Once upon a time, decorating a nursery for a baby girl meant you had to have pink, lace and lots of girlish frills. While those remain perfectly lovely choices, explore other nursery decorating ideas before you commit. Today's baby girl decor ranges from sweet to sophisticated--and pink is just one of your color options.
Styles
Though you can decorate your nursery in any design style that you like, some styles look particularly charming in baby girl nurseries. Both French country and formal French furnishings are lovely because of their feminine, curving lines. The relaxed charm of English country and cottage decor suits a casual nursery and home. For ethereal, sun-dappled style, embrace the pale palette of Swedish design. Shabby chic decorating offers vintage appeal with its faded floral fabrics and casually elegant antiques.
Inspiration
Check your bookstore for volumes on nursery decor. Read decorating magazines that feature your favorite decorating styles to find general ideas you can adapt for a baby's room. Apartment Therapy's Ohdeedoh website features photos tours of do-it-yourself nurseries based on creativity and solid design principles, rather than licensed cartoon princesses.
Selection
Select furnishings you won't have to discard as soon as your daughter becomes a toddler. Opt instead for flexible pieces that can accommodate her needs as she grows up, like a chest of drawers with a removable changing rail.
Since you're decorating for a baby girl, you may feel tempted by delicate silk and chiffon fabrics. They're fine for window treatments, but choose machine washable fabrics for her bedding and durable, spot-cleanable upholstery fabric for your rocking chair.
Precautions
Painted furniture often suits little girl decor better than natural wood, but test for lead on vintage painted pieces. Medline Plus cautions that furniture made prior to 1976 may contain lead-based paint. If you purchase a used crib, make sure it meets current safety guidelines.
Arrangement
Arrange your nursery so that you have what you need for various tasks within reach, like diapers and wipes near your changing table rather than across the room. Floor-to-ceiling curtains add feminine flair to a baby girl's room, but make sure they're too far away for her to drag them into the crib.
Make sure you allow enough walkway space--at least 36 inches--for the traffic patterns in the room. You don't want bumping and tripping hazards when you're carrying precious cargo.
References
- "Children's Spaces: From Zero to Ten"; Judith Wilson; 2008
- Ohdeedoh: Latest Home Tours from Ohdeedoh
- MedlinePlus: Lead Poisoning
