The Basics of Your Baby's Bedroom Design

When you're expecting a baby, browsing the millions of shelves for bedroom or nursery design ideas can become overwhelming to say the least. Just because something's adorable, doesn't mean it's the right choice.

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Start your baby-friendly bedroom design by getting down on the floor. Look around for potential "head bangers" like sharp corners or potted plants. Are the carpets clean? Can little fingers get caught anywhere?

Here are some other baby bedroom design elements to consider:

Paint

Research shows that infants mainly perceive primary colors - red, blue, yellow. Bold, vibrant hues like oranges and greens stimulate their imaginations. So skip the gender-specific paint colors, and opt for paints in bold reds, greens, yellows, oranges, and blues. Not only will these paint colors benefit your baby's development, but they can easily become a bedroom design component for either sex, and as the child grows, these paints should still work with few changes.

Furniture

Those beautiful, trendy pieces of baby furniture are not only very expensive, but most likely, your baby will outgrow them. Consider that while your baby is still very young, he or she will be where you are. So consider furniture that is useful in the rest of the house. Why not repurpose an old dresser for the baby's room? Just remember that very old furniture may have lead paint, so be careful about having it stripped and repainted.

Lighting

Lighting in your baby's bedroom should be soft - design according to sleep patterns and comfortable temperatures. Spend time in the baby's bedroom at different times of the day, and check out where street lights or the sun could be a problem. Use blinds instead of curtains for greater control over the light, and for ease in cleaning. Lamps should have only 40-60 watt bulbs, which won't disturb over over-stimulate your baby.

Above all, when you're considering your baby's bedroom design, think long-term. This baby will grow up quickly, so create a room that will grow with your family.

Sources:
Babies Today - The First Year