) - I thought this article would come in handy.
Okay, sorry for that little rant. I have been sick for a few weeks with a sore throat and ear ache, and I can’t tell you how many times someone said that. Yeesh. Anyhow - back to what I came here for. I stumbled on a great article about important things to consider when putting together your baby room. I can’t find the original article from Better Homes and Gardens, but I found one from Move.com who sited the source.
Here is a quick run-down of the tips from Better Homes and Gardens:
1. Plan for the room to last through childhood. Avoid giving it too much of a baby feel — once your child hits preschool, light blue or pink might seem like it’s “for babies.” Choose wall treatments and furniture that are appropriate for any age and use accessories to give the room a baby feel. Also make sure there’s a place for a bed once your baby grows out of the crib.
2. Take note of the light in the room. Check out the angles that the sun comes in at different times of day. Don’t put the crib in a spot that gets direct sunlight in the morning, or in a spot that a streetlight shines on all night.
3. Consider double-duty furniture. You might find a changing table that can convert to a dresser once your baby grows out of diapers. The longer you can use the furniture, the better the value.
4. Avoid wall-to-wall carpeting. Use area rugs on a wood or cork floor, if possible. Hard floors are easier to clean up and they don’t harbor allergy-aggravating dust. Area rugs can be replaced much more easily than carpeting as they get dirty or your child’s tastes change.
5. Give yourself lots of storage space. You’ll probably need more room than you think. Once the clothes get bigger and are joined by shoes and other accessories, you’ll need every inch of closet space you can get. Not to mention a place to put all those toys!
6. Don’t forget a place for you to sit in the nursery. Pick a comfortable chair. You’ll be spending many nights there with your baby, reading her stories or rocking her to sleep.
Do you have tips you think you could add? I’d love to hear them.
One tip I think might be helpful is to consider the tasks you’ll be doing in the room. I.E. - You may want the changing table close to the crib for quick diaper changes without waking the baby… But then again, what do I know… I just have a cold!
image source: bhg.com
3 comments to “Tips For Decorating Your Nursery”
That room is gorgeous!!!!! Love the colors.
I love that picture! I am excited to do a nursery again for this next one once we have a house to put us all in! For sure layout is important- the changing table and all the clothes have to be in a good spot since you have to hold the baby with one hand and reach for 10 other things with your free hand. And the sitting place- good to have near music and not near light. Also helpful to have a low-watt lamp to give yourself some light without waking everyone up. I love the wall stencil idea, I’ll have to figure that one out someday!
Oh boy do I have some suggestions!! I’m the problem-solving sister, not the design one. So maybe you can figure out a way to make my ideas pretty.
1 - Go for the room darkening curtains. You’ll want it to help create the “nappy” room that tricks toddlers into thinking it really is time to sleep. Good luck with that.
2 - Get a nightlight that lasts. Forget the $1.99 ones because you’ll buy a hundred of them. Invest in the “20 year” kind that cost about $6 and you’ll be happy for much longer. I tried all sorts of low-watt lamps but found that to be too much light at 2AM for anybody. Your eyes adjust quickly and after you ram your toe into the crib a few times, you’ll learn to swing out wide as you enter the room.
3 - Never change the diaper on a sleeping baby. Buy Bag Balm instead. I know it’s for cow udders and doesn’t come in a pretty bottle but it is THE solution to preventing diaper rash. Maybe you can design a little canister to keep it in.
4 - My last tip is to prepare yourself for the day your precious little one wants to hang a Jonas Brother’s poster up in the room you carefully decorated. I have friends who won’t let their kids express themselves because they want the room to stay looking like a page from the Pottery Barn catalog. I say, let them decorate the room however they want. It helps them develop their own DIY Style and you can always shut the door.
P.S. I hope you’re feeling better.