The Convertible Nursery
The Convertible Nursery A Room That Grows with Baby
Tip! You will probably want to begin by purchasing the nursery bedding first. Then you can choose furniture in a finish that best compliments the bedding you chose.
You are going to be a parent! With euphoric visions of nursery rhymes, toys, giggles, bunnies and teddy bears, you begin to design the room to turn into a nursery. Soft pink or blue paint, pastel plaid patterns, trim, wallpaper and matching furniture are screaming out in magazine ads and showrooms. You've done your browsing, read the brochures, picked the theme, and now you're ready to doll out the thousands of dollars for the perfect nursery for baby.
Before beginning, take a breather, relax, and sit in the room. Think about your decorating plans and what the nursery will look like. Now, imagine a few years from now, when your baby grows older. Will you need to repaint and redecorate the room? Will the furniture be too small for your child, the clothing too big to fit in the dresser? If you're willing to spend money for a great nursery, keep in mind that your child will outgrow it much sooner than you think. If you wish to stretch your budget and save time and energy with a minimal redesign of the bedroom, think of the "convertible nursery" approach.
Designing a Nursery
To keep the nursery functional as a child's room, think of the walls. Instead of baby-themed wallpaper, or pink or blue paint, think of bolder or more neutral colors. Greens or light golds is a great color for any age, and you will still easily achieve the "baby" feel without your child finding it too babyish. Think of patches of bold primary color, usable both for baby and your child. White walls are a great option as well, and gives a clean contrast with the rest of the decorations.
Curtains, trim, shelving, nursery toys, wall posters, rugs and bedding sets can create a more effective nursery atmosphere than the choice of paint itself. Choose decorations that can enhance any wall, such as quilts, framed pictures and window valences. Then, a few years down the line, you simply replace these accents with something more appropriate. Voil, the nursery becomes a child's room without having to do an expensive renovation!
Tip! Create a Budget - What you are able to spend will influence key decisions in the design and planning process of the nursery so it really should be the first thing you do.
Furniture
The focal point of the nursery is, of course, the crib. This will probably be your greatest expense in the nursery, especially if you include bedding and accessories such as bumper pads and diaper bags. Instead of replacing it after two or so years, look for one that can convert into a child's bed. These convertible cribs feature adjustable mattress heights for your growing infant, and a guardrail when it turns into a bed. Some companies even offer optional mattress rails to turn it into a full-size adult bed.
Tip! Crib bedding is available in varied colors and patterns, coordinating with any nursery setting.
Convertible cribs cost a bit more and, just like the nursery dcor, picture what the bed will look like in a few years. There are some points to keep in mind, though. Because they use the same headboard and footboard as the crib, the equal sizes of both might look strange. Don't buy something too trendy, for it will look out of style in a few years. Finally, read the manufacturer's description. Sometimes the conversion kits cost extra, adding a few extra hundred dollars to the price.
Look for furniture that can be used well into childhood. For instance, instead of a small, cute nursery dresser, look for a medium-size or even adult dresser with deep drawers to accommodate your child's or even your teenager's clothing. Instead of buying a separate change table, the dresser can be used for this purpose with an attachable pad on top. Bookcases can start off with teddy bears, baskets and other nursery items, and be eventually replaced with a growing library.
Tip! Decide on accessories and wall treatments that complement the bedding colors, print and fabrics. These decorative elements help to tie the nursery theme together.
Storage will be needed. Lots of storage. Blankets, clothing, diaper bags, quilts, shoes and the like will quickly fill the nursery. Along with a dresser, build storage compartments into the closet, and look for a chest or two. When the child grows, the baby clothes in the chest can be replaced with toys.
It's now time to decorate and fill the nursery. Think of the present and imagine your beautiful baby sleeping in the room. Spend a lot of time here, because before you know it, your baby will have Barbie dolls or toy cars scattered all over his or her room!
Chris, a new dad, is the author and owner of Good-night-baby.com. Find tips, information and resources on baby cribs, bedding, and nursery design.
I've found some of the best baby bedding providers and I have also found some of the worst.
Below I had listed two of the best nursery bedding suppliers on the Internet. I recently bumped into a third and I really felt compelled to list them here also. The other two sites are excellent but the company called Warm Biscuit is quite different. The Items they have on their site are of hand made quality and they have many items that can be customized or personalized. So if you want high quality bedding and accessories that will add coziness and warmth to your nursery I would urge you to check them out. Here is one of their banner ads. Just click on the banner and you can browse their site to see what I am talking about.
These other two sites are excellent also. They aren't quite as unique as Warm Biscuit but they have an incredible variety, they have beautiful sites that are easy to navigate so you can find exactly what you looking for. They also make it very easy to compare prices, features and benefits of the baby bedding. Both have secure sites and money back guarantees if not delighted. To Browse their sites just click on one of the banners below to be taken right to the crib bedding section.
For additional information about babys room or baby bedding see Crib Bedding , Discount Crib Bedding or Crib Bedding Sets
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