If you are an expectant mother preparing for the big event, then how to design a baby nursery should be an important part of that preparation. Besides being emotionally satisfying, such activity allows you to fruitfully occupy the boring pre-natal days.
How to design a baby nursery
Bear in mind that the nursery you design will be your baby’s first glimpse of the world. That world must be presented to the baby as a cheerful and happy one. Remember that you are designing also for a future toddler. The style, color scheme of the room and the objects in it should all go to stimulate the baby’s imagination and aid its future growth.
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Planning: Firstly, make a budget and a list of items of purchase. Do not cut corners in buying essential things. Your baby’s essential things must be of good quality. There can be no compromise there. However, you can cut corners on non-essential items.
Location: A calm, soothing and cheerful ambience is critical to the child’s growth. The nursery should therefore be in a noise free area. If possible avoid buying expensive audio or video monitors by having the nursery on the same floor and close to your bedroom.
Wall painting: Choosing a color scheme is an opportunity to give full play to your latent creativity. There are so many options. Do you want the nursery bright and cheerful or subdued and neutral? For a stimulating ambience go for reds and oranges and for a relaxed ambience go for soft blues, greens and creams. You needn’t have all walls of the same color. Use them as a background for the overall style of the room. Here are some suggestions.
- Paint a sky on the ceiling. Add some puffs of clouds.
- Paint one in primary color and others in calming neutral shades.
- Paint bright flowers or other motifs on a neutral background.
- Let your theme come out better by having framed art, wall hangings and cutouts on the walls.
Furniture: The furniture should suit your budget and the space in the nursery. You must also decide whether you want furniture that will grow with your child or you want to replace it after a couple of years. However, the three essential items are crib, changing table and dresser.
The crib is the most important and in fact often the only item needed. It should be simple and meet all safety standards. A good quality mattress should snugly fit into it. The crib should give the baby a good view. For nappy changing a good floor is enough for the purpose.
The baby’s clothes can be stored in a wardrobe or a chest of drawers. They should be placed near the nappy changing area. The chest of drawers topped with a plastic covered mat can also duplicate as a changing table. These items can also be made from old discarded furniture.
Theme: This is not essential but it does enliven the ambience at very little cost and can only be good for the baby. You can browse the websites of Art Network or Crib Bedding for ideas.
Books and Toys: Have lots of books and toys around. These stimulate your baby’s curiosity and desire for learning. Keep baby Tapes/CDs for musical entertainment, books and videos for visual stimulation, and educational and interactive toys for overall growth.
Safety: The safety angle needs special attention.
The crib must be placed away from draughts and there should not be objects within the baby’s reach. Have a smoke detector in or near the nursery. Put plug protectors in electrical outlets.
Thus, the answer to how to design a baby nursery is to give the nursery a suitable furnishings, style and décor.
by Manuel Kupka
