How to Design a Functional Green Baby Nursery

Measure the space. Be sure to pay close attention to those easy-to-forget details such as baseboards and door swings. You will want to take your measurements with you when you go furniture shopping.

Assemble any furniture in the nursery. This will help avoid the dreaded realization that the pieces won't fit through the door, which leads to double the work and triple the headaches.

Place the crib in a spot where you can get to it in a hurry. There is nothing more frustrating after being awakened at 2 in the morning, than to bump into and trip over what seems like a million things to get to your frantically screaming baby.\

Put the changing table near the crib if the room design allows you to do so. When transporting a soaking wet baby from a soaking wet sheet in a soaking wet outfit, you will definitely want to take the shortest route possible.

Stock your changing table (if it has built in drawers), or a nearby dresser, with a plethora of diapers, wipes, ointment, burp cloths and plenty of backup outfits for those unexpected diaper blowouts and random spit-up episodes. You may also want to have a toy nearby to keep baby occupied during diaper changes. If your changing table does not have drawers you may want to invest in one of the many changing table organizers that you simply hang on the side of the table for easy accessibility.

Setting a diaper disposal system right next to your changing area allows you to quickly get rid of the stinky or wet culprit that caused your "sleeping beauty" to awaken in the first place. This also allows you to keep one hand on baby at all times. Disposal systems that eliminate odors by locking them into the device are available. These are fairly inexpensive and keep your nursery smelling like your baby and not your baby's diaper.

Consider placing a glider or rocker in the nursery as well. The ideal spot for this is near a window, so both you and baby can enjoy a bit of the outdoors during daytime hours. Nighttime gliding or rocking will provide your baby with a comfortable, relaxing place to feed or drift off to sleep. It can also create a great atmosphere for the all-important parent/child bonding.

Lighting your nursery is an important element in functionality, but is often overlooked. Consider a night light near baby's crib. This will make it easier for you to comfort your baby without fully waking him or her up. If there is a window in the nursery, be sure to invest in drapes or blinds for afternoon naps. A table lamp or floor lamp also can come in handy for bedtime stories or nighttime feedings.

Leave some space for miscellaneous items such as toy boxes or storage bins. Your baby is going to accumulate more "must haves" than you ever thought possible. The need for storage is going to grow. Unfortunately, the room is not. Plan accordingly and leave room for baby's constantly expanding collection of belongings.