Decorating Ideas for Baby Rooms

If you're preparing to decorate a nursery for your upcoming arrival, then you may feel a little overwhelmed as you face that empty room and try to imagine it as a cozy, safe haven for your little one. There are many ways you can turn a bare space into a warm and welcoming baby's room. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Safety first! Make sure you cover all exposed plugs with outlet covers. And always research items like your baby's crib to make sure they meet or exceed all safety requirements. After you've taken care of these crucial things, you can move on to the fun stuff -- choosing decor and furnishings for your baby's room!

Colors. Tradition dictates that it's pink for girls and blue for boys. However many innovative parents are moving past this dated rule when furnishing their baby's room. Crisp white or neutral tones accented with a few touches of bright primary color is a great idea for any nursery, as is soft pastel neutrals like pale green or sunny yellow that can work for either gender.

Themes. Some parents go with a theme for their baby's nursery. Popular themes include Noah's Ark, Winnie the Pooh and Precious Moments. Other popular themes include jungle themes, underwater themes, and farm animal themes. Trains, planes and other modes of transport are cute themes for little boys, and winged creatures like butterflies and fairies make great themes for little girls.

The Crib. The main feature of your baby's room will be the crib, of course! Your baby's crib will need to be outfitted with a firm mattress, flat sheet, fitted sheet, bumper pad, and quilt or comforter. It's nice to hang a cute mobile above the crib so your baby has something interesting to look at. Some of today's mobiles are specially designed to stimulate baby's intellect and even play soothing classical tunes.

A Chair for You. You'll also need a comfortable rocking chair close to the crib where you can feed your baby in the middle of the night. Choose a chair that's comfortable and accommodating, because as a new parent you may end up spending a lot of time there! To store your baby's clothing and other items, you'll need a dresser. Some parents feel they need a changing table, while others simply change the baby's diaper in their crib.

Don't think that a nursery has to be strictly functional, however. A nursery should be a cozy, attractive room filled with objects and artwork that inspire serenity and cheer. Your newborn may not exactly be a design snob, but even a tiny baby can appreciate a pleasant environment!