In preparation for the arrival of your little one, you'll want to create a baby-friendly space where he can sleep, play and thrive. Nurseries for little boys often feature traditional colors such as blues and yellows and sports themes. Your nursery decor should include items to stimulate your child's intellect and provide for his comfort. Focus on safe, kid-focused furnishings and accessories. Make your nursery a special place for both of you.
Step 1
Paint the room in one or more bright colors. According to Professor Rowan Candy and other researchers at Bloomington's Indiana University School of Optometry, newborns see only big, bright colors. Choose colors that will work well as your child grows older, and don't be afraid to try combinations not ordinarily associated with baby's rooms, such as bright red and blue, or chocolate brown and orange. Prepare the room for painting by covering the floor with a drop cloth, then tape off all trim and woodwork with painter's tape. Paint around the edges of the wall and around trim with a paintbrush, then roll on two coats of paint. Choose a nontoxic paint that's washable.
Step 2
Cover the floor with a sturdy, comfortable flooring such as a low-pile carpet, easy-to-clean rug or carpet squares. Choose something that will be comfortable for your little boy to crawl around on as he gets older.
Step 3
Hang light-blocking blinds or shades in the window. A dark room will help your baby sleep during the day or in the summer, when daylight extends into nighttime hours. Fasten a hook near the top of the window frame, and loop the end of the blind or shade cord to this to keep the cord up out of the reach of curious hands. Children can choke if they become tangled in cords.
Step 4
Buy furniture that can transition to a toddler or older child's bedroom as your child grows. While you'll probably want a baby crib, you can choose a dresser, chair and side tables that you can use in your son's room when he's older. Instead of spending money on a changing table, lay a changing pad on top of the dresser. If you purchase a used baby crib, make sure it meets the requirements established by the Consumer Products Safety Commission for cribs: no cutout decorations in the head and footboard, no end posts that rise more than 1/16 inch above the rest of the bed and slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.
Step 5
Hang shelves or build cubbies to hold baby supplies now and books and toys later. Search office supply stores, variety stores and kitchen and bath shops for useful storage ideas, such as stacking boxes or baskets. You can also hang a bathroom organizer or shoe bag on the wall or the back of the door to hold small items, such as baby powder, nail clippers and wet wipes.
Step 6
Add theme elements you can easily change as your boy gets older. You can hang curtains or put a pillow in the chair, or paste up an easily removable wallpaper border featuring a masculine theme, such as sports or race cars. If your son decides he wants something different when he's older, you can easily change these elements without major redecorating
Step 7
Hang a baby quilt or other artwork on walls. HGTV suggests framing pages from old children's books for an inexpensive wall decoration. You can buy these books at thrift stores. As your child grows older, he can practice reading the story on the wall.
Things You'll Need
- Drop cloth
- Painter's tape
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Paint roller
- Rug
- Blinds or shades
- Hook
- Baby furniture
- Changing pad
- Shelves, baskets or bins
- Wallpaper border
- Quilt
- Pictures
