If you’re thinking of decorating or renovating a nursery, not only do you need to create a space that’s both fun and comfortable for your little one, but also completely baby safe. The colours, layout and finishing touches you choose can have a huge impact on your child’s development, so it’s crucial to consider all aspects of the makeover process before your baby’s arrival. With the right furniture and accessories, your nursery can be safe, stylish and fit for any small prince or princess.

Here are 7 inspiring ideas for sprucing up or creating a unique nursery for your baby.

1. Go for bold colours

Babies love bright colours and will interact more with bold designs and playful prints. Many expectant mums and dads naturally lean towards pretty pastel pinks and blues, but the truth is, there are better choices for your baby’s development. If you want to stimulate your child’s vision, opt for black and white or dark and light contrasting toys and nursery accessories. Research has proven that bold colours will grab your baby’s attention better, as will a room filled with different shapes and textures.

2. Look to other cultures or family heritage for inspiration

It’s never too early to teach your child about different cultures and your family’s heritage. Whether you want to incorporate sleek interiors from Scandinavia, beautifully simplistic Japanese patterns and prints, or even a mix of international cultures, the nursery is a great place to reflect your family history. It’s also a great way to teach your little one from a young age to accept themselves and others for being whom they are, and to explore different cultures.

3. Make a statement with a bright coloured crib

A statement crib is an easy way to make your nursery unique, as long as it’s loud and proud. Forget about polished wood finishes and bland, safe colours. Your baby’s crib needs to sing ‘look at me’ from the rooftops. Whether you are yet to invest in a new crib or want to transform an old one, an array of bright colour options awaits you. No modern looking nursery has to be minimalistic and plain, so unleash your inner child and start getting creative with statement colours.

4. Take inspiration from fairy tales and children’s stories  

Well-loved fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and stories bring bundles of delight to children, and there are plenty of themed nursery room ideas to explore. Your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping, day-dreaming and growing in their nursery, so you need to make sure it’s a happy place filled with fun, tranquillity, and wonder. From themes such as fairy castles and Disney princesses to The Jungle Book and Mickey Mouse, the possibilities for making your nursery magical are endless.

5. Install wall shelves for ease of access

Always make good use of wall space by installing shelves. Wall shelves are especially practical for a small nursery and are a great use of storage to prevent the room from feeling claustrophobic for both your child and you. Regardless of the size and layout of your nursery, shelves are excellent for ease of access to all types of baby essentials, like baby-changing accessories, bedding, clothes, toys, and books. You could even go the extra mile and install a wall-mounted changing unit.

6. Incorporate items from multiple generations

The chances are that you want to stick to a budget when creating the perfect room for your baby, so don’t be afraid to use items that have belonged to your family for several generations. They can help to define and inspire other aspects of your nursery and become special items for your child as they get older. Consider things you may have stored away in the house like your Dad’s favourite toy, Grandma’s vintage chest of drawers or even a baby mobile you loved playing with as a kid. Give your nursery some personal finishing touches that are unique to your family.

7. Chalkboard walls

We both know that kids love to draw on walls and other areas of the home where they aren’t supposed to, so just imagine how happy they’d be if you installed a chalkboard wall. Not only can a chalkboard wall encourage your child to be creative, but you will also never have to put them on the naughty step for scribbling on the wallpaper or clean paint job. Simply hang a chalkboard up in a spot of your choice or create an entire chalkboard wall, and your kid will think you are totally cool.  

Make decorating an enjoyable experience

Becoming a parent for the first or fourth time is exciting, so don’t get too bogged down with decorating your nursery. Whatever your vision, as long as you keep your baby’s safety and needs in mind, you can be as creative as you like. It’s also important to settle on a solution that will look good and be suitable for a young child for many years to come. Otherwise, you’ll be getting that thinking cap and paint brush out again a lot quicker than you had hoped.

Happy decorating – if you need some help make sure you look for nursery furniture and accessories near you or connect with your local interior decorator.