Decorate a Nursery
Whether it's weeks or months until your new addition is due to make an appearance, you will want the nursery to be prepared for their arrival.
Decorating a nursery
Before the baby arrives it is recommended that you do any painting in the room well in advance. While today's paints may contain less smelly VOC's, they still have some smell, and you want paint to be thoroughly dry and the room smell-free in time. Try to have any painting done at least a month before the baby is due, but longer if possible.
If you plan on updating vintage furniture with a coat or two of paint, plan this in advance so that the furniture will be ready to go into the room with plenty of time to spare.
The same applies to furniture and textiles. Even these items 'gas off' when they are new, so remove wrappings and let them air for a week or two.
Interest and colour can be added to a new baby's room with accessories and soft-furnishings.
Choosing colour
The modern trend for nurseries is to decorate a nursery in colours that are calm and soothing. Pastel colours continue to be a popular choice for the nursery - if you know the gender before you grab a paintbrush!
When using any subtle or pastel colours for walls and furniture, you can still incorporate a few bold colours by using textiles and fabrics, and that way you won't overload the little one's senses. A neutral space is the perfect canvas for bright pops of colour, and small amounts of colour are an easy way to create interesting features for baby to look at and stimulate the imagination.
For low VOC and VOC-free paints visit your local Prominent Paint store. At Prominent Paints you can choose from a selection of quality paints, have colour mixed to your specifications, and receive expert advice.
Wallpaper is a playful way to add colour and pattern to a nursery is to use wallpaper. Alternatively, you can use paint techniques or vinyl wall stickers to make a feature wall that will grab attention. However, while it's fun to incorporate pattern in a smaller nursery - limit this to just one feature wall.
Adding furniture
You don't have to choose furniture specifically designed for a nursery. Specialist furniture generally costs more, but you can opt for well-made pieces that can adapt with your child. A pine chest of drawers, for example, can be topped with a small foam pad to make a changing table. Furniture that is timeless or classic won't date too quickly and last longer and furniture will grow with them.
Furnishing a nursery doesn't have to cost fortune - save money by buying second-hand furniture revamping with a lick of paint
Colourful toys and accessories add a playful touch and the room is easy to update as baby gets older.
Soft, buttery yellow is the perfect colour if you want to decorate a gender neutral nursery. You can still introduce other subtle colours later on. In colour psychology, yellow hues promote concentration and is a happy, cheerful colour perfect for a nursery.
You want baby to sleep through the night and be able to take naps during the day, so install a blackout blind or blackout-lined curtains in a nursery. In a neutral-themed room add vibrant colour or a fun pattern to the room when choosing a fabric for your blinds.
Room layout
While you're going to want to fill the nursery with pretty things - both large and small - bear in mind that you need to leave plenty of space to move around. Once the baby arrives you will be spending a lot of time in the nursery, and you want the room to be as comfortable as possible for both you and baby. Too much furniture and the room will be cramped and claustrophobic and you won't feel relaxed when feeding or changing nappies.
Allow room for storage space, as this is what you will need most at the beginning. You don't only need storage for baby's clothes, but also for nappies, powders and lotions, blankets and throws. Everything should be close at hand so that you don't get into a panic when you need it.
Selecting a theme
Many new parents want to add a theme to the nursery - and that's perfectly fine. Do, however, try to keep it as simple as possible and not overload the room with too much detail to tie in with the 'less is best' ideology. Sometimes all you need is a feature wall and a few accessories. If you are lucky enough to find the perfect wallpaper pattern, use this on a small wall in the room.
Clouds, moons and starry skies are a new trend for adding a whimsical touch to a nursery. This is a wonderful way to add accents to a nursery that is sweet but not overly baby-ish.
Cribs and cots are, like most bedrooms, considered a centrepiece and the central feature in a nursery. When shopping for a new cot or crib do look beyond aesthetics for furniture that is practical and safe for baby.
The look of natural woods is becoming a popular trend for a nursery and one that blends in well with a variety of styles. In a small nursery where you want to introduce wood furniture, look for pieces that are made of light coloured timber - or sand and stain in a lighter tint, as these won't make the room feel cramped and dark and add a natural earthy feel to the room.
