How To Design A Nursery

Are you looking to design a nursery for your baby? For some parents, it can feel like an impossible task to create the best environment for you and your baby. However, we have put together some handy tips for how to design a nursery that suits your style. Designing a nursery is an exciting time in the build-up for preparing for the arrival of your new baby. It may be tempting to design a room that is entirely baby-centric, but it is important to remember that the room should withstand the test of time as your child grows. 

They grow quickly into toddlers and creating a room specifically for a baby will mean that you will have to spend time changing the room again after only a year.

In addition, there are important health reasons for carefully choosing your nursery design. 

Sleep experts have found that adequate levels of sleep for babies can help with growth,  alertness, cognitive performance, mood, acquiring vocabulary, as well as overall learning and memory skills. 

Below are some of the best ways to design a nursery to ensure a good night’s sleep for your little one.

Painting

Before painting your nursery, it is important to consider the types of paint that are on offer. 

• Matte emulsion paint will create a flat finish. If you are considering traditional matt paint, try looking for wipe-clean versions as this helps your walls stay cleaner for longer.
• Check for paints that are wipe-clean or are able to be scrubbed clean.
• Chalkboard paint can be a fun addition to your nursery. It encourages children to draw into the wipeable surface, as opposed to damaging other walls that do not have the same qualities. 
• Search for paints that do not give off fumes, as this can affect your child’s breathing and may cause respiratory problems.

When it comes to colour, don’t be afraid to stray from gender norms. Pink does not have to be for a girl, and blue does not have to be for a boy. Instead of catering to gender norms, cater to the light available in the room. If you have a north or east-facing room, the space will look more inviting if you opt for warmer colours, as the sunlight is not able to shine through. South or west-facing rooms can take cooler-toned colours more easily, as the sunlight shining into the room brings the needed warmth. 

You should choose colours that you are fond of for your baby’s room, as you will most likely spend as much time awake in there as your baby, and your baby will – doubtfully – have too strong of an opinion on colours for a good few years!

Painted walls allow you to keep your nursery renovations relatively cheap. It also is much easier than wallpaper to redecorate.

Also read: How To Choose The Right Childcare for Your Kids? 

Wallpaper

If painted walls feel a bit bland for you, why not try wallpaper? Wallpaper is a fun option if you are seeking something more impactful for your baby’s nursery. Many children’s nurseries are bold and busy, so do not feel as though you have to wallpaper every wall if there is a chance that the room will look too overwhelming or small. Try using wallpaper for a feature wall instead. 

Be aware that wallpaper is more difficult to wipe clean, so may make things more tricky to keep tidy when your child begins to crawl/walk. 

Curtains, shutters and blinds

Shutters are a popular choice for nurseries. Solid shutters are effective at keeping daylight out, which is vital to ensure that your baby’s sleep is not disturbed during the day. Shutters are a classic and timeless window decor that will stand the test of time.

Blinds are a good functional choice for a nursery. Black-out blinds allow for the complete blockage of sunlight, allowing your baby to maintain their nap schedule. Venetian blinds offer good light control and can help control glare on screens. 

Curtains for a child’s room are a more decorative option compared to shutters and blinds. Curtains bring the soft drape of fabric into the room and can bring a touch of colour. Curtains are available with blackout lining, but it is recommended to pair them with a blackout blind to ensure your baby’s sleep is not disturbed. 

Lighting

Nurseries should have a range of light sources for flexibility.

Ambient lighting for the room is usually provided by a ceiling light, you might want to hang a pendant with an attractive shape or a warm colour. Using a dimmer switch for the ceiling light is recommended, as it ensures that you can create ambient lighting when desired. 

A table lamp and a nightlight can provide a comforting glow, and allow you to move around the room at night without disturbing your baby. 

Decorative lighting can be a good way to personalise a nursery. Fairy lights around a window or scattered across the ceiling are low-cost and a fun touch for your new nursery.

Cot

A baby’s cot is the most important piece of furniture that you will buy for your baby’s nursery. You need to ensure that it is from a quality supplier that will provide safety and durability. 

If you are buying your cot separately from the baby’s mattress, check that you have the right size. It is important that you factor in the size of the cot too, if you buy one too small, you will have to replace it quickly as your baby will grow out of it.

Consider that your cot may need to be height adjustable. As your baby grows, you will want to lower the cot so that they cannot climb out. Height adjustment means that you can line up the baby’s mattress with your bed if you are considering co-sleeping. 

Wheels are a handy feature if you are moving the cot around the room. 

Bedding and soft furnishings 

Bedding and soft furnishings can have a huge impact on how your nursery looks. While babies sleep with no covers for safety, you may want to consider throws and cushions to decorate the cot and any seating that you have in the nursery to give the room a softness.

For bedsheets, we recommend that you find ones that match the colour scheme of the room and that are easy to clean. Fitted cot sheets work best as babies tend to move around a lot while they sleep.

Cushions and blankets give the nursery a more homely feel and help tie the colour scheme of the room together.

Also read: Transitioning Your Baby to a Crib: The Best Tips for Success