How to Decorate a Girl's Nursery

One of the most enjoyable aspects of awaiting the arrival of your new baby girl is designing and shopping for her nursery. Your daughter's nursery should be a functional, fashionable and relaxing space where you and your baby can be in peace.

Instructions

1. Choose a color scheme. Pastel colors like pink, light green, and butter yellow are soothing and look especially nice in nurseries.

2. Add a touch of sophistication to your baby girl's nursery with chocolate brown or black furniture. Pastel pink mixed with dark colors is a very popular combination and most baby retailers now sell dark furniture in addition to more traditional light woods and white painted items.

3. Decide on a theme. Depending on your taste, you may decorate your baby girl's nursery with a loose theme based on small touches like flowers or butterflies in bedding and accessories, or an extreme princess theme complete with a castel mural and a crib canopy. The only limit is your imagination.

4. Shop for furniture at large baby retailers and specialty shops. Compare prices and watch for sales during your pregnancy. Some baby furniture stores offer once per trimester sales.

5. Furnish your baby girl's nursery with items that will grow with her. Many changing tables and cribs convert into toddler beds and dressers.

6. Add pretty touches to the nursery with accessories like frames adorned with bows or wooden shelves with carved scrolling. If you're feeling creative, paint elegant accents like flowery vines around windows.

Tips & Warnings

• Have your baby girl's nursery ready at least one month before your due date. This will reduce your stress level and ensure that the room will be ready when baby comes.

• Research cribs and mattresses before making a purchase. Unsafe bedding can lead to SIDS or strangulation.