Parks, zoos, children's books and your childhood memories are just a handful of the ideas and places that can provide inspiration for themes for your baby's room. Pick a theme and complementary colors before painting, decorating and setting up your baby's nursery. Whether you go with a classical childhood theme or a more modern look, design the room so it's functional as well as attractive.
Step 1
Copy or cut out ideas from interior design books and magazines that focus on nurseries and children's bedrooms. Use paints and designs with dark and light colors, which babies can see better than pastel blues and pinks. Plan ahead and choose designs and themes that can grow with your baby as he gets older; this will save you money in redecorating costs.
Step 2
Take your magazine clippings to your local paint or home improvement store, which can match the design you've chosen to paint colors. Talk with the person who's mixing the paint. Tell him the paint is for a baby's room and ask for suggestions for the paint's gloss finish.
Step 3
Move furniture out of the room. Lay old sheets or drop cloths over the floor before painting. Open windows and use fans to keep the room ventilated until the paint fumes dissipate.
Step 4
Apply themed decals or decorations to the walls after the paint dries--this usually takes a day or two. Test the walls--touch them to see if they feel sticky, which means the walls aren't dry.
Step 5
Visit places that reflect your theme, if possible. For example, if you choose a jungle theme, visit your local zoo and take pictures of animals to frame and hang in the nursery. For an underwater theme, visit an aquarium. Use photos and frames that complement your theme and paint colors.
Things You'll Need
- Interior design books
- Magazines
- Paint
- Drop cloths or old sheets
