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Decorating the nursery for baby!

Decorating the nursery

All new parents must stress about this at some point! What colour do you decorate the nursery? When should you do it? Is paint harmful for pregnant women? Is it safe to paint and decorate when pregnant?

Is painting safe when pregnant?

Paints available these days are all safe to use. Some may require more ventilation than others but as breathing in paint fumes isn't a good idea at the best of times you should just pay attention and follow all instructions on the cans!

Paints should ALWAYS be used under the ventilation conditions stated on the label. If in doubt open an extra window anyway and take plenty of breaks.

If you're in any doubt about whether you should ask your doctor or midwife about whether you should be hanging wallpaper and painting ceilings!

Don't forget that you have a different centre of gravity when you have a bump and you might be less nimble on a ladder than usual! Take care! Get someone to help you if possible!

What colours to use for a nursery?

There are various theorys about whether babies should be shown black and white images or soothing pastels.

Our main advice would be to paint the room well in advance of the birth - the last month or so can be extremely tiring and the last thing you really want to be doing is painting walls.

what we'd suggest room wise, and this is more so important if you don't know what sex baby you're having, to keep the room in light neutral colours.
This basic canvas can be adapted by use of accessories:

• curtains,
• floor covering,
• wallpaper borders,
• rugs,
• bed linen,
• cushions,
• toys
• furniture
• stencilling
• murals

Of course the traditional colours are pink for a girl and blue for a boy. But you could easily use a pale yellow colour for either! Of course bed linen is available cheapest in white!

Murals are easy to do if you're artistic but can be hard if you're not... unless you can trace drawings onto the wall and colour them in. Stenciling isn't too hard and there are huge ranges of stencils available for children's rooms.

Themed nurserys are fine if you have a particular favourite!

Once you've decorated take some photos of it and send them to us! We'd love to hear from you!

Basic Furniture for a nursery

a baby basket or carry cot
a cot
a changing table
a chest of drawers - totally essential for storing all those baby things
a rocking chair or glider - lots of people swear by these but we think they're quite expensive really.
a mobile to hang over the cot - nice soothing tune as much for you as the baby!