How to Arrange a Baby's Room

Position your baby's furniture to keep him out of harms way.

Safety should be the most important factor in the layout of your baby's nursery. Arrange the furniture in your baby's room to optimize the available space, keep your baby safe and make the room flow, which will likely result in your baby resting better. Whether you use the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui or not, the placement of your baby's furniture should reflect other factors, such as where the door is or what's on the other side of each wall.

Things You'll Need

• Crib
• Rocking or gliding chair
• Changing table
• Dresser or chest
• Shelves
• Decorative Accessories

Instructions

1. Place the crib in the room first. Round cribs are generally placed in the center of the room, particularly if the nursery is large. Place the crib against a solid wall that does not back to a bathroom, kitchen, noisy street, noisy neighbor or other source of noise if you have a standard rectangular crib. The crib should face the door, although not sit directly in front of it and there should not be a window above the crib as windows pose safety hazards to young children.

2. Position your rocking chair near the crib, such as in a corner if the crib is placed against the center of a wall. There should be enough space for you to comfortably sit, glide, rock or move, while being close enough to transition the baby from your chair back to her crib with as little disturbance as possible.

3. Set up the changing table near the crib for easy middle-of-the-night diaper changes or just inside the nursery door for convenience to discard dirty diapers or change the baby if you were in another area of your home. Either way, the changing table should be placed against a wall within easy reach of diapers, wipes, powder and other diaper-changing supplies.

4. Situate the baby's dresser or chest against a wall where it's out of the way, but allows for easily access. Use the dresser to stage your baby monitor, lamp or other electronics if you can place it in front of electrical outlets. This will keep the cords and outlet out of the way and out of the baby's reach.

5. Install floating shelves on the walls above the dresser or changing table if you need more storage up high. Lay horizontal shelves against a wall if you have the space. This will give you a place to store the baby's toys and books low where he'll be able to reach them when he's mobile. Opt for a shelving system that can also work vertically to free up floor space when he's older and taller.

6. Add accessories throughout the baby's nursery to create a color scheme or theme and make the room friendly and welcoming for your baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Use high-quality furniture that goes from baby furniture to toddler furniture to teenage furniture if possible. This will save you money over the long run.

• The color or stain of your nursery furniture should complement the style and theme you're decorating with.

• Safety must be the priority in your baby's room. Windows, electrical outlets and strings or cords (such as those typically found on curtains or blinds) can become hazardous for a little one.

• Secure heavy furniture, such as tall dressers or bookcases, to the walls to prevent the pieces from being able to fall over if your baby climbs on the furniture.

References

• Newborn Baby Zone: How to Arrange Baby Furniture in the Nursery?
• Newborn Baby Zone: Feng Shui--The Enhanced Way to Arrange the Baby Nursery Furniture
• Decorating Your Baby Nursery: Planning Your Baby Room Design: Creating the Best Nursery Layout