Keep it Dark

Bright nurseries that are all white and full of natural light look amazing. They make for stunning images on design blogs and Instagram and give baby and mums-to-be tonnes of inspiration for setting up their baby’s room. Just make sure your nursery isn’t too bright, otherwise your baby won’t be able to sleep. And sleep is what they need a lot of in the first year!

Up until 12 months of age babies need at least two days sleep of an hour or two each, so a light-filled, bright nursery just isn’t a great idea if you want your baby to sleep. Ensure you have some curtains, block-out blinds, plantation shutters or darkened blinds.

Ensure you have some curtains, block-out blinds, plantation shutters or darkened blinds. This will make the room is dark enough for your baby to get to sleep during the day and their 7pm bedtime during daylight savings time.

If you are considering keeping your baby’s room dark, there are many ideas and inspirations available. Dark colors can add depth, dimension, and drama to the room, and can make the space appear larger when paired with lighter furniture

Black is a chic base for the room, allowing you to incorporate flowers or leaves, city scenes or celestial motifs, funky geometrics or stark patterns. Wallpaper is an easy way to make a bold and moody statement in the room, and can be timeless, romantic, and visually striking. To balance out the dark colors, choose lighter furnishings and opt for pieces that add contrast to the design.

Layering in different textures and textiles into the nursery design can add softness and make the space come alive. Accessorizing can also elevate the look of the nursery, such as adding a plant, vintage finds, and delightful prints. Other ideas include incorporating a rainbow books display or brightly colored blanket to bring in a swoop of joy, or adding a celestial theme with the moon above the crib

Buy a comfortable chair

A nursery chair can not only be a stylish design feature of your room, but is also a practical necessity. Whether you breastfeed, bottle feed, or mixed feed you will spend a lot of time in a chair, so make sure you get a comfortable one. It doesn’t have to be expensive – I have one from Ikea that’s very comfortable.

Ensure you can sit upright in it for feeding, it’s big enough to make you feel relaxed, you can add cushions for extra comfort, and it will grow with your child. When babies need 10 or more feeds in those early days, trust me, you’ll be happy you bought a comfortable chair.

When your baby grows into a toddler, then a child, it can become a reading chair for the many, many stories you’ll read them! Oh, and make sure it’s within close proximity to a power point because you will need to put it next to your next nursery necessity: a light!

When looking to buy a comfortable chair for a baby’s room, there are various options to consider. You can explore local stores such as Grand, Central, My Rinkle, Posh and Teen, Kid’s 1st, Queens, and buy.

Additionally, online retailers like Amazon offer a wide range of nursery chairs, including modern rocking chairs and gliders. When choosing a chair, consider factors such as comfort, size, and functionality. Popular choices include nursery gliders and rocking chairs, with brands like Babyletto and Storkcraft being highly rated for their comfort and design.
It’s important to select a chair that provides the necessary support and comfort for feeding, soothing, and bonding with the baby.

Buy a good night light

By a “good” night light I mean one that you can see and read with. I have spent many, many hours in my nursery at night feeding, expressing, rocking to sleep, nursing to sleep, and comforting when sick. I can assure you that a light you can actually see with is essential.

There are some beautiful, stylish and design-savvy lights on the market, especially designed for baby and kid’s rooms, but practically speaking, buy one that is bright enough for you to read with.You will be surprised at how small the instructions are on the side of a medicine bottle, especially when your tired eyes are trying to read the correct dosage at 3 am!

Also, ensure it is dim enough to be a night light that you can leave on to help get your baby to sleep. If you choose your light wisely it will last into their childhood as a storytime, then bedside light. There are many options available when looking to buy a good night light for a room. Some popular choices include the Hatch Rest Night Light, which has been awarded the Editors’ Choice Award and offers a range of brightness levels and sound options

The Hatch Rest+ is another highly rated option that combines a night light with a sound machine and can be controlled by touch or remotely by phone. Other options include the Lumipets Night Light, which is a portable rechargeable animal light that emits a soft glow and comes in various animal shapes.

The One Fire Night Light is another popular choice that offers 10 colors and is dimmable
When choosing a night light, consider factors such as brightness, color, and sound options, as well as ease of use and durability. It’s important to select a night light that provides a soothing and calming atmosphere for the baby’s room, while also being functional for late-night feedings and diaper changes.

Storage

Babies are so tiny when they first come home from hospital, but they grow quickly and accumulate a LOT of stuff. Not only clothing; but wraps, blankets, sleeping bags, nappies, rugs, toys, books, puzzles, keepsakes, etc. – so decent storage, and lots of it, is a necessity.

DRAWERS: Buy a decent-sized chest of drawers for your baby’s clothes – they grow so quickly that pretty soon you’ll need lots of space for singlets, jumpsuits, onesies, leggings, tops, hoodies and socks… plus the other bazillion items of clothing they have.

SHELVING: Shelves are also a great idea for all the little titbits babies have, such as books, games, puzzles, jewellery boxes and keepsake boxes, photo frames, and all the stuffed toys you’ll no doubt receive.

Invest in a table next to your chair

A little table, or a bedside table with a drawer is also a good idea to put next to your nursery chair. When feeding you’ll need to put a bottle of water, snacks, mobile phone and anything else that needs to be within reach, especially when you may spend up to an hour feeding (like I did).

And in the early days when you’re establishing breastfeeding, you don’t want to stop feeding to get up to get something. It’s annoying and disrupts the baby too. Have it all within easy reach. A stool looks stylish, but a table with a drawer is a better idea.

Inside the draw you can keep items you need to keep nearby but out of reach from little hands like a thermometer, lip balm, hair ties, medications, bottle teats (and spare chocolate bars!). Plus it’s also a good place to sit your light!

Baby’s Safety

The final thing you’ll want to do when designing your baby’s nursery is to make sure the room is safe. Although your baby won’t be moving around for a while yet, it’s often easier to get the baby-proofing out the way early on. Make sure to:

Anchor tall or heavy furniture to the walls

Secure blind and electrical cords

Cover electrical outlets

Keep ointments/medicines out of reach

Use a video baby monitor to keep an eye on your baby while they are sleeping.