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Little One On the Way? Here's How to Set Up a Nursery

Create the perfect bub-friendly space by following this easy-to-achieve nursery set-up guide

Erica Barlow 21 January 2018

Houzz Australia Contributor. I'm a freelance writer who is passionate about interiors, exteriors and pretty much anything in between. This becomes very interesting when furnishing somewhere with my two toddlers in the mix! They have taught me a lot about what you can do with limited space, time and/ or money.

Houzz Australia Contributor. I'm a freelance writer who is passionate about interiors,... More

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There’s plenty of emotion surrounding the imminent arrival of a new little person, without the worry of how to create a safe and soothing nursery. Whether you’ve got one niggling doubt or have no idea where to start, these baby steps will help you prepare your little one’s room with confidence.

McCabe House

Decorate with plenty of time before the arrival
For all the care and research surrounding childbirth, it still remains an imprecise science and, as irony would have it, late organisation could easily coincide with an early arrival.

But common sense aside, there are also health and safety implications to being organised. If you are the birth mum-to-be, you will become less and less mobile in the last few months of your pregnancy, which will make shifting furniture around difficult. Now is the time to enlist maximum help from your partner or a friend while you take on a more directorial role.

Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors

Painting
Whether walls or furniture, painting is ideally a job that a pregnant woman will not have to do herself. Not only will the task be physically tricky, there is a risk of inhaling fumes. If you insist on doing this job yourself, though, the best course of action is first to consult your preferred store’s paint expert and buy a non-oil-based paint with zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Also be aware that although lead and mercury are no longer added to today’s paints, if you live in an older building they could be present in existing layers on the walls, so take care. And when painting, always ensure the room is well ventilated, that all skin is covered and that you take regular breaks away from the room.

Again, the key is allowing plenty of time, and not just for the task at hand: even zero-VOC paint needs to be dry and fume-free long before the baby itself will be exposed to it. This will take a good few weeks; some experts recommend a couple of months to be on the safe side.

Hide & Sleep Interior Design

Choose furniture wisely
Whatever style you choose, go for the best quality you can afford, and if it’s solid wood so much the better (again, just make sure any paint used is zero-VOC). In fact, the great news for vintage-lovers is that vintage nursery pieces tend to have lasted so well because they’ve been hand-made from quality wood.

If possible, try to avoid furniture made from plywood or particle board because it contains formaldehyde, which can be carcinogenic to babies’ tiny developing bodies; likewise pregnant mums should steer clear.

However, if like many people this type of furniture is the most affordable and convenient option for you, the recommendation is to leave any new pieces to air outdoors for as long as possible to get rid of any related fumes.

Hoi Ning Wong

Opt for the dark side
One of the best pieces of advice I was given was that the more womblike the environment, the happier and more easily soothed the baby will be at nap time. To this end, experts advise darkening the room as much as possible for sleep time, with dark-coloured or blackout blinds being an obvious option.

Plan a Nursery to Nurture Baby’s Senses

Michael Wickham Photography

That said, anything that blocks light out can work in this case, so don’t shy away from shutters if yours do the job well. If they don’t, though, you could add blinds as an extra. Or – and this is also a good option for renters who are averse to using hammers and nails – consider using removable blackout blinds with suction cups, available at many baby stores. If you use these, you’ll either need to remove and replace them with each use, or just make peace with the fact that a sleeping baby is more important than a light-filled room, and leave them stuck.

Baxter Creative Limited

Those who prefer curtains need not despair. In fact, as long as the window area is well covered, it is the thickness of the fabric that determines how much light they block out; a thick lining will make even the finest or lightest-coloured fabric fit for this purpose, so your style choices can remain intact.

Green Smart Windows, Doors & Blinds

Or… go cellular
That said, if you really are after the ultimate blackout blinds, consider cellular ones. These are also known as honeycomb blinds, because the blackout conditions are created by layers of creases forming hexagonal-shaped cells that block light.

Another great feature of cellular blinds is that not only light gets trapped within the cells; heat does too, making them double up as a room insulation tool (heavy curtains can work in this way too, though they are not quite as effective). This keeps the room warm in winter and cool in summer, and can offer a helping hand with rooms that are not otherwise insulated. Depending on your budget and how much heat and light you want the blinds to manage for you, they are available in single to triple-cell shades, triple being the most effective but also the most costly.

How to Nurture Yourself … Before and After the Birth

Contemporary Nursery Contemporary Nursery

Be temperature savvy
Having central heating can be a blessing in the winter months, though experts recommend not overdoing it and keeping your baby’s room between 20 and 22 degrees year-round. This will help to promote safe, effective sleeping and avoid the dangers of overheating. In fact, most baby monitors come with a thermostat function; otherwise a simple room thermometer will work fine. Further to this end, placing the cot at a distance from any heat source is advised. So too is giving cot bumpers a miss: they can make the atmosphere in the cot much warmer than that outside of it.

Home Design & Decor Magazine

Keep your cool
Maintaining the desired temperature can be just as tricky in warmer climates or seasons. While good insulation can, in this case, work to seal coolness in and keep heat out, decent ventilation is also important. Fans are fine as long as they are only within adult reach and far enough from baby that air is circulated around the room in general, rather than being blown directly onto them. If you are lucky enough to have a ceiling fan, these do this job perfectly. If you have an air-conditioning system, ensure that the atmosphere is not dried out too much (see notes on recommended humidity levels).

