“Cot, Moses basket, soft sheets, plush curtains, cuddly toys; check, check, check, and check!” Your baby boy is due in less than a week, and you’re pretty sure you’ve got everything on your list to create the nursery of your dreams. Your friends with babies told you that the last few weeks of pregnancy would be filled with nesting activities such as this, and they couldn’t have been more right! You’ve been loving every moment of creating a haven for the arrival of your little bundle of joy.

That being said, decorating your baby’s nursery is proving to be a little more complex than you thought. You find yourself questioning the wall colour, whether the room has good ventilation, and if all the colours and textures of the furniture blend well together.

It’s perfectly normal to feel a little overwhelmed when preparing for the arrival of your baby. Especially when trying to prepare the perfect nursery. So, we thought we’d outline a few key tips for you to follow, that might help to organise the task!

What are some tips for setting up my baby’s nursery?

Be practical. We all know what it’s like to have a million and one creative ideas in our heads, only for them not to come to fruition in a practical sense. So, we believe it’s better to think practically about your baby’s nursery right from the get-go. For example, try to find a quiet room that is close to your bedroom so you don’t have far to travel during the night. Also, make sure the room has good ventilation and adequate heating.

Be consistent. Ideally, you want the theme and style of your nursery to blend in with the rest of your home. This way, you won’t tire of it and it will blend in naturally. Work out whether your home follows more of a contemporary or traditional style, for example, and try to use that for inspiration when it comes to your baby’s nursery.

Create your own mood board. Mood boards are a fantastic way to get inspired. Search online and in magazines or books for some ideas, and slowly pin them up on your mood board. This way, you’ll be able to compare different colours, shades, textures, etc, until you’ve got the theme you want.

Keep it simple. It’s easy to get caught up with lots of different ideas. After all, there’s plenty of gorgeous nursery furniture and accessories out there, and it can be difficult to make your choices. However, remember that less is often more!

Choose soft, tranquil colours. You want your baby’s nursery to be a tranquil place, a safe haven where both of you can relax. So try to choose warm, nurturing colours. What colours do you think would make your baby feel at ease? What colours take you to a safe, calming place?

Choose adaptable decor. Although it may be tempting to draw rainbows and illustrations of baby animals all over the walls, it’s important to think about how adaptable the decor of your baby’s room is. Try to pick decor that your baby won’t get bored of in years to come as they grow into a toddler.

Think safely. When it comes to buying furniture for your baby’s nursery, safety should always come first. Buy a cot that meets the current safety standards. For example, the slats of the cot should be no more than 3 inches apart (the width of a soda can).

Choose key pieces first. Start with selecting the nursery’s furniture pieces before beginning the decorating process. This means that it’ll be a lot easier to match fabrics, wallpaper and paint to these pieces later on.

Balance form and function. Although we know you want your baby’s nursery to look fantastic, it’s also really important that it is functional and easy to use. So, try to keep in mind things like how the room will be used, the size of it, how long it will be a nursery, etc.

Think outside the box. Getting creative is one of the best parts of building and decorating your baby’s nursery. Try to be inspired in any way that you can. Visit the paint aisle in your local DIY store to see if you get any ideas, search for different types of fabrics and wallpaper that might look nice. Also, don’t be afraid to buy furniture items that aren’t nursery-specific, you might be surprised how fantastic they look in the nursery!

How do I set up my baby’s nursery?

Making sense of the space is simple with Unii's tips.