By: Maren Smith-Jameson
It’s 4 months before delivery but you want the room to be just right. This space will literally shape your precious child’s mind. It will be where he/she will be spending almost all their time during a very formative time in their lives. Now the moment has come, and your nursery is perfect for the little one. Fortunately, nursery design has moved past the point of all white, frilly offerings suitable for a girl or race car inspired themes for boys. Nowadays there are many options available for nursery interior design.
Gender Specific Nursery Design
Gender specific nursery design is certainly in order if the proud parents already know whether they are having a boy or a girl. What this typically means is lots of pink and white for little girls and lots of light blue or earth tones for little boys. While stale as a design motif, items suitable for this type of design are widely available. This traditional design can be improved on and made unique by using gender specific items to the decorating scheme, such as princesses, ballerinas and sports starts for girls and sports items, or sometimes work related items for future fireman or interior designers (boys).
General Nursery Design
There are many items in the modern nursery that are not gender specific. Interior design themes based on such items as teddy bears, cartoon characters, and nautical themes can be used for either sex. Expecting parents who choose to wait to learn the sexual identity of their newborn will be most comfortable with designing around such themes and work on simply providing an imaginative space for their newest addition. Many of these nursery décor schemes can be purchased as kits where all of the items match perfectly.
Where to Find Items for your Nursery
Stores selling baby furniture and other items newborns need will often carry nursery décor as well. Or you may venture into one of the “big-box” department stores which often carry a wide variety of Nursery designer’s items and may also carry matching furniture, lamps, and bedding. All designed to perfectly coordinate with the interior design theme your have chosen. If you’re looking for themes based on licensed characters, here is where you will find many of the design sets featuring comic characters, cartoons and sports and media stars. If you are searching for a particular icon but don’t find it in your nearest store; don’t give up, try a different store who may carry manufacturers who may have a different agreement to market the just the character you want.
An alternative source that some are reluctant to investigate is garage sales. If you are lucky enough to live in an area with many young families, you’ll find a steady supply of items, many of which are in like-new condition. All at bargain prices relative to what you’d expect to pay in a new retailer. While personal use items for the baby may not be suitable for your new arrival, often a great wall plaque, rug or novelty lamp can be purchased for a fraction of its new cost.
Online retailers are yet another source for items for the new Nursery. Online shopping can give the individual the comfort of shopping from home and usually the items are delivered directly to the home. Although bargains can be had online, take into account the shipping charges, which can add to the cost of an item, making “bargains” especially expensive when purchasing larger items. A further consideration to be aware of when buying online is that the color of the items you’re considering may not perfectly match what is displayed on the computer screen. So don’t buy the paint and carpet to match the item you’ve just bought until you receive the item.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when designing and decorating your newest additions new room is to make sure that all items are baby safe. Fortunately, because of legislation and enlightened manufacturers most items you buy will have labels which inform you of the safety features of the item you are considering as well as suitability for your tyke. Just read the labels and ask questions of sales people to make sure your baby’s room won’t only be a stunning testimony to your love and imagination but a safe haven for your precious new addition.
