Nesting This BABY SEASON?: Nursery Design Tips You Need To Know
If you’ve been following August Black Interior Design NYC on Facebook and Instagram, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been up to my ears in nurseries lately! Apparently it’s baby season - and my clients definitely got the memo. Working with these excited parents-to-be isn’t only about creating a nursery interior design that is adorable and cozy (although that’s definitely part of the fun).
Interior design for nurseries is also about thinking ahead to all the beautiful challenges that a baby brings. Everything you choose for the room - from the layout to the furnishings - should serve to make caring for your child easier and more peaceful.
Here are my top 5 interior design tips for designing an adorable and functional nursery design for your little one:
Designate a Sanitation Station
This tip is more relevant now than ever!
When friends and family come to pay your baby a visit, you’ll want to have hand sanitizer readily available. When you encounter your first leaking diaper, you won’t want to run to the kitchen to find the disinfectant spray.
Think ahead to all the messy memories to come, and plan to have an area in the nursery dedicated to all the necessary cleaning supplies. I suggest choosing a storage solution that hides your hoard of sprays and wipes - no one has time to keep those lined up and organized. Oh, and don’t forget a diaper disposal bin!
(Convenient Glider, Table, & Crib Placement: Photo from August Black)
2. Arrange The Furniture for Convenience, Not Cuteness
When you begin planning where your nursery furniture should go, resist the temptation to make decisions based on cute-factor.
For example, even though the crib would look adorable on the wall closest to the door, the better choice would be to keep the crib easy to see as soon as you open the door (i.e. across from the door) so you can pop your head in to check on the baby at a moment’s notice.
I generally prefer the glider across from the door as well, many times caddy-cornered - trust me, you’ll be happier if you can check in to touch base with your significant other without whoever is feeding the baby having to turn their head all the way around to see what you are mouthing to them without waking the baby! A side table by the glider is also a must - so you don’t get caught trying to hold a baby, a bottle, a toy, and your sanity all at once!
I promise when you’re done designing the nursery, it will still be gorgeous - even if you sacrificed some furniture placement to support your needs.
3. Design A Room Your Baby Can Grow Into
“They grow up so fast!” You’ve heard that expression so many times before because it’s true. That’s why I recommend selecting at least some design elements with this in mind.
Some examples:
Flooring - When designing a nursery pre-baby, you might really love the look of an area rug. But by the time your child is learning to crawl, then walk, you might regret not choosing wall-to-wall carpet. Even a tiny sliver of hardwood floor near the edges of the room is like a runway for your kiddo - a slippery, unpadded runway.
Wall Design - Murals, wall paper, wall decals, and pastel paint colors are all popular choices for nursery wall design. I personally love these nursery design trends and use them often! I always recommend considering longevity when choosing how to design your nursery walls. Wallpaper is my favorite and as long as you choose something they can grow with - it will stand the test of time. Paint and decals are a very quick and easy way to add fun design elements without taking up too much time or money. Also super easy to remove!
Pro tip: Paint and decals are best to consider if you’re currently renting!
(Nursery Wall Design: Photo from Decoist.com)
4. Tie Everything Together With Accessories
If you feel like you missed out on some necessary cuteness by following my advice for convenient furniture placement, don’t worry! You can more than make up for that with adorable nursery accessories.
Everything from sheets, to pillows, to changing table pads, to stuffed animals and art can be used as an accessory to pull your nursery theme and/or color palette together.
(Adorable Accessories. Photo from August Black)
5. Design With Safety In Mind
Out of the top 5 tips, this one probably seems the most obvious. Of course you’re going to keep your baby’s safety in mind! However, there are some dangerous design elements you might not have thought of yet!
Some examples:
Window Treatments - If you have a window near the crib or the glider (or anywhere else that your baby can reach), I highly recommend opting for a cordless window treatment solution. Any hanging cords can pose a threat!
Art - If you’re hanging any kind of art above the baby’s crib, make sure that it’s anchored very securely (and high on the wall)! As your child grows and begins to stand, it’s important that the artwork is out of grabbing-distance. If placing art on the wall above a crib - make sure to have the crib sit at least 4” away from the baseboard of that wall!
(Photo from ylighting.com)
Are you expecting? Let’s work together to create a safe, cozy, beautiful nursery environment in your home.
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