HOW TO DESIGN THE BEST NURSERY FOR BABY ON BOARD

Once upon a time . . . in a land far, far away . . . May be how you start nursery rhyme and story time with your brand new bundle of joy. After love and marriage, but before the arrival of the baby carriage, nesting your newborn's nursery is a home makeover must!

With the onset of the COVID baby boom, nurseries are quickly becoming one of the top Googled rooms, trailing only bathroom and kitchen remodels. Cribs and cradles are hot commodities on the parent-to-be market. But what else goes into making your baby's nursery magical AND practical?

From light dimmers to gliders, changing tables to storage baskets, we asked our interiors experts how to maximize the styling and safety features of your nugget's new digs.

The first thing to keep in mind when designing your new nursery is the fact that you will be spending almost as much time in this room as your little one, so design with your comfort in mind as well. If you’re not bringing your best self to the table, how can you bring the best care for your baby? Your body is a war zone, you’re not eating and sleeping regularly, and you can’t remember the last time you showered. Priority A is keeping the kid alive. So prepare this plan of action when buying for and building your baby’s room. Consider your needs first, and then tailor how you will care for your baby around those needs being met.

Amid pink and blue gender reveal videos, coloured cake batter and glitter bombs, when it comes time to decorate for the bun in the oven, you may be sick of the traditional palette. In order to maximize the amount of time you and your child will enjoy the nursery, we advise steering clear of common cartoons - Paw Patrol, Octonauts, and the like. Opt instead for a theme that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is gender neutral and timeless!

We recommend starting with rugs, textiles, and wall coverings. Once you select the patterned pieces, the rest of the room will fall into place. If wallpaper is your preference, think animal-themed or geometrics without being cheesy. Shop our safari, polka dot and grass cloth wall coverings below for inspo to add to your vibe board!

Pro Tip: Adding a neutral grasscloth covering is an excellent way to add texture to your nursery walls without adding colour or pattern!

Oft jokingly referred to as “baby jails,” given the beautiful craftsmanship with which our cribs are concocted, we can confidently say, “We’ve come a long way, baby!” Whether you opt for mid century modern wood or gilded age iron, your baby will surely be sleeping in style. And don’t fret over any growth spurts to come. All of our cribs are convertible into toddler and day beds from infants to children aged four!

Have you ever seen the classic scene in the sitcom Friends where Joey and Chandler revel in the reclining reach of their Barker Loungers? Well, get ready to join them in recliner relaxation with one of our three glider chairs!

As great for parental repose as they are for baby’s, your little loaf can fall asleep on your chest as you lay back and catch a quick wink as well. Along with the reclining aspect of these gorgeous gliders, they also rotate 360 degrees, so no needed item is ever out of reach!

Kick up your heels with one of the matching ottomans - one even opens for toy storage!

Pro Tip: Add pillows for your head and lumbar support and a snuggly throw for catching some cozy zzzs!

While changing tables provide simple solutions to a short-term parenting assignment, investing in a dapper dresser that will last the lifespan of your child’s bedroom requirements is not only sustainable, but also practical for the pocketbook. Many parents are adding changing pads to the tops of their favourite dressers so their drawers can pull double duty as changing stations for the time being. Amp up the fashion factor with your favourite knobs and designer-worthy drawer pulls for a knockout dresser-cum-change table!

Pro Tip: Add drawer organizers to contain all of the diaper creams, baby wipes, soothers, and burping cloths you’ll need close at hand!

Move out the Manolos and bring on the storage baskets! Converting your nursery closet to accommodate tiny outfits proffers so many storage options from which to take advantage. The trick is to optimize any negative space into an organization station! Instead of one bar rail across the top of the closet, why not install two or three rails below each other? The dresses and duds not occupying the dresser can hang out on versatile velvet hangers for non-slip action. For added storage, build a shelf on top and add clear bins or rattan baskets below to store offseason clothing or the sizes into which your tiny tot has not yet grown!

Pro Tip: Make your label maker your best friend! Time flies when you’re frenzied and flabbergasted! So mark your storage bins with organized clothing sizes so you know where to go when they grow!

Babies, like exes, come with a lot of baggage. And all of those glorious baby shower gifts and goodies need to be stored somewhere. Enter baskets as baby belonging bins! From soothers to swaddles, bottles to bibs, bust out the bevy of West of Main baskets to contain all of the kid crazy accoutrements!

Pro Tip: Baskets are both practical and visually pleasing. These rattan wonders can double up as toy bins and laundry baskets as needed!

Telling a textile story with drapes is an excellent way to incorporate softness into your nursery amid all of the hard edges of furniture. Whether it be floor to ceiling swathes of fabric, roman shades, or blackout blinds, blocking out the bright light at any time of day allows your baby to garner some much needed REM sleep!

When choosing a fab rug for your nursery floor, keep the following tips in mind. You’ll want the weave to be cozy enough to support the little one’s knees while crawling, but not too high a pile that it becomes difficult to spot clean spills and spit up spots! Also, picking a pretty patterned piece will help to distract from any miniature made messes!

Much like any multi-purpose room, myriad lighting requirements must be met in the nursery. From overhead chandeliers or flush mounts, to wall sconces and task lighting lamps, sunlight isn’t the only shine you can bring into your baby’s abode! Add a glamorous chandelier for a surefire space glow-up. Wall sconces can frame and flank doorways and artwork. And floor lamps are as aesthetically pleasing as they are practical! Top off your changing station with a task light and your space will surely shine bright like a diamond!

Pro Tip: Add dimmer switches and nightlights wherever possible. That way, while your little one nods off, you can still read by the dim light of a lamp! 

Be they framed forest creatures or hand-sketched drawings, your baby will benefit from early exposure to artwork. No matter your thematic nursery selection, every baby’s room is elevated by landscapes and portraits.

Pro Tip: Ensure your pretty pictures are heavily secured to the wall to avoid falling on little family members!

Be it boy or girl, twins, or triplets, ensure your nest is organized and optimized with West of Main’s new nursery collection now available online! And don’t forget to tag your nursery makeover with #womlifestylebydesign to show off your baby’s showpiece of a bedroom on Instagram!