How to Style a Nursery
One of the most exciting parts of waiting for your baby to arrive is putting together their nursery. While, you’ve no doubt got lots of ideas running around in your head, sometimes it can be a little difficult to know where to start and quite often, the safety and practical aspects are overlooked as aesthetics take priority. We take a look at how to style a nursery to ensure that it’s fit for the baby while giving you free rein to use your imagination.
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Create a Mood Board
All good interior design starts with a mood board and a nursery is no exception. Search online for ideas and inspiration using sites such as Instagram and Pinterest where you can make your own mood board. By doing so, it will help you to identify your favourite styles, colours and themes.
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Practicalities
If possible, you should choose a room that’s quiet but close to your bedroom, so that you can reach baby quickly during the night. The room should have efficient temperature control and good ventilation so that your baby won’t be too hot or too cold.
A blackout blind or thick, lined curtains will help your baby to sleep when it’s still light outside and reduce the chance of them waking you up at the crack of dawn!
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Safety First
Don’t be tempted by extravagant cots and cribs unless you know for sure that they meet current safety standards. All cots sold in Australia need to comply with the Australian Standard AS/NZS 2172-2003. Also ensure that the cot is positioned away from windows, cords, wall decorations, heaters and lamps and is a suitable distance from other items of furniture.
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Keep it Simple
You may be tempted to go over the top when it comes to designing your nursery but the best advice is to keep it simple so that you don’t get tired of it too quickly. Keeping it simple means that you’ll also be able to switch it up as baby grows to make it more age-appropriate. The nursery can be personalised with items such as felt ball mobiles to stimulate their senses, a handmade wooden name plaque to identify the little occupant or a stand out script quote to send a special message to your little one.
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Opt for Soft, Relaxing Colours
While babies love bright colours, remember that you’re going to be spending a great deal of time in the nursery too, so opt for soft, nurturing colours that will help you to relax while you’re there. As your baby grows, you can consider brightening up the colourway.
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Choose Adaptable Décor
Babies grow quickly. They soon become toddlers and then young children with their own ideas. Once they’re three or four they may reject your carefully chosen baby-themed wallpaper. Unless you’re happy to redecorate every few years, it may be better to use wall stickers that can be easily removed and changed.
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Choose Key Pieces of Furniture First
It’s much easier to match your décor and accessories to your furniture, so choose your key pieces first. Don’t forget to measure up prior to making a purchase to ensure that they’ll fit into the room safely (see point 3).
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It Doesn’t Have to be Traditional!
Just because you’re having a baby, you don’t have to stick to traditional themes for your nursery. This is going to be your special space – so decorate it in line with your likes and preferences. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in there so you want it to be a little haven that you love!