Crafting a nursery for your little one is just one part of the adventure you’re about to embark on, but an important milestone during the expecting period. Until your little one arrives and starts to develop, you won’t really know their personality, so a neutral yet stylish interior is a perfect choice. If you already know your baby’s gender, you can tailor the room with specific tones or furniture in mind, but if not, you can keep things simple and add gender specific elements after your tiny human has arrived.
Before you spend your waking moments painting, hanging and building, here are ten steps you will want to take when deciding how you’ll design your little one’s nursery.
1. choose a specific style e.g. Scandinavian, antique, modern etc.
Style is completely dependent on your own personal style and doesn’t necessarily have to adhere to what’s currently most popular or seen as in fashion. Many people opt for the Scandinavian style as it has a neutral colour palette, incorporates lots of wooden features and greenery. However, you might prefer a more antique look, which incorporates old-fashioned yet elegant design or you might want to go contemporary by using bold colours, quirky furniture and modern finishings.
2. decide on your colour palette + stick with it
When deciding on which colours to use in your design, it’s always good to pick about 3 and stick with them. If you add more or start changing colours half way through designing, you’ll still be deciding what shade of white is appropriate just a few days before baby is born - something you don’t want to happen. We love muted greys, pastels pinks & blues and natural greens.
3. have a focal point in the room
So, you don’t have to have a focal point, but often it makes the whole design process a lot easier. Most interiors for each room will have a focal point, for example, in the living room you might have a feature wall, in your bedroom it’s the bed and in the bath room possibly your roll top bath. Most people tend to have their crib as the focal point (our favourite cribs are from Mokee), but you could have a murial, feature wall, or even a mini kitchen for little one to play with.
4. decorate the ceiling
Babies spend lots of time looking at this We never give much thought to decorating ceilings, because after all, who really looks at the ceiling? Well, babies do. They spend the majority of time on their backs trying to get to sleep when they’re little, so it’s a great idea to put something on the ceiling for them. Whether you go for something entertaining or comforting is your choice - but remember, you’re probably trying to get them to fall asleep.
5. go for organic materials + paints
They’re better for baby’s health If you’re dressing your little one in organic materials to protect their skin, then you may have already thought about this point. If not, then it’s definitely something to consider. Paint fumes can linger in the room for a long time, and baby’s furniture could be made from materials that have lots of nasties in them. Opting for organic materials such as untreated wood and chemical-free paint can help protect your baby’s health.
6. designate a nursing zone
This is for you to feel comfortable during 2am feeds Having a baby isn’t just about them - it’s also about you. You’ll end up spending a vast majority of your nights in their room as they will need feeding during the night. There is no escaping the painful fact that feeding at night is exhausting, but you can make it as comfortable as possible. By setting up a nursing station, you can include things like books, snacks, a comfortable chair, blanket and anything else you might need.
7. designate a sanitation station
Germs must be banished Babies are delicate, especially during their first few weeks, so it’s important that their room is free of germs. Keeping sanitation and cleaning equipment in one place at all times means that you can quickly and easily keep their room sanitised, and your mind at ease. By organising everything and storing it next to your changing area, it means that anything messy can be contained within one area, and kept clean at all times.
8. think practically when it comes to curtains and blinds - blackout blinds = more sleep
White or light colours curtains may look beautiful against your backdrop, but when it comes to blocking out light, you will need to think practically. During those sleep deprived months, you will not care whether or not the curtains match the flooring and wall decor, you’ll just care about how to get your little one to sleep. Invest in black out blinds that block out light and help to create an environment where your baby will sleep better.
9. think about safety
Electrical goods, plugs and wires For some time your baby won’t be crawling around on the floor, and therefore electrical devices, outlets in the walls and wires from lamps won’t be of much concern. However, time goes by so quickly, that before you know it, they’ll be starting to explore their surroundings and will touch everything and anything possible. For this reason, it’s a good idea to think ahead and already have designed your room with safety in mind.
10. think practically for lighting too
You’re creating a comforting environment When you’re crafting the nursery of your dreams for your little one, it’s important to always remember that you’re not only thinking about how it looks, but also what kind of environment it will become for your baby. To keep them feeling relaxed, happy and comfortable at all times it’s important to invest some thoughts into making it a calming place for them to be. Lighting can drastically change the mood and atmosphere of a room, so avoid anything harsh and always go for a soft and sensual option.
We would love to see your nursery designs! Head over to our Instagram @babymoriuk and use #MORImoments to tag us in your pictures - the best ones will be shared with our followers for inspiration.
Our three favourite nursery designs:
Image credits: Tiny Me / A Beautiful Mess / Elle Decoration / My Scandinavian Home / Homeedit / Project Nursery / Petit Amelie / Little and Luxe
We've curated the softest nursery essentials to help calm your baby & keep the whole family sleeping peacefully.
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