The ultrasound showed that a bouncing baby boy is on the way. Now you need to prepare a room in which he can grow and have adventures. You may want to stimulate his very active imagination along with his very active play. However, sometimes it’s wise to create a cozier, less stimulating room, so your baby boy is easier to put to sleep at night. You can adapt any of the themes below to be perfect for your baby boy.
Cars
Cars are a tried and true theme for a boy’s room. You can find pages of wallpaper borders with cars in every color scheme. There are car shaped beds and other accessories that will fit into the theme as they grow older. An area rug with streets printed on it is a perfect addition. It is sure to become a favorite as your son gets older.
Trains
Little boys seem to love trains. Decorating the room with toy trains is a perfect fit. Some people have even built a suspended track around the room for a decorative and fun accent. Thomas the Tank is a very popular and natural way to add to your train themed room.
Boats
Boats are another good theme for a boy’s room. You can find inspiration for your room by examining the simple designs of signal flags to life preservers. Pirates would also be a great addition to a boat themed room as pirates are very popular with little boys.
Sports
A sports-themed room is very easy to set up for a baby’s nursery. Combine items from football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey – which are all easy to find. From preprinted wallpaper and borders to stencils and even actual balls and other equipment, decorating the room is a snap. If mom or dad has some trophies from their glory days, these would make wonderful accents. Of course, you can always find banners and posters from your favorite teams to add even more visual appeal to your baby’s room.
Characters
Popular shows such as Bob the Builder, Blue’s Clues, Diego and Sesame Street offer bedding sets and accessories that will make decorating very easy for the baby’s room.
Showing posts with label Nursery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nursery. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Using Creative Art for the Nursery
When decorating a new arrival’s nursery, you don’t have to stick to the usual teddy bears and pastels. There are so many more options available today. Research has shown that bright colors, especially black, red and white, are better for eye development in the early months. Big bold shapes are also good, as they help with focusing.
Here are a few creative art project ideas you can easily make for the baby’s nursery.
Fabric Letters
Get some red, black and white fabric and cut out shapes, numbers and letters – or the child’s name -- and arrange them on the walls. Try to use fabric that doesn’t fray (ask the clerk at the fabric store for assistance in the choice). By soaking the pieces in liquid fabric starch (a spray starch works well), the pieces will stick to the wall after it dries, without damaging the surface. This is great to use in an apartment where you may not be able to use nails.
Handprints and Footprints
Decorate the room with the baby’s handprints and footprints. Make a stencil of the print, or if the baby cooperates, actually put the paint on baby’s hands and feet and press on the walls. Each month, you could make a new set of prints to add to the design, to watch your child’s growth. Write your baby’s age on each footprint, so you can see the change.
Family Photo Tree
Paint a simple tree on one wall. Collect nice pictures of the family: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hang them on the tree. There are a lot of attractive and inexpensive picture frames that would work nicely. If you don’t want to purchase frames, you could even use different color photo mats, and use those to attach the pictures to the wall.
Wall Quilt Collage
Collect baby wallpaper samples to create a “wall quilt” collage. Lay the wallpaper pieces out, and try to use as much of a variety as possible to create a nice pattern. Options: If you’re in an apartment, the samples can be attached to poster board and then hung on the wall. Or, instead of using wallpaper samples, gather the cards from your baby shower and use those instead. “Frame” the art with ribbon to make it look like quilt binding.
With a little time and creativity, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to have a unique nursery.
Here are a few creative art project ideas you can easily make for the baby’s nursery.
Fabric Letters
Get some red, black and white fabric and cut out shapes, numbers and letters – or the child’s name -- and arrange them on the walls. Try to use fabric that doesn’t fray (ask the clerk at the fabric store for assistance in the choice). By soaking the pieces in liquid fabric starch (a spray starch works well), the pieces will stick to the wall after it dries, without damaging the surface. This is great to use in an apartment where you may not be able to use nails.
Handprints and Footprints
Decorate the room with the baby’s handprints and footprints. Make a stencil of the print, or if the baby cooperates, actually put the paint on baby’s hands and feet and press on the walls. Each month, you could make a new set of prints to add to the design, to watch your child’s growth. Write your baby’s age on each footprint, so you can see the change.
Family Photo Tree
Paint a simple tree on one wall. Collect nice pictures of the family: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Hang them on the tree. There are a lot of attractive and inexpensive picture frames that would work nicely. If you don’t want to purchase frames, you could even use different color photo mats, and use those to attach the pictures to the wall.
