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Nursery Decorating. Wondering how to tackle this awesome nursery design project?
We get it! Decorating a nursery can be overwhelming sometimes. That's why this Nursery Decorating Guide will give you the step by step details to help you decorate a nursery.
Follow this nursery decorating guide and you'll be able decorate a baby's room that's practical and gorgeous.
1.DEFINE THE NURSERY STYLE
You will be spending A LOT of time in the baby's room , so it is well worth it to create a nursery you and your baby will love. Many of you will be starting from a blank slate with decorating the nursery, so enjoy the design process.
First, take some time and browse through our nursery design boards or other magazines and pick baby room ideas that resonate with you. It could be the colors, the textures, themes, furniture or accessories that speak to you.
Once you've identified some nursery designs, you'll be able to find commonalities. Perhaps you are drawn to mid-century styles or you love coastal styles or you just adore a particular color.
Another important thing to consider is how the nursery will interact with the style in the rest of the home. Do you want to have a cohesive look throughout the home? Would you prefer to continue the same color palette?
2.TAKE THE NURSERY STYLE QUIZ
If you are stumped, just take our 2 minute Nursery Style Quiz. It'll help you figure out your style preferences and give personalized ideas. Taking the time now to narrow down the style will payoff and you'll be able to design a nursery that looks pulled together as well as beautiful.
3.CHOOSE THE NURSERY COLOR PALETTE
Once you've defined your signature style for the nursery, it's time to choose the nursery color palette.
With so many colors, it can be daunting settling on a color palette for the baby's room. When picking the colors, go back to the style preferences you've defined previously and really try to imagine how you want the room to feel and look. Create a color palette that works within that paradigm.
4.PUT TOGETHER A NURSERY MOOD BOARD
You are going to love this part! Once you have defined your style and picked a nursery color palette, it's time to get started with a mood board. A mood board is essentially a mockup of the room you envision.
Before you start making purchases for the baby's nursery, put photos of the furniture, rug and accessories you have in mind, together on a board and see how it comes together. Use images that are free of styling and preferably have a white background.
5. FIGURE OUT THE NURSERY LAYOUT
When it comes to figuring out the layout for the baby's nursery, it is important to remember that not only do you need a beautiful nursery but also one that is functional. When I am planning a nursery, I break up the room into three different zones-changing, sleeping and feeding.
In the changing zone, you'll need to have a dresser/changing table, diaper pail and storage for storing diapers, wipes, etc. Ideally, you'll want this zone to be close to the closet so you can easily pick up clothes before diaper changes.
You'll place a crib in the sleeping zone. When placing the crib, steer clear of nursery drapes, tall bookshelves and anything else the baby can pull down.
The importance of the feeding zone aka nursing nook in the nursery can not be overstated. It is a place where you will undoubtedly spend countless hours feeding the baby and bonding with the little one. There are a few essential items that you must incorporate in to the nursing nook design. The nursing nooks needs a comfortable nursing chair as well as an ottoman to put your feet up and comfortably position the nursing pillow to feed the baby.
When choosing the nursery layout, consider factors such as easy access to the diapering station for diaper changes, placement of crib away from windows to protect the baby from cold drafts and the positioning of the nursery chair so you can sit and watch the baby when she's sleeping. (You'll find yourself doing this quite a bit!)
6. PICK NURSERY FURNITURE
Picking furniture is probably the part that parents most look forward to when designing their baby's nursery. Since you have now identified your style preferences and decided on the layout, shopping for furniture should be fun.
Before you start shopping though, you'll need to measure the room including the windows. The last thing you want to happen is to buy furniture and then discover that it will not fit in the desired layout/space.
As you are shopping for furniture, remember that you don't have to break your bank. There are cribs and other furniture at virtually every price point regardless of style.
The crib is your primary investment piece for your nursery. It is the focal point of the room so try to pick the crib first. Remember, your crib can be used for two to three years so choose carefully. New cribs meet current safety standards, so you want to go this route vs. a hand-me-down or vintage piece.
As a new parent you are going to have a LOT of diaper changes in your future. And, what's the one thing that will make all these diaper changes easy? It's a no-brainier actually. A well organized changing table will make a world of difference. Pick a dresser or changing table that offers lots of space for storage and organization.
Your nursery chair will be the centerpiece for many hours of happy, bonding memories. Start with a nursery chair that's comfortable and practical. A chair that provides good back support and rhythmic motion. Next, pick an ottoman to comfortably position your feet while feeding the baby. You'll also need an end table to place a glass of water, nipple creams, etc.
7. ADD NURSERY STORAGE SOLUTIONS
It's amazing how much stuff comes with having a little baby. And, the baby size stuff can make a pretty big mess if you don't get a handle on it. The key to maintaining a beautiful nursery is to add plenty of storage solutions and to focus on nursery organization from the beginning.
