How to Decorate a Nursery a Baby Won't Soon Outgrow

Decorate a Nursery a Baby Won't Soon Outgrow

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It is a temptation almost too much to bear. Baby animal prints, ducklings dangling sweetly from mobiles, pastels all around. A tender sanctuary for a new baby. But there are a couple of important reasons why you might want to avoid that temptation or at least consider it long and hard before putting your money and time into it.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Paint
Window treatments
Themed or motif accessories
Wise furniture selections

Step1

Consider the time and expense of decorating a nursery. It is one of the earliest investments parents make in the life of their child and it comes at no small price. Even when decorating yourself, the costs can climb quickly. Let's face it, as parents we tend to start off with an idea and a budget but soon find ourselves putty in the hands of nursery decor possibilities. So when you begin to put together ideas for the nursery, think about how long the theme and colors will work for a growing child. Redecorating can be a huge money issue, especially now that new expenses of raising a child are included in the household budget.

Step2

Realize that you are doing your little one a service by not changing her "world" over and over again. We all like a degree of stability in our lives, and children are especially dependent upon consistency and familiarity. This is not to say that redecorating your child's room will create a psychological meltdown for him. In fact, if you do no decorating at all your love and nurturing will be all that is required. However, if redecorating becomes a common thing where your child is temporarily moved out of his room, consider the possibility that it could make it a bit more difficult for him to feel a sense of comfort and self-soothing from his space.

Step3

Enter the idea of nurseries to grow! There are many wonderful themes that can be soothing and appropriate for a newborn, while at age 3 she is still happily growing in her space. Some themes that have the potential for growing with your child include: Dragonflies, Boats and Planes, Birds, Geometric Shapes, Noah's Ark, Dolphins and other Sea Animals. Murals are a wonderful design touch, but unless you are artistic it can be expensive. There are many removable wall appliques that can give a very similar effect.

Step4

When selecting furniture, consider its longevity. If a chest is very small and painted in pastels, you will probably look at repainting in a few years if not replacing it for lack of space. Look at trundle cribs for added storage and those which offer mattresses that fit youth or trundle beds as she grows out of the crib. There are many wonderful options in transitional crib beds and while they may be more expensive initially, it is unlikely they would be more expensive than having to purchase 2 separate beds in a short period of time.

Step5

Look for window dressings that can be changed out easily or modified by adding a valance, blinds or sheers to enhance the room as she grows. Wall art is possibly the easiest fix to updating her room without a full redecorating. Simple changes that blend in with the familiar feel of the room are probably best.

Tips & Warnings

Use a good, washable paint.
Wall erasers are excellent for removing marks and scuffs on painted walls.
Include elements that you enjoy into the nursery, such as music, art, and soft lighting.
Rugs are easy to keep fresh and easy to replace as a way to update with his age.
Never forego safety features for the sake of style. Keep all cords, sockets, and appliances out of your child's reach.