A Few Tips for Decorating the Nursery

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

21 Mar 2006 10:31 AM

Most parents go all out in the nursery. This can sometimes lead to a nursery that is over-stimulating. There is a way to create good balance between charming decor and a space that feels soothing and relaxing. The best way to insure balance is to develop distinct areas within the nursery. These areas do not have to be physically separated, but they can be if you like, using a folding screen or a curtain.

Baby obviously needs a place to sleep, so the crib and its surroundings should be calm and soothing. Colors, textures, and prints in this area should be subtle and subdued. They should coordinate well with one another and blend smoothly to avoid over-stimulation or distraction.

Apart from the sleeping area, baby will also need a place to relax and unwind from the day's stimulation. In this area, soothing colors and soft, comforting fabrics should be used. This is a good space for a rocking chair with cozy pillows and blankets.

Of course, your baby also needs somewhere to play and to engage in stimulating activities. This is the area that should be filled with interesting toys and objects, color contrasts, and textures, and allows your baby to look toward a window or other items of interest.

A good way to divide the nursery into separate but adjoining areas is to use the structure of the room as a guide. A square room offers four corners and each one can be used for a particular area. Rooms with niches can be fun to decorate and may be simpler to separate into distinct sections. Colors and textures should become more pronounced as you proceed around the room and move away from the crib.

You can still use primary colors or the favored pinks and blues, but you can select several different shades and tones in order to make each section conducive to baby's activities in that area. Start with subdued shades and work toward brighter more vivid tones in activity areas.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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