Making room for one more? Congratulations! Bringing home your newborn can be one of the most exciting times of your life. But now you might be questioning how you can best prepare your space for their arrival. When it comes to nursery design, what’s most important is finding a balance between style and function. A well-designed nursery will be safe, practical and beautiful.
From paint colors and storage to lighting and furniture, here’s how to design and prepare a newborn-approved nursery in your home that includes all the essentials.
1. Plan the Layout
Take the guesswork out of the room arrangement by creating a checklist of all your baby’s must-haves, like a crib, changing table, dresser and comfy chair to rock the baby. Next, determine a rough arrangement for how they’ll be able to fit in the space. Keep in mind the three essential zones for sleeping, feeding and changing to create an efficient floor plan.
After you have all the practicalities mapped out, you can work on the fun part — a mood board for the colors and themes of the nursery design. If you want to save on decor, try your hand at DIY crafts that range from very easy to intermediate.
2. Decide on a Color Palette
After you’ve spent time building your mood board, you’ll want to make a decision on one of the most important nursery design factors: color. You’ll spend many days and nights soothing, playing and growing with your baby in your nursery, and that means it’s important to choose a color palette you’ll love. Since the paint choice can affect the mood of both you and your baby, many parents decorate with calming colors.
If you’re having trouble deciding on a palette, try using a visualizer program to help you envision how different hues will look in your nursery.
3. Invest in Furniture
Your biggest purchases for the nursery will be the furniture. To get the most benefit from your pieces, look for nursery furniture that can grow with your baby. You’ll find a huge advantage in furniture they can continue using as toddlers and beyond, like convertible cribs that can later be made into a bed or changing tables that can double as a spacious dresser.
If you hope to have multiple children, you can also consider investing in durable pieces that may be a little more pricey but can be reused, such as a sturdy crib or a high-quality rocking chair. You may also find it convenient to lay out a quality rug that is cushioned enough for your baby to crawl on, but also washable in case of accidents or spills.
4. Find the Right Lighting
Don’t rely only on overhead lighting in your nursery. Add lamps for more soft and subtle lighting, which can be especially helpful for late-night or early-morning diaper changes or feedings. However, avoid using tall floor lamps that could tip over and cause an accident.
5. Add Window Treatments
Curtains play a vital role in nursery functionality. Keeping your nursery dark and cool is vital for your baby’s well-being. Installing nursery blackout curtains will help them sleep longer and help regulate the temperature in the room.
6. Create Nursery Storage Solutions
Last but not least, be sure to add storage in your nursery. This will allow you to stay organized and keep your nursery less cluttered, so tripping hazards are limited. Baskets, bins and shelves can help you keep toys off the floor and track how many diapers and wipes are left.
Bring your baby to a home where they can grow and make memories. To take the first step in the homebuying process, get in touch to schedule an appointment with one of our Home Guides.
