Tips For Decorating Your Nursery
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