Picking Out a Nursery Theme? What an Exciting Time in Your Life!There is something about decorating a nursery and choosing a nursery theme that brings such joy to a person.
Not only can deciding upon a theme be fun, it can also be a little overwhelming. Just as important as the nursery theme, are all of the details of what should go in a nursery and how it should be set up. We will give you some great nursery decorating ideas along with all of the necessities that are involved.
Alright...let's get started!
Okay, so you have the room picked out for the nursery and maybe you even have a nursery theme idea, but one of the first steps in planning a nursery is to take a look at the space and make a list of all the items needed to go in the room. What are some of the necessities of a nursery?
I am glad you asked! They are: a crib, a changing table, storage items, a comfortable chair, a lamp or night light, and a hamper. Some other items you may want to have on hand are: a single bed, a nightstand or chest, a rug, and a small table and chairs. Now before you go out and buy all that stuff, decide where you want to put everything and measure that space. You wouldn't want to buy a whole room of furniture to later discover it won't all fit! Also have your nursery theme in mind so that you can pick out furniture and other items that will coordinate well. Now let's talk about some of the items seperately.
The Crib
Oh, are there a lot of cribs to choose from!!! It can be very confusing and overwhelming. One of the first things to decide is your budget. How much do you actually want to spend on the crib? That will narrow your search down a bit. Don't forget to ask your friends and family who already have children what worked best for them. They can probably give you some great advice. There are basically four different kinds of cribs: standard cribs, custom cribs, convertible cribs, and round cribs. Of course with each kind of crib there is a different syle of crib. Knowing what your nursery theme is will help in this process. A standard crib is the most common and it's only function is a crib. These are also generally the least expensive and have the biggest range of styles to choose from. Custom cribs are alot more expensive and can either be one you hire someone to make or one you design yourself. Just remember that if you have a crib built or do it yourself, that you follow all of the safety regulations. Round cribs are also a bit more expensive and will not work in every room. These fit in well with certain nursery themes like a fairy tale theme or a princess theme. There is no real huge benefit to a round crib. It is really just a style preference. The convertible crib has become quite popular and in my opinion is a great idea! This is a crib that converts into a bed. Some convert into a single bed, a full size bed or a day bed. They are a little bit more expensive than the standard crib, but are usually less expensive than the round and the custom cribs. The best thing about these is that you are getting two beds and you can use it for many years to come.
Also remember that when you convert it, you don't have to just use it in what use to be the baby's room. Maybe it will look great in your guest room!
The Changing Table When you are out shopping for a changing table you want to make sure that it is sturdy and that it can hold all the diapering necessities. You may also choose to store crib sheets, blankets and a number of other items in the changing table. The most common changing table is the one with open shelves. A good way to contain all the items and to give this sort of changing table a clean look is to use baskets to store the diapers, thw wipes, the diaper rash ointment, the blankets and so on. If your little one will eventually be playing in this room, you may want to consider staying away from this design. There is no way to keep everything out of your curious toddler's hands. A bureau with a changing top is a good idea. When your child is out of diapers you can just pull off the changing attachment and use the bureau in any room of the house. It also has storage that can be closed off from those little hands. Now if you shop with an open mind, anything with a flat top can be a changing table; as long as it is safe and sturdy. It also should not have any sharp corners.
A Chair A chair is a very welcoming part of a nursery. It is the place where you will first feed your infant, snuggle with him and eventually may be the place where you read bedtime stories. The kind of chair you decide upon is completely up to you. You can go with a rocker and there are many different types. There are the gliders with ottomans, wicker rockers, wooden rockers, rocking recliners etc... Most people opt for any chair that rocks so they can use it to feed and cuddle. Another possibility is an overstuffed chair with an ottoman. You can feed your baby without having to rock and it will be great for some good ol' snuggling time. If you don't want an ottoman or just don't have the room for it, consider a wooden or plastic stool. They can be easily stored out of the way when not in use.
The Hamper This item seems to get used almost as much as the crib during those first few months. Babies tend to go through a lot of clothes and it is very nice to have a specific place to put them. There are many, many different hampers to choose from. Some examples are: wicker hampers, plastic hampers, cloth hampers, and hampers that fold up; just to name a few. You will also need to decide if you want a hamper with a lid or not. You can make the hamper fit in with any nursery theme quite well.
Lighting It is important to have some sort of light in the nursery for those middle of the night feedings. You may also want some soothing light for the times you are cuddling, rocking, or reading right before bed. It is best to stay away from floor lamps because they can easily be pulled over. Also halogen lamps are not a good idea because the bulbs get extrememly hot. Some lighting options are: overhead lighting with a dimmer switch, table lamps with a three way bulb, night-lights(just remember to remove them during the day so little hands don't get a hold of it), and wall fixtures. There are some very decorative lighting choices out there and you can find a lamp to go with almost any nursery theme you choose.
We hope we gave you some useful information to get you started in the right direction for your nursery decorating idea. Now for the REALLY fun part... The Nursery Theme. Search each page and find the perfect nursery theme for your little one. Some examples of our themes are: Noah's Ark, Underwater, Jungle, Flower Garden...just to name a few.
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