How to Design a Safe and Long Lasting Nursery

When you’re expecting a child, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of designing their very first room. Their nursery, after all, will serve as the backdrop of their overnight hours, and decorating will give you something to do during the nesting stage. But, how do you create a nursery that will go beyond the infant stage? CLEbaby presents some tips below.

Start with safety and comfort, beginning with furniture and windows

Even if you don’t have an eye for design, you must pay careful attention to the safety of your nursery. Nationwide Childrens’ Hospital asserts that you should start with your crib. Make sure it was manufactured after 2011 and that your portable play yard was made after 2013. You’ll also want to ensure that furniture is bolted to the wall and that every product you bring into your nursery is safe for the baby. Cover all electrical outlets, keep cables organized, and avoid curtains and other window dressings with cords.

Of course, if the windows are in need of repair or replacement, now’s the time to get that done. Shards of glass or peeling paint are obviously major safety issues, but you also don’t want a drafty chill or insects to invade the nursery. Find a home window repair pro to get the job done right; be sure to read up on customer reviews to ascertain whether they’re reputable, reliable and have the experience you need. The average cost for window repair is $290, but it’s a smart investment, as your baby will be kept safe and nice and snug in their new room.

Whenever you can, try to declutter and keep things clean. That’s easier said than done with a baby, but doing so will improve more than just your safety. Too much clutter can cause you to experience spikes in anxiety, so keeping things as neat and orderly as possible can go a long way toward keeping your home as positive as possible.

Consider your colors.

While most of us will choose some iteration of pink or blue for our nurseries, take the time to understand the psychology of color before you grab the paintbrush. You may change your mind and find that yellow, green, or white make the most sense. A neutral theme will give you many more options when it’s time to add decorative elements.

No matter what color scheme you ultimately choose, look for affordable, coordinating art. You can also use bedding, rugs, and throw pillows on your nursing chair/rocker to add accents of color, which can easily be changed out as your children grow.

You don’t need everything.

Babies are expensive, there’s no doubt about that. However, you can keep some money in your wallet by investing in longer-lasting items and skipping on those you don’t really need. An example of where to spend: a convertible crib. There are many different varieties, with most easily converting from a crib to a toddler bed to a full-size bed for an older child. NewFolks cautions that you need to pay close attention that everything comes with your initial purchase as some manufacturers require you to buy add-ons that can cost just as much as the original bed.

You may be surprised at the number of items you don’t really need. These include a wipe warmer, newborn shoes, a digital bathtub, a baby food processor, and a changing table (you will probably change them on your bed most of the time). Remember, babies are actually quite simple creatures. Diapers, warm clothes, sleepers, and food are about all they have to have in their early days, weeks, and months.

Your baby’s first nursery is a special place that you want to remember for years to come. But, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money making it “perfect.” Your top priorities are safety and comfort, including taking care of window repairs, but there’s nothing wrong with having a little bit of fun.