Creating A Beautiful And Functional Nursery

by Claudine

What is it about a charming little room for a child that makes most people let out with a collective "Aww"?  I think planning a nursery is one of the greatest joys for an expectant mother.  Every nook and cranny of the room is given special attention.  The crib, bedding, rocking chair, pastel paint and even lighting are endlessly fawned over by most new mothers.

For many, dreaming of decorating a nursery falls a close second only to envisioning one's wedding dress.  So when it comes time to take that step, where do you start?  My personal preference is to focus on a color scheme first.  Whether it is pink, yellow or even the new trend of more neutral earth tones, select your color palette before embarking on your journey.  For pleasing color schemes, clip ideas from catalogs and magazines and save them as inspiration for your shopping trips.

Once you have a jumping off point you can then put a plan together.  Will the crib be white and romantic or will it be more gender neutral? What type of crib should you buy?  There are hundreds out there, but one of my personal favorites is the Stanley Youth line. Stanley Youth is a division of Stanley Furniture.  I own eight pieces of Stanley Furniture and love all of them!  They are beautiful, well constructed pieces of furniture that last and last.

There is also the question of a conversion bed.  I will be honest...they are not my favorite.    Style options are limited and if you have a second child you'll just end up buying another crib or bed anyway.

As for toddler beds, they are a cute option for small spaces, but won't last very long.  Instead of a toddler bed, consider investing in a good twin mattress that you can leave on the floor until your youngster is ready to be elevated into a twin bed frame.  Alternatively, there are some wonderful twin beds that come with removable rails.  You can use two rails or simply put one side of the bed facing a wall.  Whether in a railed bed or flat on the floor, when your little one is all grown up by the age of 4 (yikes) you will be happiest if you opt for a solid mattress and invest in a good twin bed frame that will last.

And now for the fun part: the adorable bedding.  Bedding is entirely a personal choice and endless selections can be found online and in-stores.  I am a sucker for Pottery Barn and even Target carries some nice lines of bedding.  Most times you won't be paying for the items as you can put them on a gift registry.  Just don't forget about a good water-proof mattress cover.  Accidents happen!

Changing tables are convenient for storage, but in reality have a very short shelf life.   Although infants require changing around the clock and are easiest to deal with on a changing table, in just a few months you will likely find yourself changing your squirming child on lower, safer ground such as the nearest patch of floor.  In those later months, instead of the changing table, more often than not I relied on a towel and a portable tote bag of diaper supplies on each floor of the house.  However, if you do choose to invest in a solid changing table, consider a design that will convert to a dresser.  Or, find an inexpensive changing table at IKEA and get rid of it guilt free when your child has outgrown it.

When it comes to a chair, pick one that you like!  While I don't like the look of some of the gliders, I suffered for my decision to buy a more traditional rocker.  The material was beautiful and I loved the look of the chair...but it wasn't nearly as comfortable as a glider.  If you want to save some money, get a gently used glider.  They are FOREVER available on Craigslist.  Get one that is in good shape and have it reupholstered.

Invest in decent lighting.  Pretty lamps are wonderful...but don't spend a fortune on one for the nursery.  Your taste and the room will change.  Invest in a dimmer switch.  At 3am when you need to find diapers, blankets and your child, a dimmer switch will save you from blinding yourself and your child with the full force of the average 60 watt light bulb.  It also helps when you can't find that DARN binky!

For wall color, the choices are endless.  I still think that a neutral color works best and you can play up your color scheme via your accessories.  Be careful about committing to borders and wallpaper.  If you have hardwood floors don't forget to get a generous area rug.  Stay tuned for sales @ Pottery Barn.  Overstock and Land of Nod also offer a great selection of rugs.

Now if you are lost in a sea of choices I would recommend getting catalogs from all the majors like Restoration Hardware Baby (love, love, love!), PBKids, Land of Nod, etc.  They all offer endless décor choices and decorating inspirations.  Also, if you are working with a designer many of these stores offer discounts to Interior Designers.  If you simply used a designer for a consultation (many of them now offer consultation services versus a full design treatment for as little as $200.00), you might be able to recoup your consult fee by simply taking advantage of their buying power.

Final note, remember to select the items and finishes you like, not what you think your mother, mother-in-law or infant might like.  You will be the one logging the most time in that room!

FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS VISIT OUR "DIVINE DECOR FOR CHILDREN" board on PINTEREST!

{Image Source Restoration Hardware Baby & Child & Pinterest}