If there’s one thing that expectant parents-to-be know, it’s that preparing for the birth of a child requires a lot of preparation! Between doctor’s appointments, baby showers, and shopping for the essentials, it’s easy to forget that preparing a nursery for your newborn is an important task as well. Though designing a nursery for your little one can be time-consuming, redesigning a room to suit your baby can be one of the most fulfilling home improvement projects that you’ll ever embark upon. Today, we’ve compiled a list of handy tips and suggestions to help jump-start the process of setting up your baby’s nursery. Are you ready to get started? Read on to learn more!
Selecting a Room to Renovate Into a Nursery
The room you select as your child’s nursery will likely depend on your current living situation. If you live in a home with a “spare” room available, this space will likely make for a great nursery. If your living arrangements are tighter, consider converting a home office or second bedroom into a nursery for your child. If you have the space and some cash to spare, you might also consider building an addition onto your current residence. All of these options are equally valid. Remember, the room you select as a nursery needn’t stay a nursery forever! Once your child is older, this nursery can be converted into a full bedroom for the child, or may otherwise be refurbished as desired. For now, all that matters is that the room selected is quiet, comfortable, and in close proximity to the bedroom of the future parents.
Refurbishing the Room
Converting an older room into a nursery isn’t as hard as you might think! The steps are similar to the refurbishing process for any room.
Firstly, decide which elements, if any, you’d like to maintain from the original room. If your home has hardwood floors or fresh carpeting, for example, you might not have any floor-related work to do. If, on the contrary, the flooring could use an upgrade, consider what might look best in the room both before and after its use as a nursery. Neutral-colored carpeting that matches the rest of your home is highly advisable. A hardwood floor that matches your home’s current color scheme may work nicely as well.
Next, evaluate the walls of the room. If you’re lucky, the color might already suit you. Most parents-to-be, however, opt for a fresh coat of paint for their new nursery. Pastels and lighter tones are classic choices for nurseries. If you’re not yet sure of your baby’s gender or would like to repurpose the room in the future, consider neutral yellows, greens, browns, or greys for your nursery walls. Blues, purples, and pinks can be excellent choices too, and often pair well with standard “boy” and “girl” baby décor options. If you’re looking to take your walls to the next level, consider painting an accent wall in a two-tone chevron pattern. This fun print plays with color and pattern in a young and vibrant way and is suitable for boys’ and girls’ rooms alike.
Before getting started, note that it is often easier to repaint walls before applying new flooring to a room. If you’d like to complete both projects in your nursery, refreshing your walls first is likely the best option for you. If you’ve already replaced your flooring, however, don’t despair! At the end of the day, the order of the projects matters very little.
If you’ve got additional time and resources to dedicate to your home improvement project, consider adding rail moulding or trim to the walls of your future nursery. White trim in particular can add a touch of class to your new nursery. Adding trim or moulding can also give your walls improved contrast and definition. Though painting trim can take time, this inexpensive addition to your nursery can make a world of difference in its appearance.
The main focal points of your nursery will likely be your child’s crib and changing table. Though these pieces of furniture often come in versatile colors like white or beige, a creative handyman parent can easily re-paint a new crib or old bureau to match the nursery’s color scheme. Spray-painting furniture is one quick and easy alternative to re-painting your nursery furniture by hand; both methods, however, will get the job done.
Take the Nursery to the Next Level by Considering these affordable design additions as well
- Consider crafting or purchasing wall lettering for your nursery! You can spell out your baby’s name or other phrases using wooden wall letters, custom decals, and more!
- Are you interested in giving your nursery a theme? Purchasing a large wall decal may help bring your room together. Large decals featuring animals, trees, and more are all classy ways to brighten up your new nursery!
- While you’re busy converting your room into a nursery, consider other home improvements you might be able to make. If your room could use new double-paned windows, for example, now might be the perfect time to make an upgrade. Adding shelving to the room is another improvement you may want to consider.
- Skim Pinterest and other photo-sharing sites for other nursery ideas. Many parents-to-be have shared their crafts online, along with instructions on how to replicate their projects. If you want to accessorize your nursery on a budget, do-it-yourself projects are the best way to go!
Turning a spare room into a nursery should be a fun task that gets you in the mood for parenthood. Remember to get started early, and try to avoid getting bogged down by perfectionism. Creating a nursery for your newborn can be both heart-warming and fun; make the most of this great experience! Get working today.