Hands down, this was my favourite project to date in my home! As a first time Mom, I knew I wanted to keep the room somewhat neutral but also include accents that are reflective of our family. I welcomed my son Samuel in June 2020 and am excited to share my top tips for creating a perfect nursery for your growing family.
Let’s start with the basics
Before you start looking at Pinterest for your dream nursery, there are few things you are going to want to do first.
Step 1:
Pick your nursery space. I am fortunate to have 4 bedrooms in my Activa “Magnolia” home. I decided to use my smallest bedroom as a nursery. This made the most logical sense and easiest to transition baby #1 into a larger room when we welcome another child.
Step 2:
Measure your space… this is key! The last thing you want is to purchase items that are too large or do not fit appropriately in the room. Once you’ve got your measurements, your shopping experience will be much easier.
The nursery must-haves
dresser
Believe it or not, you will have a lot of storage needs. I decided to go with the large dresser from Ikea. The top drawers are the perfect size to store diapers and changing accessories. Consider using drawer organizers to sort onesies and other clothing essentials by size.
changing pad
This was an easy and inexpensive option. I did not have space for a separate change table, so this maximized space by simply sitting on top of the dresser.
glider
You will be spending a lot of time in your nursery with your new bundle of joy, so make sure it’s comfortable! Your glider (also known as a rocking chair) will get lots of use for snuggles at bedtime and late-night feedings. I spent a lot of time here during my pregnancy, daydreaming of what my son might be like!
crib
Well, this one is a no brainer… this is one item you cannot go without! Take the time to find one you love as it will be the center of attention in your nursery. There are THOUSANDS of cribs to pick from to fit any basic nursery to a nursery bursting with personality.
monitor
Every new parent will spend countless hours worrying about their new baby. While you can’t stay hunched over the crib forever, having a good quality monitor will help provide peace of mind during naps and nights. The options out there are endless, but I opted for a WIFI connected camera, mounted over the center of the crib.
adding a personal touch
wallpaper
It might just be me, but I find it impossibly hard to look at a wall of paint colours and decide on just one… so, paint was out of the question for me! After a bit of google searching, I landed on this cool Canadian company, Urbanwalls, based in Vancouver that offers all sorts of wallpaper and decals. I decided on their decal “irregular dots” to add an accent wall in the nursery. My husband and I spent a great afternoon during quarantine putting them up.
prints
This is an opportunity to add your personal or unique touches to your nursery. I was lucky enough to visit Australia with my husband for our honeymoon, so I couldn’t resist the Australian animals with little bowties! Looking for a budget-friendly option? Purchase downloads and have them framed and printed at a local Walmart or Costco.
I loved creating this beautiful nursery for my son and I hope this helps you create your own dream nursery! If you enjoyed this blog follow along for more home design tips on my Instagram page @christineathome_
See you there!
Written By: Christine Tasse
