Decoration Tips for a Baby's Room
Decorating a baby's room is a big project that many expectant parents look forward to. For others, the work and money involved in the process can lead to a lot of stress. To get the most out of your time and money, many decisions need to be made before you begin. Does this Spark an idea?
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Furniture
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The first piece of furniture every baby's room needs is a crib. Cribs are available in a wide range of prices and can be made to last for the child's first two years or for a lifetime. Standard cribs last only until the child makes the transition into a single bed. Lifetime cribs transform into a toddler bed, and later a full bed. These beds cost more but reduce costs down the road. You will need someplace to change your baby. Changing tables offer a surface for changing as well as several open shelves for storage. These are useful, but don't last long as changing a large baby on a changing table becomes difficult. A cost effective option is to chose a shorter dresser that can also be used as a changing table, which eliminates a furniture purchase and opens up more space in the room. Purchase a rocking chair or glider for the baby's room. While these are not necessary, they are convenient for late night feedings and later for story time. Ensure all large furniture is anchored to the wall to protect the baby when it begins crawling and walking.
Bedding
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The bedding is usually one of the first items to be selected for a baby's room because it sets the tone for the rest of the room. The theme and color scheme of your bedding can be designed for a boy or a girl, or many neutral sets are available if you choose to leave the bedding a surprise. A neutral design is also a good idea if you want to use the set for your next baby. Most sets come with a sheet, bumper, quilt and dust ruffle. Many studies have shown bumpers may not be safe for use with babies; consult your pediatrician if you need help making this decision. Quilts should also not be used with small babies but can be thrown over a chair in the room to tie your furniture look together. These pieces can be purchased separately if you don't want certain pieces. Many companies also offer matching mobiles, hampers, wall hangings, diaper stackers, valances and more to carry your theme across the room.
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Walls and Floors
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Select a paint color to match your bedding and complement the finish of your furniture. Use nontoxic paint for any child's room. Use paint or wallpaper that can easily be cleaned is also a must-have for any child's room. If you have wood or other hard surface floors, add a throw rug or two to the room so the baby will have a soft place to sit as well as a padded area for play and crawling.
Window Treatments
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Never use floor-length curtains in a baby's room as they can cause a choking hazard when the child becomes mobile. Blinds with long strings are also dangerous. For the safest choice, select curtains for your baby's room that are no longer than the sill of the window. Use black-out curtains to help your baby nap better during daylight hours.
Storage
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Babies have a lot of stuff, and you're going to need a place to put it all. Invest in baskets, totes or bins to store pacifiers, diapers, toiletries, hats, shoes and more. Later on, you'll need even more storage for toys and stuffed animals, so buy it all at once if you want it to match.
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References
- Photo Credit baby plymobile in crib image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
