Design a Baby Nursery

Decorating a baby nursery (aka baby room, or baby's bedroom) can be a somewhat daunting prospect, especially if this is your first child. There are so many decisions to make, but so little time. You feel a stress-attack coming on. Don't stress - it's not good for your baby. Relax instead. Take a deep breath. Baby nursery design can be fun, if you take it one step at a time.

Steps

 * 1) Childproof the room.. Think about it all the way through the design process - safety should be your primary concern.
 * 2) Consider your budget. It's easy to want the best for the baby, and for some parents that may include providing a beautiful, new, well-coordinated nursery, but remember that it won't matter to the baby whether the area rug matches with the curtains. Stains are a fact of life, so focus on buying things that are functional first, beautiful second. When the baby spits up and has accidents, you want to focus on the child, not on how those sheets you spent so much money on are ruined.
 * 3) Measure the room and write the measurements on a small card you can carry in your wallet. You will need these measurements when you go shopping for furniture, paint, etc. And if you happen to see something nice at a flea market you did not expect to visit, you can reach into your pocket for the measurement information.
 * 4) Plan the layout.
 * 5) *Put the crib close to the entrance so that you don't have to walk around things or risk tripping over something when you come for the baby in the middle of the night. Avoid putting the crib right next to the window, where there might be drafts.
 * 6) *Put the changing table close to the crib. When the baby has wet accidents, you don't want to carry him or her across the room.
 * 7) *[[Image:Nursery_866.jpg|250px|right]]If there is a window, think about putting the rocking chair or glider next to it so you can look outside. Better yet, skip the rocking chair and get yourself a nice comfortable rocking recliner.
 * 8) *[[Image:Baby_toys_258.jpg|250px|right]]Estimate how much storage you'll need, and create twice as much. The baby will accumulate more items than you may think. Do not place any shelving above the crib, where either the shelving or the things on the shelves might jostle and fall onto the baby.
 * 9) [[Image:Baby_crib_881.jpg|250px|right]]Select a baby crib. The crib will form the focal point of your baby nursery. Take your time and choose wisely. Shape, style, finish and durability are among the factors you should consider. Be sure the slats of the crib are vertical, so the baby will be less likely to use the slats for climbing out. And be sure the slats are close enough together as not to allow the baby to get his or her head stuck. An easy guideline for this measurement: if a standard size soda can fits through the slats, they are too far apart. Newer models will incorporate both of these features, but if you using an old crib, you have to think about these things.
 * 10) Find baby nursery furniture to complement your crib. Essential furniture items include: a baby changing table; a very comfortable chair; a night stand or table, a nursery hamper and a clock if you are planning to breastfeed. Important safety note: Except for the chair, it is very important to secure all furniture to the wall. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission there have been 180 deaths involving heavy furniture between 2000 and 2006. Your child will be old enough to pull down on an open drawer faster than you think. It is best to secure everything when you put it in the room. You can do this either with a strong nylon strap or an L bracket. First find a stud in the wall behind the piece of furniture. You can do this by taping with a hammer or by using an inexpensive stud finder. Chose a position on the upper side or top of the furniture where you can secure the strap or bracket to the stud.
 * 11) [[Image:Babycrib one.png|250px|right]]Choose your near-bed-time lighting. It may be a good idea to switch off all lights in the room once the baby has been put in the crib, due to recent studies. (See link at bottom.) A dimmer switch, sconce, chandelier or nightlight - they are all among your options. Choose more than one if you like. Make sure you run any necessary wiring now before you start painting.
 * 12) Choose some flooring. Do you want it to match the rest of your home? Do you or your spouse have a history of allergies? If so, your baby might be susceptible too. Take this into account when you make your choice. Wall to wall carpet can harbor allergens, so a hardwood floor with a removable rug (which can be cleaned) might be your best bet.
 * 13) Decide whether or not you would like to decorate with a nursery theme. Anything goes, from cowboys to flowers, pirates to butterflies, or something more modern, such as blocks or stripes. Also consider how the room will be used in the future. Will you need to repaint the room once the child outgrows the theme?
 * 14) Work out a color scheme. This will be influenced by your nursery theme if you have chosen one. If you don't know the baby's gender, favor neutral colors like cream, yellow, beige, and pale green.
 * 15) [[Image:Nursery_967.jpg|250px|right]]Decorate the baby nursery. It's time for that great baby nursery shopping spree you've been waiting for. Choose your paint, wallpaper, mural, pictures, bedding. Buy stuff, sew stuff, glue stuff. Assemble the furniture in the nursery, if possible, so you don't have any issues with large items not fitting through the doorway. Let the room come alive.
 * 16) [[Image:Nursery_249.jpg|250px|right]]Hang your nursery curtains. Add a block out blind to help your baby sleep well during the day if the sun shines directly into the window.
 * 17) Add essential equipment to your baby nursery:
 * 18) * A baby monitor.
 * 19) * Put diapers, wipes, ointment, burp cloths, recieving blankets, backup outfits, and a toy or two in or near the changing table.
 * 20) * Place a garbage can (or a diaper disposal system that minimizes the smell) next to the changing table.
 * 21) Sit back, relax and wait for your baby to come and change your life forever.

Tips

 * Keep in mind that some of the things you see for sale will not be useful for very long. For example, a mobile for the baby will look very attractive to you, but might soon be ignored by the baby, so you can avoid those extras if you like.
 * Take your decorating project one step at at a time to avoid stress and anxiety. Decorating your baby room should be fun!
 * If you have a choice between several room, choose the one that is closest to yours so that you don't have to walk across the house in the the middle of the night.
 * Decorate the ceiling, too. Remember that your baby will spend a lot of time on his or her back, looking at the ceiling. Just be sure not to hang anything from the ceiling that could fall and hurt the child--stick to painted designs, stencils, or stickers.
 * Carefully research any second-hand baby crib. Safety standards are much more stringent today than they were a few years ago. Using a second-hand crib may put your baby's life in danger, but on many models you can determine if there are risks by checking for recall notices etc, and knowing the basics of crib safety, some of which are mentioned above.
 * Try to use low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints in your baby nursery. The chemicals released by standard paints can be harmful to your baby.
 * Anything that is fabric should be washed a few times before using with a baby due to the use of formaldehyde.

Warnings

 * Be aware of the recent massive recall of cribs with drop-down sides made by  Stork Craft & Fisher Price label of Stork Craft brand. There have been instances of infants who have suffocated because the latch has released and allowed the side to fall, trapping the baby with its face against the mattress.  Buy nursery furniture from BabyDecorator.com where we sell only the highest quality and the most beautiful designs for your baby.

Things You'll Need

 * Crib
 * Crib mattress
 * Waterproof mattress pad
 * 5 Crib sheets
 * Crib skirt
 * Bumper pad
 * 1 or 2 cotton blankets.
 * Blanket or sleep sack
 * Changing table
 * Diaper pail
 * Comfortable chair
 * Nursing pillow
 * CD player or tape player - to play soothing music for baby.
 * Infant monitor
 * Toy chest or basket
 * Wall shelves or hooks - for decorative items and stuffed animals.
 * Window treatments
 * Clothes hamper
 * Lamp and night light
 * Humidifier

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Childproof a Bedroom
 * How to Prepare for a New Baby
 * How to Survive the First Month of New Motherhood
 * How to Ensure Safe Use of a Baby Crib

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.creative-baby-nursery-rooms.com - Original source, shared with permission.
 * http://www.ehow.com/video_2050064_design-functional-baby-nursery.html
 * http://www.telegraph.co.uk/digitallife/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/1999/05/20/ecnsleep20.xml
 * http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/