How to decorate a nursery

Colour and design
Neutral, pastel and muted colour schemes work best as the nursery is a place for rest as well as play, so it is important to create a serene environment. There are some great children’s wallpapers on the market, but consider papering just one wall to avoid the pattern becoming too over-bearing. Use light-coloured flooring to give the room an airy and spacious feel. For the bedding and curtains, gingham is a nursery classic, but there are also some wonderful fabrics around with animal prints, retro floral designs, polka dots or candy stripes. Alphabet and number wall stickers are a good way to liven up a nursery and create a stimulating learning environment. Bunting is another easy way to bring some colour into the room and create a circus-look. Make your own by cutting large diamonds out of funky fabrics and wrapping paper, then fold the diamonds over a long thin ribbon and glue the triangle halves together.

Furniture
Cots that have removable sides are ideal as they can be transformed into a toddler’s bed as your child grows and then made back into a cot should you have another baby. Many stores stock child-sized wardrobes that you will need as your baby grows up, but while it is still young you will probably find that drawer space is more useful as small outfits can be easily folded away. A changing unit on wheels with shelf space underneath is a useful item and if you buy one that has a removable changing mat, it can still be used for storage once your baby has grown out of nappies. You can buy children’s bookcases in the shape of dolls houses, castles and even fire stations from shops like Great Little Trading Co. and The Dormy House, so that tidying up becomes part of playtime. Storage cubes that you can stack up in different formations are great for larger items as you can buy additional units as and when you need them. You will also need a large toy box or basket so you can quickly sweep clutter off the floor.

Play
A play mat or soft rug is a nursery essential as it is more comfortable than carpet when you spend most of your life on all fours. There are many varieties from cosy quilted mats with sewn-on teddies, to rugs with race tracks for playing with cars to full scale baby gyms with dangling rattles and other activities to keep your child entertained. A baby bouncer is also a great way of expending excess energy and you can buy ones that attach to door frames, the ceiling or free-standing varieties.