Been There, Done That: How to Decorate Your Nursery
Written by Jessica Hill
When I was pregnant with my first child, a question I was not prepared for was, "How are you going to decorate the nursery?" It was something I had not thought much about. My husband and I cleaned out the study and picked out a crib, but we didn't get to the decorating part. I realized the decor of the nursery is important, especially since it's what your baby sees every day for the first months of his life. I learned a few tips and tricks for creating a homey, versatile and baby-friendly nursery and I'm here to pass them on to you.
Walls
Nursery walls should have colors that are attractive to babies, but they do not have to be over-the-top. For a two-tone classy design, split the room with a fun border. Start by choosing a good height for a border, which is typically one-third or two-thirds of the wall's full height. Measure and mark the wall, drawing a line across the entire room. Next, choose two colors in a safe paint that suits your style. One must be darker than the other, but they should play well together. Paint the bottom half of the room with the darker color and the top half with the lighter color. Lastly, choose a stick-on nursery border or white molding and apply it over the line between the two colors.
Photo by home space via Flickr
Some parents like to turn to wallpaper, but I think it can be a hassle. The room will most likely not be a nursery forever, and removing wallpaper is a headache. Instead, paint the walls a light solid color like pastel blue or yellow. Then place wall decals around the room. Decals are available with lovely quotes, cartoon characters and more, and are much easier to remove.
Decor
Baby's toys will brighten up the space. I find that having functional decor is better than wasting space with purely decorative items. Storage cubes can be both decorative and functional. They come in bright colors, solids and prints. Another option is wicker baskets accented with ribbons that match the room. These items will hold diapers, stuffed animals and even clothes.
Photo by Tabitha Blue / Fresh Mommy via Flickr
Furniture and Extras
Nursery furniture should always include the essentials, but don't be afraid to add less traditional pieces to make the room more inviting for all. My husband and I used a small couch so we could both sit in the nursery at feeding time. You could make it a day bed so you have the convenience of a couch but can also nap in the nursery if baby is sick and you want to stay close. Wayfair has some pieces that will make your nursery a comfortable space.
Essentials in a nursery include a changing table, crib and small bureau. Your changing table is going to save your back a lot of grief. Other potential changing surfaces in your house will have you leaning over while trying to keep the baby still and change his or her diaper. You will also want a good baby monitor, perhaps one with a positive review from Consumer Reports. Finally, attach crib toys the walls of the crib so your baby will look to the side. Head movement helps prevent skull deformations, according to BC Children's Hospital.
Photo by Tabitha Blue / Fresh Mommy
This article has been written by Jessica Hill, mother, pet lover, gardener. 2014.