Nursery is a place where you will spend a lot of time with your baby for diaper changes, bedtime stories, playtime and more. Designing a peaceful and cozy room for a baby you can also create a sanctuary for you. So start in advance and consider all the nursery design building blocks below, so your project will turn both practical and fun.
Big Idea
Start with your room theme and wrap it around a big idea. Serena Dugan and Lily Kanter, authors of Nursery Style say that there is only one rule in creating a great nursery: “This is a place that should be unique to your family”. They suggest starting your nursery not weeks but months in advance, so you can have the time to roam the stores and flea markets for something unique, custom order something special, or just to order the crib, which often takes extra time (as I learned when the baby came but the crib was not home yet). There is no need to go after it all; focus on the big idea in defining your style. A good way to do this is to start with an inspiration piece. Perhaps, it’s an old quilt, or a character you think your little one will enjoy, such as Elmo, or Winnie the Pooh, or a Thomas. Once you figure out what your theme is, everything else will unfold around it.
Functionality
Once you got your big idea, but before you proceed with the nursery design, write out your plan. The infant will eventually turn into a toddler and then preschooler, so think beyond the initial period. Answer a few questions which could help you with the functionality of your design:
- Where will the baby sleep? Will you have a bassinet in your room or will you have her in the crib right away? It’s a good idea to position the crib where you would like the bed to be later on – it will make for an easier transition. Keep the crib far enough from the windows to avoid accidents.
- Will the nursery function as the little one’s sleeping quarters or will you also have toys and books in the room? If you have a spare room or space in your family/living rooms, consider dedicating the nursery to sleeping mostly. It’s nice to have a change of scenery vs. being stuck in one room all the time, especially for a curious child.
- Will the room be shared? If there is another one already in the house or one on the way; will the nursery have to function for both?
- What would elicit good response from the baby? Seeing characters on the wall may be nice stimulation for the budding brain. It’s been known that babies cry more in yellow rooms and sleep better in blue rooms. Children under the age of two see red better than any other color and primary colors stimulate learning.
- What is your budget? Firmly set your maximum budget and avoid going over it – after all, your future preschooler may have her own ideas on what her room should look like and you may need to make changes later on.
- What would make the room safer? Consider all the baby-proofing you will need to do before you shop (e.g. gates, electric plugs, etc.)
Essentials
Jessica Strand and Jennifer Levy, authors of Baby’s Room: Ideas and Projects for Nurseries suggest first spending a lot of time in the room to determine:
- The size. Take good measurements – it’s crucial when you go shopping. Take a realistic look to know how much will really fit in the room and plan accordingly. Avoid the clutter before the baby arrives; there will be enough to come.
- Lighting. Is there a lot of light that will need to be blocked by shades? Or is it too dark and you will need extra lighting or have to modify your room theme/colors?
- Storage. If you don’t have any built-ins or closets in the room, consider investing in some storage bins.
- Separate the items for the nursery into two separate categories – the necessities (flooring, bedding, windows, lighting) and personal touches (accessories, artwork, homemade mobile). Let’s start with the necessities.
Flooring
Before your baby starts to walk he will be spending a lot of time on the floor, lounging, turning, crawling. When considering the flooring, think about soft and cozy but be practical. If you have nice hardwood floors, perhaps putting a large space rug is all it takes to soften it. Or, lay the carpeting, which should be soft enough for the little one, but sturdy for the crawling and roaming around that would take place here.
A neutral gray or beige should work with any wall color or border but you can always add a splash of color with the flooring. Yet, another option is the colorful and soft letter puzzle mats – they are soft and a good play activity.
Bed and Bedding
Since your baby will spend most of his time sleeping in the first 3 months and then will spend a good block of day’s time in bed for a 10-hour night sleep and 2+hour nap daily through his 3rd year, your choice of bed and bedding is very important. Having a good sleep routine is key, but the right bed and bedding will make it easier to set. Joanne Still, the author of The Smart Approach to Baby Rooms, suggests following a few steps when establishing baby’s sleep conditions. First, select the type of bed, then select the best quality mattress you can afford, and finally do all the safety checks. Since a bassinet won’t last you long and co-sleeping has been linked to a higher risk of SIDS, the crib seems to be the most practical and safe choice. I would recommend buying a new crib for your first child, as hand-me-downs may be on the recall list or have defects. When buying a new crib, check that it fits all the safety standards, such as the space between slats and having the seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Once your child reaches 35 inches, he will need to move to a toddler bed. Or, consider getting a convertible crib which can transition to a toddler bed when both of you are ready. It’s essential to find a good quality mattress that is sturdy yet comfortable and made of good materials. This is one item to definitely splurge on.
