How to decorate a nursery

Whether you’re expecting your first baby or are eager to revamp your existing nursery for a new arrival, it helps to have some expert advice when it comes to decorating their space.

Here at Burrow and Be, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we can help your little one be more comfortable and stylish – whether they’re playing, relaxing or sleeping. From our hand-drawn prints to the quality materials we use, each decision we make helps us achieve that goal.

We know that your child’s nursery is one of the most cherished spaces in your home. It’s where they will experience so many firsts and make precious memories that they – and you – will look back on in years to come.

So deciding how to decorate the nurseryis a task many parents don’t take lightly. If you are in need of some guidance or simply a few handy tips, we’ve rounded up our top five below.

 

Decide on your theme

More than any other room in your home, a nursery can greatly benefit from a strong theme – the key is not to go overboard. “How?” we hear you ask. Start with a neutral base (buy the large furniture items like the cot, changing table, dresser/wardrobe and even a bookshelf in matching colours or materials) to ensure you can affordably update the space in the future. Your theme could be as simple as a colour, as broad as ‘whimsical’ or as specific as ‘nautical’. It is less about ensuring each and every item matches your theme, and more about giving you direction when choosing your pieces. It could be guided by a beloved family heirloom or whatever’s on sale. The choice is totally yours.

Keep it simple

It’s easy to get carried away with adorable trinkets and unnecessary furniture items because they would ‘look perfect’ in your nursery, but with the chaos of a newborn, you’ll be glad you kept things simple. Less clutter means less you need to clean with a baby strapped to your chest, and clear floorspace will be a lifesaver when you’re stumbling through their nursery in the dark to feed. Invest in the essentials – especially if you’re planning on having more than one child – and remember that you will probably be given a whole lot of clutter from adoring friends and family members. Chat to other parents about what they consider to be ‘essential’, but only splurge on the things that more than two or three others recommend.

Ensure everything is washable

That upholstered rocking chair might look beautiful in the store, but you’ll be wishing you could remove the fabric and wash it the first time your baby spits up during story time. From the wallpaper (yes, you read that right) to their changing table, the objects your child will be spending time near around feeding and changing time should be easy to wipe down or pop into the wash. Burrow and Be products – including our nursery range – are designed with children in mind and will last as long as you need them to, wash after wash after wash. Made from soft organic fibres, our cot quilts, sheets, wraps and swaddles help you create the perfect sleep spot for baby. Our colour range ensures you can find linens that flow beautifully with your décor space, too – we know it’s a place you will enjoy spending those precious baby bubble hours in.

Plan, plan, plan

For first-time parents, it can be hard to know the literal lay of the land when it comes to nursery design. This is where the whole ‘it takes a village’ mentality comes in. Once again, chat to your parent friends about the ways they move(d) about in their own nurseries. What did they have within arm’s reach of the changing table? How did they block out light during the day to help their baby nap? Which pieces did they invest in that they didn’t end up using much after all? Where should the dresser be, and can it double as the changing table? Think also about how you want to spend time with your new arrival and factor that into the plan. And don’t stress about getting anything ‘wrong’ – however you complete your nursery will be the right way for you.

Make it personal

Having a baby, whether it’s your first, second, third or fourth, is a sentimental time – it makes sense to make your nursery a sentimental space. During your pregnancy (and perhaps even before) you will likely receive gifts and special hand-me-downs from your friends and family members, so rather than storing them away, think about how you can make them into centrepieces in your child’s nursery. This helps you save money and clutter buying new décor, shows your friends and family how much they mean to you, and means your child will grow up surrounded by reminders of how many people love them. They will also form special memories of these pieces, and can even hand them down to their own children in years to come. How special is that?