Wall Quilt Collage
Collect baby wallpaper samples to create a “wall quilt” collage. Lay the wallpaper pieces out, and try to use as much of a variety as possible to create a nice pattern. Options: If you’re in an apartment, the samples can be attached to poster board and then hung on the wall. Or, instead of using wallpaper samples, gather the cards from your baby shower and use those instead. “Frame” the art with ribbon to make it look like quilt binding.
With a little time and creativity, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to have a unique nursery.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
How Do You Decorate the Nursery if You Don't Know the Baby's Gender?
So you have decided NOT to find out the sex of your baby. That's cool - I decided not to find out with my first 2 and then opted to know with the last one. Although it is a great decision, it can be a challenge when it comes to decorating the nursery. Thankfully we have a lot more choices available to us today than our parents and grandparents had when they were having babies. They worked with the two basic baby colors; blue and pink. We have the entire rainbow and our imagination is the only limit.
Before you put anything into your nursery, it’s a great idea to tackle the walls. You’re going to want something gentle and soothing that will work with all kinds of ideas you come up with later. Without being girlish or boyish, you could go for a simple blue sky scene using a few shades of light blue. Add in some fluffy clouds and you have a great backdrop for anything. Carry this same theme over into curtains with some fabric paints. Just about any fabric color you choose for the windows will look complimentary.
Most nurseries have four basic elements of furniture. The baby’s crib and changing table usually match. Then you have a dresser and a rocking chair for Mom. You may also have a cradle, but that’s more likely to be in your own bedroom. Since you won’t know the gender of the baby until you bring him home, and you certainly won’t feel like shopping for furniture then – you will probably want to go with natural wood tones. If you pick up some unfinished pieces, you can add color and design elements later when you have more time.
The next step in decorating your baby’s nursery might be all about the functions of the nursery. If you’ll be spending time in the nursery late at night, a little side nightstand with a lamp next to the rocker will be nice. Find a plain white lamp and lamp shade and you’ll be able to modify it later to match the theme you choose.
Look for two or three large shelves, two or three feet wide, at least eight inches deep and hang these up strategically around the room. Choose a natural wood tone to match the furniture or stick with white until later. These shelves will be a blessing to you for things like a small stereo, some books to read your baby, or a few favorite décor items. These basic elements are so versatile and can flow with any ideas you come up with later when the baby is settled in. Whether you end up adding butterflies or frogs to the room later, the blue sky and neutral additions will fit perfectly.
This is a room with a really nice canvas of sky and all of the basics in place. You can wait for baby to reveal his or her gender to really dig into a decorating theme, or just choose to go with something that isn’t girl or boy specific to get everything done in advance. Whichever you choose, don’t be afraid to be daring – remember, the nursery gets redecorated in just a few short years and you get to have the fun all over again.
Before you put anything into your nursery, it’s a great idea to tackle the walls. You’re going to want something gentle and soothing that will work with all kinds of ideas you come up with later. Without being girlish or boyish, you could go for a simple blue sky scene using a few shades of light blue. Add in some fluffy clouds and you have a great backdrop for anything. Carry this same theme over into curtains with some fabric paints. Just about any fabric color you choose for the windows will look complimentary.
Most nurseries have four basic elements of furniture. The baby’s crib and changing table usually match. Then you have a dresser and a rocking chair for Mom. You may also have a cradle, but that’s more likely to be in your own bedroom. Since you won’t know the gender of the baby until you bring him home, and you certainly won’t feel like shopping for furniture then – you will probably want to go with natural wood tones. If you pick up some unfinished pieces, you can add color and design elements later when you have more time.
The next step in decorating your baby’s nursery might be all about the functions of the nursery. If you’ll be spending time in the nursery late at night, a little side nightstand with a lamp next to the rocker will be nice. Find a plain white lamp and lamp shade and you’ll be able to modify it later to match the theme you choose.
Look for two or three large shelves, two or three feet wide, at least eight inches deep and hang these up strategically around the room. Choose a natural wood tone to match the furniture or stick with white until later. These shelves will be a blessing to you for things like a small stereo, some books to read your baby, or a few favorite décor items. These basic elements are so versatile and can flow with any ideas you come up with later when the baby is settled in. Whether you end up adding butterflies or frogs to the room later, the blue sky and neutral additions will fit perfectly.
