Building a Baby's Room? Here's How to Get Started
These 12 adorable nursery looks will make you go ga-ga with inspiration
Charmean Neithart
28 June 2015
If you’ve been dreaming about your nursery and are looking for new ideas, this Ideabook is for you.
I really like to decorate nurseries with an older baby in mind, because the newborn months disappear in the blink of an eye. I try to stay away from newborn-specific themes and go with something that will work for 0 to 5 years old.
If your baby bump is getting bigger and you have no idea how to start your nursery design, relax, breathe and put your feet up – I’ve assembled a few ideas that will get you started and ready just in time. Choose your favourites as starting points and just build from there.
I really like to decorate nurseries with an older baby in mind, because the newborn months disappear in the blink of an eye. I try to stay away from newborn-specific themes and go with something that will work for 0 to 5 years old.
If your baby bump is getting bigger and you have no idea how to start your nursery design, relax, breathe and put your feet up – I’ve assembled a few ideas that will get you started and ready just in time. Choose your favourites as starting points and just build from there.
1. Start with a fun wallpaper pattern
A nursery can obviously pull off more whimsy than most other rooms. Find a fun pattern and paper the entire room or just one wall. Build on the pattern by adding complementary colours or art.
A nursery can obviously pull off more whimsy than most other rooms. Find a fun pattern and paper the entire room or just one wall. Build on the pattern by adding complementary colours or art.
2. Use your words
I hung word art over the changing table in my house, to teach the alphabet during every nappy change.
I hung word art over the changing table in my house, to teach the alphabet during every nappy change.
3. Put all the pattern in your curtains
Go with a big baby-inspired pattern on the curtains and leave the rest of the room neutral.
Go with a big baby-inspired pattern on the curtains and leave the rest of the room neutral.
4. Choose a unique overhead light
I love this oversize light fixture above the comfy chair. Let the light fixture set the palette and vibe of the nursery.
TIP: Get the cosiest chair you can find. You will spend more time there than you realise.
I love this oversize light fixture above the comfy chair. Let the light fixture set the palette and vibe of the nursery.
TIP: Get the cosiest chair you can find. You will spend more time there than you realise.
5. Throw in an oversized stuffed animal to set a playful tone
I remember when my now-teenage daughter was a baby. She had a giant bear that she affectionately called B. Her first words were “Mama,” “Daddy,” “ball” and “bear”.
I remember when my now-teenage daughter was a baby. She had a giant bear that she affectionately called B. Her first words were “Mama,” “Daddy,” “ball” and “bear”.
6. Let the palette create the theme
Pick two or three colours and repeat them throughout the room. Splash colour in unexpected places like curtain trims, rugs and art.
Pick two or three colours and repeat them throughout the room. Splash colour in unexpected places like curtain trims, rugs and art.
7. Create an accent wall
Highlighting one wall is fun and practical when you’re being careful about costs. Accent walls can be created with paint, wallpaper or art.
Highlighting one wall is fun and practical when you’re being careful about costs. Accent walls can be created with paint, wallpaper or art.
8. Go bold with geometric patterns
White walls are kicked into high gear with strong colours and geometric patterns in the rug and art. Infants’ developing eyes are drawn to high colour contrast.
White walls are kicked into high gear with strong colours and geometric patterns in the rug and art. Infants’ developing eyes are drawn to high colour contrast.
9. Consider horizontal stripes
A pattern of horizontal stripes expands even the smallest of spaces. Furniture, rugs and fabrics can all be tied in to the stripes.
A pattern of horizontal stripes expands even the smallest of spaces. Furniture, rugs and fabrics can all be tied in to the stripes.
10. Dress up the ceiling as well as the room
Babies spend a lot of time on their backs looking up. Treat the whole room as a giant mobile by hanging paper lanterns, parasols or string lights.
Babies spend a lot of time on their backs looking up. Treat the whole room as a giant mobile by hanging paper lanterns, parasols or string lights.
11. Use clothes as accessories
Hang hooks on the walls and display cute baby outfits. Open shelves and hooks make clothes and hats easy to access.
Hang hooks on the walls and display cute baby outfits. Open shelves and hooks make clothes and hats easy to access.
12. Repeat a pattern
Find a pattern and repeat it on cot bedding, curtains, chairs or art. Repeating a pattern is a whimsical look in itself, so there is no need for much else in the nursery – helpful if you are short on space.
TELL US
How have you decorated your baby’s room? Show us by posting a picture in the Comments section.
MORE
10 Gender-Neutral Baby Room Ideas for Your Special Delivery
Building a Baby’s Room? Here’s How to Get Started
Stickybeak of the Week: Novel Nursery for Baby Bookworm
Find a pattern and repeat it on cot bedding, curtains, chairs or art. Repeating a pattern is a whimsical look in itself, so there is no need for much else in the nursery – helpful if you are short on space.
TELL US
How have you decorated your baby’s room? Show us by posting a picture in the Comments section.
MORE
10 Gender-Neutral Baby Room Ideas for Your Special Delivery
Building a Baby’s Room? Here’s How to Get Started
Stickybeak of the Week: Novel Nursery for Baby Bookworm
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militant adherence to a colour palate looks tacky to me, reminds me more of a corporate identity than a space of creativity and fun
I love no. 2. It is different and transitional. Of course, it's a little more boyish than girlish but it appeals to my modern sensibility.
Thanks for the Ideas! @carolina1r I think this article was designed for people like me :-))))))) I also didn't know that you aren't supposed to hang art over crib and now read about dangers of bumpers so thank you for those comments