As a new mom with a newborn, life can be quite stressful with little rest and taking care of a newborn. Having an organized nursery can help set you up to be more effective, less stressed and make life with your baby easier.
- Use baskets, shelves and drawers to organize and store the diapering essentials
- Add baskets to store and organize baby's swaddles and blankets.
- Use drawer organizers to organize and store baby's towels, blankets and swaddles, in one easily viewed space and you are sure to achieve KonMari-level neatness in your drawer.
- Organize your baby's small closet to maximize space and store baby's clothes.
- Utilize storage cubes to organize the baby's closet and use every inch of free space.
- Use wire baskets to store and organize baby's toys. You'll be able to access the toys easily, yet keep it tucked away when baby's not playing.
- Hang ledges or shelves to create your baby's first library in the nursery and develop a lifelong love of books.
8.PICK NURSERY LIGHTING
The lighting you choose for the nursery can transform your baby's nursery from so so to something gorgeous.
First of all, it's important to remember that lighting works best when used in layers. When layering lighting, incorporate ambient lighting to fill most of the room and accent lighting to highlight a particular focal point such as the nursing nook in the nursery.
When picking light fixtures for the nursery, make sure that the fixtures complement the nursery style. You want the light fixtures to unify the design elements in the nursery and elevate the room's style.
I recommend having a lighting dimmer installed in the nursery. Not only will it improve the overall atmosphere of the room at night, but it will allow you to adjust the amount of light you need, particularly during late night feedings and diaper changes.
9. CHOOSE A NURSERY RUG
I love using a rug to anchor the space. A rug sets the tone for the entire room and helps create a well layered space.
The nursery rug should be big enough to anchor the main furniture pieces in the nursery. Ideally, at least the front legs of the crib, nursing chair, etc. should be on the rug. A smaller rug can be used to highlight a specific piece of furniture.
A great rug can transform a nursery. So use a rug in your baby's nursery to keep the room feeling cozy and refreshed.
10. ADD ACCESSORIES TO THE BABY'S NURSERY
This is where you are going to add personality and style to the nursery and make the space truly unique. Your overall color and style choice should guide your accessory choices.
Use nursery accessories to tell your story, your passions or something meaningful you want to pass on to the baby. The key when accessorizing is to keep your theme and colors in mind to achieve a cohesive look.
Add accessories to bring texture to the nursery. It will give the nursery dimension and visual weight. Accessorize with a beautiful baby mobile, throw pillows, baskets, decorative objects for shelves, keepsakes and maybe even a plant.
11.PAINTING THE NURSERY
Get started on clearing out the space and painting the nursery while you wait for your furniture to be delivered. It is certainly much easier to paint an empty room. Let the room air out after painting to get rid of any fumes from the paint. Use a fan to help whisk fumes out of the room faster.
12. COMPLETING THE BABY NURSERY
After you've completed painting and/or hanging wallpaper, you can begin installing the items you've purchased. Start with the rug and then place the rest of the furniture in the room. You'll soon see the nursery taking shape! Keeping adding accessories and styling until you absolutely love your baby's new space.
CONCLUSION
Alright then, you've got this! You are on your way to pulling together the perfect nursery for your baby. And, if you follow this Nursery Decorating Guide, you'll take the stress out, design a nursery exactly the way you want and avoid costly design mistakes.
Again, here's the breakdown of what you need to do to decorate the baby's nursery.
1. Define the Nursery Style
2.Take the Nursery Style Quiz
3. Choose the Nursery Color Palette
4. Put together a Nursery Mood Board
5. Figure out the Nursery Layout
6. Pick Nursery Furniture
7. Add Nursery Storage Solutions
8. Pick Nursery Lighting
9. Choose a Nursery Rug
10. Add Accessories to the baby's room
11. Paint the Nursery
12. Complete the Baby Nursery
GENERAL NURSERY DECORATING FAQ
When SHOULD I start decorating the nursery?
You want to make sure that's plenty of time to decorate the nursery so are not playing catch up and stressing out. It's great if you are able to define your nursery style, pin down your nursery color palette and plan your nursery design budget by the time your 18-20 weeks pregnant.
WHAT DO YOU PUT IN A NURSERY?
There are a few nursery essentials you'll need for the baby's room to make sure the baby is safe and comfortable as well for you to help you take care of baby's needs. The nursery must haves include a crib/bassinet, nursery bedding, a changing table/dresser, nursery chair, ottoman/pouf, side table, a clothes hamper, sound machine, baby monitor, curtains and lighting.
HOW DO I SET UP A NURSERY?
You want the baby's nursery to be both beautiful and practical. When setting up the baby's nursery, try to make it as efficient as possible to help you take care of the baby. We recommend you focus on creating stations/ zones when planning your nursery layout. The essential stations you will need to create in the baby's room include a sleeping area, diapering station and nursing nook.
Last Updated on March 2, 2021 by Tira Attygalla
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