This is a room with a really nice canvas of sky and all of the basics in place. You can wait for baby to reveal his or her gender to really dig into a decorating theme, or just choose to go with something that isn’t girl or boy specific to get everything done in advance. Whichever you choose, don’t be afraid to be daring – remember, the nursery gets redecorated in just a few short years and you get to have the fun all over again.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Baby Furniture for the Frugal Mom and Dad
When new parents think of purchasing items for the nursery, the thought of buying baby furniture typically causes a new parent to panic. With all of the current expenses, visions of deeper credit card debt can make any new mom or dad break into a sweat.
However, there are ways to cut corners, and make furnishing the baby's room less expensive. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking frugally before rushing out to purchase furniture for your baby’s room.
The crib
New parents may think they need both a bassinet and a crib. The frugal shopper will choose to skip the bassinet, which is typically viewed as a luxury. The crib is a necessity, but the bassinet is only used for a few months, and is then stored in the garage.
When shopping for a crib, keep your eyes open for a bargain on a convertible style crib, which can transform from a crib, to a toddler bed, and then a full size bed. If you can invest in a convertible crib, it would alleviate the cost of a bed in the future.
The Dresser
Baby’s dresser is an item that can often times be picked up at a yard sale. Thrifty shoppers know that purchasing a full-sized dresser is more economical than buying a small dresser. Remember that you will eventually have to turn the baby room into a child's bedroom, and a smart investment now can grow with your child through the years. Don’t be afraid to buy an older dresser. An older dresser can be as good as new with just a coat of paint and some cute new hardware picked up at the local home improvement store.
Changing Table
The changing table is a luxury for the frugal shopper. Check places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill as well as yard sales. These tables are often discarded when the baby outgrows them. Another option for a frugal changing table is to convert a full-size dresser into a changing table. This is easily done by purchasing a thick changing pad (I got one that was curved like a half pipe to keep the baby from rolling) from a baby or discount store. No need to cover this with the expensive fitted covers - one of the many baby blankets that you'll be receiving as a gift will also do the job! There are also inexpensive organizers that can hang down the side of the dresser. The changing table is an item some moms choose to do without, and, instead, set a blanket on the floor to change their babies on.
I am sure in a perfect world, we would all appreciate the luxury of going out and buying everything we need at a baby boutique. However, the reality is that baby does not need the most expensive furniture. Your baby needs only one thing, and that is you.
However, there are ways to cut corners, and make furnishing the baby's room less expensive. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking frugally before rushing out to purchase furniture for your baby’s room.
The crib
New parents may think they need both a bassinet and a crib. The frugal shopper will choose to skip the bassinet, which is typically viewed as a luxury. The crib is a necessity, but the bassinet is only used for a few months, and is then stored in the garage.
When shopping for a crib, keep your eyes open for a bargain on a convertible style crib, which can transform from a crib, to a toddler bed, and then a full size bed. If you can invest in a convertible crib, it would alleviate the cost of a bed in the future.
The Dresser
Baby’s dresser is an item that can often times be picked up at a yard sale. Thrifty shoppers know that purchasing a full-sized dresser is more economical than buying a small dresser. Remember that you will eventually have to turn the baby room into a child's bedroom, and a smart investment now can grow with your child through the years. Don’t be afraid to buy an older dresser. An older dresser can be as good as new with just a coat of paint and some cute new hardware picked up at the local home improvement store.
Changing Table
The changing table is a luxury for the frugal shopper. Check places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill as well as yard sales. These tables are often discarded when the baby outgrows them. Another option for a frugal changing table is to convert a full-size dresser into a changing table. This is easily done by purchasing a thick changing pad (I got one that was curved like a half pipe to keep the baby from rolling) from a baby or discount store. No need to cover this with the expensive fitted covers - one of the many baby blankets that you'll be receiving as a gift will also do the job! There are also inexpensive organizers that can hang down the side of the dresser. The changing table is an item some moms choose to do without, and, instead, set a blanket on the floor to change their babies on.
I am sure in a perfect world, we would all appreciate the luxury of going out and buying everything we need at a baby boutique. However, the reality is that baby does not need the most expensive furniture. Your baby needs only one thing, and that is you.
Monday, April 16, 2007
5 Essentials for Your Baby's Nursery
As you are preparing for your child to be born, you are no doubt thinking about setting up the nursery. You get to have the fun of registering at baby stores and thinking up color schemes...but what do you really NEED? Here are 5 essentials to get you started:
Now get out there and start registering :)
- Cradle and Crib - A cradle (or bassinet) and crib are probably the most important pieces of furniture you will buy. Many people choose to have baby stay in their room - at least for a little while. This is where the bassinet or cradle come in handy. When they're ready to move into their own room, a nice, sturdy crib is in order.
