How to create a nursery for your first baby

Welcoming new life into your life was always going to be something of a thrilling experience, but nothing truly prepares you for the cavalcade of emotions you experience as the due date draws nearer. Having a baby is one of the most life-transforming events any person can experience, and in every sense of the term – from the newfound joys of watching your newborn grow into themselves to the newfound horrors of sleepless nights and a life that isn’t solely yours anymore.

Of course, it’s hard to focus on anything but the thrill of expectation, and you might well be struggling to place that same giddy energy in the weeks and months leading up to that special day. While there’ll be a great deal on your mind, one brilliant way to expend that energy is through something you’ll need to do anyway: set up your child’s nursery room or area.

Such a space has practical utility, but also offers comfort and calm beyond the need for a nappy-changing table. So, what should you be thinking about as you start to plan your new baby’s new nursery?

Choosing a Theme or Colour Palette

The easiest place to start with this not-so-easy DIY project is with selecting a theme or colour scheme, either of which can serve to set the tone for your nursery. With respect to colour, you should naturally lean towards choosing calming and nurturing colours, like soft pastels or earthy tones, that promote relaxation.

Gone are the days of ‘blue for boys and pink for girls’ – a meaningless gendered distinction pooh-poohed even by history; freed from the garish confines of gendered colour schemes, you can select for décor that serves your home, and your baby’s sleep.

Practical Storage Solutions

Your next step should be to consider the practical. A nursery is much more than a place or rest or play for your baby, also being the place where essential baby-care tasks are undertaken. As such, you’ll need ample storage space for everything – and we mean everything – baby.

If you’re lucky enough to have a large spare room for your nursery, you can invest in some bespoke furniture items to see you through those first few years, including a special chest for your baby’s toys. For smaller spaces, specially-fitted storage solutions can be the smarter move for preserving space and hiding the sheer bulk of nappies you’ve spent a week’s wages on.

Safe and Comfortable Furniture

Furnishing your nursery isn’t just a matter of finding storage, of course. There are some staple furnishings you’ll need to place in their too, from a seat for nursing (or napping) to the cot itself. When picking these furnishings out, and indeed when picking anything else out for your nursery, safety should be a paramount consideration. If there are sharp edges on any item you bring into this space, you should reconsider – or at least invest a fair amount into baby proofing.