Decorating the nursery is one of the most exciting jobs to be done in preparation for your new baby. As soon as you announce your pregnancy, people will start asking whether you’ve had any great ideas for how you’re going to decorate the nursery.
Decorating the baby’s room is a ritual that can help expectant parents bond with their unborn baby. Nursery designs can be fun, but it can also cause conflict for some couples who might disagree about decorating choices. Try to compromise on the nursery design where possible; both parents should have a say in decorating the room.
Before beginning your nursery designs process, clear the room and spend some time immersed in the blank canvas. Try to think about how the space will work as a nursery.
Decorating ideas for baby’s room
You might have decorated other rooms, but there is something extra special about the nursery design. The nursery represents a massive event in your life. Your family is welcoming a new member and the nursery design process is about preparing for that change.
As you pick out paint colors and furniture, you will find yourself imagining your baby and what he might be like.
Picking out nursery ideas also allows you and your partner to think carefully about what life will be like with a baby. That means nursery design should also incorporate practicalities like changing stations and sleeping solutions.
Packing away tiny baby clothes and putting together a flat-pack cot can suddenly make the pregnancy feel very real. Decorating your baby’s nursery room might be an emotional process, too, as you look forward to the years ahead.
Keep reading for some great nursery decorating ideas.
Baby’s room inspiration
The planning stage is crucial when it comes to decorating. You shouldn’t rush into any decisions or start slapping paint on the walls without planning what the room will look like. Interior design is lots of fun, so don’t be afraid to take your time.
Search on Pinterest and Instagram to find inspiration. The Internet is filled with gorgeous pictures of adorable nurseries. Save your faves so you can draw inspiration from them.
What needs to go in a nursery room?
It’s not just about aesthetics; you should consider the practicalities, too. For example, consider toy and clothes storage and make sure there is plenty of storage space for your baby’s things.
Be sure to buy blackout shades that might encourage your baby to sleep occasionally.
Nursery wall decor ideas
When it comes to decorating the nursery room, you might want to consider how the room’s use will change over the coming years, from a nursery to a toddler room to an older child’s bedroom. For this reason, you might want to opt for a temporary nursery wall decor solution, such as stickers.
Wall stickers look great and can be changed easily. This makes them ideal, especially if you live in a rental property or you don’t fancy painting a vast mural.
Perhaps you want to paint the walls of the nursery. You might choose to have all the walls the same color or have a feature wall. Some people like to paint features directly onto the walls; rainbows, mountains, and scalloped color blocking are on-trend nursery ideas.
A gallery wall of inspirational sayings would make a great focal point for the room. As your baby grows, you could also include family photos.
Baby nursery designs for small rooms
Babies don’t need much space, so don’t worry if it’s a tight squeeze in the nursery.
Here are some space-saving solutions you can incorporate in your design, to make the most of minimal space:
Wall shelves
Rather than a bookcase, opt for floating shelves that don’t take up any space on the floor in your nursery. You’ll still be able to store toys and books on the shelves but you won’t have to worry about squeezing them into a limited floor space.
Cot changing table
If you don’t have room for a separate changing table, choose a cot with a changing mat attachment. You can pop it on top of the cot, creating a safe place for you to change your baby’s diaper without having to give up valuable floor space in the nursery.
Tall wardrobe
Often, children’s wardrobes are much shorter than adult ones. This means valuable space is wasted above the cupboard. It’s better to opt for a full-size closet so you can use the top shelves for storage. If there’s still space between the wardrobe and ceiling, use storage boxes to pack away spare nursery bedding and blankets.
Nursery decorating on a budget
There is no reason to break the bank to decorate your baby’s bedroom. You shouldn’t get into debt to decorate the nursery room. Just work out what your budget is in advance and stick to it. There are lots of ways to decorate on a budget, for example:
Choose second hand
Your baby won’t care if the wardrobe isn’t brand new. You can save a lot of money by choosing second-hand furniture; you might even be able to get some completely free. People often offload perfect nursery furniture because they no longer need it. Search in vintage stores and second-hand shops for furniture and other items.
Accept all offers
If friends and family members offer you hand-me-downs, accept them. You could save a lot of money by taking these items, and you’ll be giving them a new lease of life. For example, furniture can be repainted to change the color, and toys cleaned until they look as good as new.
Throw a baby shower decorating party
One way to reduce the cost of decorating is to ask your friends and family to help. Rather than a traditional baby shower where you end up with too many sleepsuits, why not throw a decorating party? Ask your friends and family to help out with decorating the new room. It will feel so special to have all your loved ones join together to create a nest for your new baby.