A lot of parents love to put crib bumpers and stuffed toys in the crib. While this is fine when the baby is not asleep and playing there, any objects in the crib are a bad idea when you are not around. Toys and bumpers are a suffocation risk, plus later on your curious toddler may use the bumpers to climb out of bed. So avoid these dangers and focus more on the quality of the crib, the sturdy yet soft enough mattress, organic bedding and delightful mobiles.
Windows and Lighting
Most children will sleep better in a dark room, so select window coverings that are effective in blocking the light. When thinking of window treatments, try to strike a balance between your theme and functionality. Consider heavier or darker draperies, or vinyl pull-down shades. However, watch out for lead vinyl blinds, as some have been recalled at stores. Consider purchasing cordless window treatments, to avoid the safety concerns (cords are a strangulation risk). Some popular examples are curtains, electric blinds and top down/bottom up coverings. Additional lighting, such as lamps, will help the room’s functionality and will be nice when you don’t want to turn on the bright light. Another step is to add dimmers to your light switch, which will allow you to control the level of lighting in the room – great for those late night crying spells.
Walls
There are a number of options here. They will be largely affected by your theme but know that you can combine a few of them and try not to overdo – after all you will be spending a lot of time here and it needs to be a soothing and comfortable place for baby to sleep and rest.
- Paint the walls. This in no way means one solid color, though it’s perfectly fine too. Consider making the wall a backdrop with a solid color, or make the space appear larger by separating the wall into two color blocks (top and bottom) and putting a lighter one on the top. Create whimsical stripes with multiple striking tones, or combine a color with a border. Avoid painting if you are pregnant (you can decide on the color, that’s harmless) to avoid harmful fumes, and make sure to paint at least a month before the baby arrives to sufficiently air the room. Many houses built before 1978 have lead paint, harmful to developing babies, so it’s a good idea to check that yours does not have it. When shopping for paint, you can match the color to a certain inspiration item from your theme and pick several paint chips to narrow your decision. Water-based paints are better than oil-based, since they will dry faster and are less smelly. It’s also to your advantage to choose a paint finish that can be easily wiped, such as semi-gloss, since your toddler will definitely leave his mark on it later on.
- Wallpaper the room. It’s a nice alternative to color. Select from self-adhesive full-size wallpapers to smaller 5-inch borders. The beauty of the border is that is it easy to replace, it creates a nice separation of the room and it is entertaining for your child.
- Create a mural. Having a mural in your child’s room is a great way to foster creativity and imagination. Many professional artists will draw anything that will complement your theme, or present your theme on the walls. Thinking of a peaceful garden? Think of the family tree and have it painted on the wall, along with the sky, clouds and butterflies. Or, make it a space express with stars, spaceships and planets. Nothing is off limits with a skillful artist. A good resource for murals is Muralsyourway.com which contains over 5000 licensed images from great artists and photographers.
Personal touches
While all the room elements together are a reflection of your personal taste, a few unique items can further add to this nursery being one of a kind creation. A few ideas:
- Personalize the baby’s name with Wall adhesive letters or wooden letter blocks one a small shelf
- But a mobile that flows with your theme or consider asking grandma to make one. For example, a few crinkly flowers on strings or sparkly stars.
- Personalize bedding and hampers with baby’s monogram or theme sketch
- Add artwork to the walls. Going with a fall nature theme? Collect a variety of leaves, dry them and glue on paper, then frame – voila, personalized artwork. Many parents make baby hand and foot prints – certainly a nice personal item to display on the nursery wall.
You will notice that I am not offering any specific themes or big ideas. I think your mind should be open to what your room and your life inspires you to do, so keep an open mind and dream big!