Hartmann Designs Limited

Ventilate well
Ventilating a room in summer can be as easy as opening a window, of course. Not only does this help to lower temperature, the free movement of fresh air means that germs are kept at bay, a major reason why coughs and colds are less common in warmer months.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Keep an eye on humidity
Another reason to ventilate is to counteract humidity in regions where this can be a problem. Those of us in coastal dwellings are all too aware of the issues caused by high humidity, when there is a lot of moisture in the air that comes off the sea or another water mass. In summer months or warm climates, the air is able to hold more moisture, hence the sticky feeling that can accompany hot weather. Not only can this be uncomfortable for your baby and disrupt sleep, humid air can produce mould, which carries all sorts of harmful bacteria and can cause or exacerbate asthma. Remember that babies are more susceptible to all of this due to underdeveloped immune systems.

While air circulation is, again, important to prevent mould spores settling, be aware that opening a window will not work in cases where the outside humidity is higher than that inside. Coastal or tropical climates are prime candidates for this issue, for example the north and north-eastern coasts of Australia and much of southeast Asia. In this case, good insulation combined with air conditioning is necessary instead. Alternatively, a plug-in dehumidifier can be used if you don’t have air-con, and the hanging of any wet washing should be done far away from baby’s room, preferably outdoors.

Susan Fisher Photography

How to check indoor humidity levels?
The recommended indoor humidity level, to avoid the above problems, is about 45 per cent (the percentage of air occupied by moisture). This can be measured using a digital or analogue hygrometer, an inexpensive electronic device easily sourced from home stores or websites such as Amazon. In the absence of one of these, though, telltale symptoms of excessive indoor humidity are condensation, peeling paintwork or any visible moisture on walls or windows and, of course, mould itself. Prevention is much better than cure with mould, but if you do need to treat it then consult mould-removal specialists as to a baby-friendly method. Stay far away from bleaches and harmful chemicals.

It’s also important to be aware that too little humidity can also cause problems for you and your baby. Less than 45 per cent and you risk coughs, sore throats, dry skin and susceptibility to various airborne illnesses. Once more, consult a hygrometer if you are unsure; failing that, dried or cracking paintwork can be a sign to look out for. If necessary, you can use a humidifier, as easily sourced and as broad in range as a hygrometer.

Browse more nursery-related stories

Fletcher Rhodes

To carpet, or not to carpet?
Floor covering can be a tricky one since we return to the issue of chemicals and hygiene, this time versus warmth and comfort. In cooler climates the appeal of wall-to-wall carpet can be hard to resist: it is soft and quiet underfoot and a great insulator of heat. All of these qualities also make it the perfect baby-friendly surface for crawling. However, carpet can be hard to keep clean and is also known to harbour nasties like dust mites and bacteria. Even brand-new carpet can come treated with flame retardant chemicals.

Yet if you are keen to buy carpet, or budget or renting restrictions mean you can’t remove existing carpet, a good idea is to have it fully steam cleaned in enough time to dry before your baby’s arrival, and keep it regularly vacuumed.

Cuckooland

Wood can work
Once upon a time, wall-to-wall carpets were considered the luxury answer to draughty, poorly insulated floorboards. These days, however, all kinds of wooden flooring can be installed or restored and treated to produce a surface that is stylish, easy to keep clean and which both looks and feels warm. Just be aware that while newly installed flooring is tightly clad and sealed, unearthing old floorboards will require careful preparation to be brought fully up to scratch. This could include all sorts of gap-sealing, board replacement, sanding and varnishing/painting, so do your homework well in advance.

YDC design

Even better, rug up
If you want the perfect compromise between hard and soft flooring, installing a rug is a smart choice. A soft surface for bare feet and babies, easily changeable and, in cold weather, layer-able, this is probably your best bet. For baby’s safety and your own sanity, just make sure you choose one that is easily kept clean without the use of harsh chemicals.

Little Crown Interiors

Plant some love
It may be surprising to learn that some plants can not only be safe in a nursery, they can actually promote baby’s wellbeing. With more and more scientists claiming that the benefits of indoor plants range from increasing oxygen in the air to purifying it, removing toxins and even boosting mental health, they can be the perfect addition to your little one’s space.

Importantly, you just need to choose the right ones. If you’re tempted to pick the most stylish just because, be aware that mobile babies can (and will) put in their mouths whatever is in reach. This also includes fallen leaves from taller, ‘out-of-reach’ plants, so the beloved fiddle-leaf fig and frangipani are best given a miss as theirs are not safe for infants to ingest. But never fear: there are still many favourite varieties which can work here.

Bamboo palm: These plants, as pictured above, or their relative the lady palm, need fairly infrequent watering and do well in rooms darkened for sleeping infants.

Nanette Wong

Snake plant: Said to be one of the best for purifying air, this one thrives on little water or sunlight, allowing you to lavish your time and attention on baby (or your tired self) instead.

Theresa Fine

Boston fern: This is another high-benefit plant, requiring only indirect sunlight, and it’s happy in a standing or hanging pot. This species actually works very well in areas of high humidity, so coastal dwellers should take full advantage.

Landon Jacob Photography

Devil’s ivy: Lovers of hanging plants can also turn to the golden pothos for nursery use. This species requires a little more (indirect) sunlight, but once hung, still thrives on a ‘less-is-more’ approach to watering, plus it’s held to be one of the top air purifiers.

Tell us
Are you due to set up a nursery soon? Are there any other issues you have come across? Please get involved and join the discussion below.

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