- Mobile - No doubt you have either received or acquired a mobile for the crib. With the variety of colors, themes and mobiles available today, you shouldn’t have a problem picking one out for your baby. The songs help to soothe the baby and the motion helps keep them occupied as they get older.
- Baby Monitor - This is a MUST HAVE - especially once you get baby on their own in their very own room! Monitors come in many varieties, from the very simple to the extravagant video monitor. Whatever type you choose, you will have peace of mind knowing that you can monitor baby's crying and sleeping habits while being able to do your own thing somewhere else in the house.
- Changing Table - A changing table doesn't have to be formal...it can even be a soft, cushy changing pad on top of a dresser. Whatever you do, make sure that it is safe and secure for your little one.
- Rocking Chair - No nursery is complete without a rocking chair (or glider). Make sure to find a comfortable one for you, since you will be spending most of your time feeding and rocking your baby to sleep.
Now get out there and start registering :)
Monday, April 2, 2007
Color Guide for the Nursery
What color to decorate your new baby's nursery? Choosing the right nursery color isn’t just about what looks good or putting up your favorite color. The color you choose for your baby’s nursery can have a big impact on the calmness and overall look and feel of the nursery.
Here’s a simple color guide to help you set the right mood for your baby’s nursery:
Warm Colors - Red, Yellow, Orange
Red - Red is a powerful color which promotes energy… probably not the best nursery color! It’s just too bright and over stimulating. If you really like your reds, opt for a more terracotta version and try to keep it to one accent wall only.
Orange - Is less dramatic than red and still just as warm. I like orange for older kid’s rooms but think it’s still a little too stimulating. If you have a dark or north facing room you can try a putting a not too bright shade of orange along one wall. This will make the room a little warmer but still calm.
Yellow - Yellow is actually quite popular in nurseries but not very good in terms of calmness. A bright yellow can actually cause anxiety and over stimulation in babies and children. If you want to create a calm environment, my suggestion is stay away from any shade of yellow in the nursery. If you really must have yellow then try to stick to one wall only.
Cool Colors - Blue, Green, Violet
Blue - Blue is the perfect choice for bedrooms. It’s soothing and can create a relaxing feeling which will help lull baby to sleep. If you have a little girl, blue can actually be quite feminine. Stick with a pastel shade of blue and accessorize with pale pink, green or yellow and lots of white for a feminine feel.
Green - Green is the color of nature and is certainly calming and relaxing. This is also a great choice for nurseries. It suits both boys and girls rooms and can be incorporated into a variety of themes. If you choose a classic shade of green you can easily live with it for several years.
Violet/Lilac - One of the favorite little girl colors. Violet is a very soothing color which is perfect for bedrooms. For babies stick with a pastel shade of lilac and accessorize with light greens or pinks.
Here’s a simple color guide to help you set the right mood for your baby’s nursery:
Warm Colors - Red, Yellow, Orange
Red - Red is a powerful color which promotes energy… probably not the best nursery color! It’s just too bright and over stimulating. If you really like your reds, opt for a more terracotta version and try to keep it to one accent wall only.
Orange - Is less dramatic than red and still just as warm. I like orange for older kid’s rooms but think it’s still a little too stimulating. If you have a dark or north facing room you can try a putting a not too bright shade of orange along one wall. This will make the room a little warmer but still calm.
Yellow - Yellow is actually quite popular in nurseries but not very good in terms of calmness. A bright yellow can actually cause anxiety and over stimulation in babies and children. If you want to create a calm environment, my suggestion is stay away from any shade of yellow in the nursery. If you really must have yellow then try to stick to one wall only.
Cool Colors - Blue, Green, Violet
Blue - Blue is the perfect choice for bedrooms. It’s soothing and can create a relaxing feeling which will help lull baby to sleep. If you have a little girl, blue can actually be quite feminine. Stick with a pastel shade of blue and accessorize with pale pink, green or yellow and lots of white for a feminine feel.
Green - Green is the color of nature and is certainly calming and relaxing. This is also a great choice for nurseries. It suits both boys and girls rooms and can be incorporated into a variety of themes. If you choose a classic shade of green you can easily live with it for several years.
Violet/Lilac - One of the favorite little girl colors. Violet is a very soothing color which is perfect for bedrooms. For babies stick with a pastel shade of lilac and accessorize with light greens or pinks.
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