Nursery items on your gift registry
If you have a nursery theme you are keen to stick to, you might want to include some nursery items on your gift registry. Baby shower guests will look to your gift registry to see what items you need.
Babies only need so many sleepsuits so don’t be afraid to ask for nursery items or other useful bits and pieces. Having a mixture of nursery items on the list gives people plenty of opportunities to buy something for your baby’s nursery.
Be sure to include a mix of big-ticket and more affordable items so that people can choose what to buy. It might seem cheeky to put something expensive on there but a group of friends may club together to get it for you. Remember, some people will be on a limited budget so include some smaller, less expensive items, too.
Not sure about a baby shower?
To help you decide, read BellyBelly’s article 10 Reasons To Have A Baby Shower.
A baby shower isn’t an excuse to get gifts; in fact, you can have a ‘no gifts’ rule if you want. It’s really about the people. It’s a chance for your friends and loved ones to come together and support you as you embark on this new chapter of your life.
Nursery theme ideas
Many modern parents decide to follow a theme for their nursery design.
Having a theme can bring the room design together and help it flow. A theme makes decorating more straightforward, too, because there is a consistent style to follow when choosing accessories for the room.
The theme could be as simple as focusing on a specific color. Here are some beautiful nursery ideas to consider:
Rainbow nursery theme
Rainbows make an excellent theme for a gender-neutral nursery, and you can find lots of gorgeous examples online.
A neutral-colored nursery with an attention-grabbing rainbow painted across the wall looks great. For the neutral palette, you could opt for white or oatmeal paint. For babies and toddlers, you can fill open shelving with rainbow-colored wooden toys for some extra wow-factor.
Sky nursery theme: day or night
Young babies love to take in the world around them. As they snuggle in the pram on walks, their attention focuses on the sky above. They might not see very far, but they can appreciate the changing light as the sun shimmers through the trees.
The sky is another popular theme for modern nurseries, with many parents drawing inspiration from the natural world. You could choose to incorporate the sky at night or during the day, depending on your preference.
Day sky: clouds and sunshine
A daytime sky theme could include sky blue walls dotted with fluffy white clouds. You could hang birds from the ceiling and choose a bird-themed mobile for above your baby’s cot. A sun-shaped light could provide a nightlight for the room.
Night sky: stars and planets
If you prefer the sky at night, you could paint the walls a darker color. Twinkling stars could decorate the walls and perhaps the ceiling, too. Some parents choose to use clever lighting to create a sparkling night sky above their baby’s bed. A solar system mobile would go perfectly above your baby’s cot.
Forest or woodland nursery theme
If you are a family that loves the outdoors, a forest-themed nursery might appeal to you. This is an excellent option for girls and boys alike, making it ideal for a gender-neutral nursery.
There are some awesome wallpapers featuring forests of trees that you could use to create a feature wall. If you prefer, you could use tree-themed wall stickers to achieve the same look.
A woodland or forest theme could focus on plants or animals, or include both, when you choose your accessories. For example, a whimsical leaf autumn leaf mobile would look fantastic. You could also purchase some woodland creature-themed toys, such as owls and rabbits, to decorate the room.
Many children’s story books centre on woodland creatures and forests so you could have a bookshelf displaying some of these stories. If you want to add some magic and fun to the room, you could incorporate fairies in the forest.
Mountains nursery theme
Mountains are an excellent choice for your child’s bedroom. You can paint a mountain scene simply with the help of some frog tape.
All you need to do is tape out some triangular mountain shapes to paint. Choose a few different paint colors to add some depth to your mountain range. Look online for inspiration.
Planes and birds make great additions to a mountain-themed nursery. For example, you could hang toy planes from the nursery ceiling and have a mobile of birds above the cot where your baby will sleep. When your child is older, you could even add some climbing grips to the wall so your child can climb the mountains.
Winnie the Pooh nursery theme
Winnie the Pooh is a classic children’s book that has long been incorporated into nursery decor. You could decorate every inch of the room using Winnie the Pooh products without difficulty. Modern interior design, though, dictates a more subtle approach to decorating.
An easy way to add Winnie the Pooh touches to a nursery is to include some Winnie the Pooh toys. For example, you could get a mix of cuddly toys and plastic figurines for your child to play with. If you have fond memories of Winnie the Pooh from your childhood, you might find yourself drawn to this timeless nursery theme.
