Part II: Planning Your Nursery
You've decided which room your going to use as your nursery. Now, it's time to plan your space. Why plan? Planning forces you to look at the space and envision how it will be used and what will be needed in order to make the best use of it. Thorough planning arms you with the information you need in order to yeild a less frustrating and more enjoyable shopping experience. Not totally stress free, but definitely less stress than if you went out unprepared!
1.) Clean Out Your Space. First things first. Get your space completely cleared out. Yes. COMPLETELY. Unless it applies to baby, get it out. The less clutter in your nursery the better. Move that clutter somewhere else.
2.) Decide What Furniture You Want/Need. Below is a list of standard furniture most common in a nursery.
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* Crib - can either be put on the wall vertical or horizontal depending on the design you like.
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* Changing Table and/or Dresser which you can add a changing pad to.
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* Glider - the wood frames are generally smaller than the padded chairs
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* Side Table - nice next to the glider
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* Book Shelves - nice for extra storage if you have room
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* Twin/Full/Queen size bed - few have room for this, but they're nice for those nights you fall asleep in the nursery.
3.) Plot Out Your Space. Decide how you want your furniture laid out.
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* Crib - generally works well on the "feature" wall. The wall with no windows or doors if available. Preferably, not on the wall where you enter the room.
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* Changing Table/Dresser - works well near your bathroom door, if attached or the closet wall.
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* Glider/side table - Many like to place the glider and side table near the window so that they can see out while caring for baby.
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* Book Shelves - should go on a wall where it can be easily secured so that baby cannot pull it over.
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* Twin/Full/Queen Size Bed - go well in a corner arranged almost as a daybed so not to take focus away from the crib.
4.) Measure and Document Your Space. Note all below before heading out to shop.
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* Make a diagram of the room and mark plugs, doors, windows.
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* If you're thinking about a new ceiling light, make note of your light switches. Is your main switch a "two-pole", meaning one fixture has multiple switches.
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* Measure not only the length and width of the room, but the wall space in between doors and windows. Make note of exactly how much actual wall space you have to work with. This is especially handy when looking for a space for a book shelf. Maybe a wall isn't big enough for a crib or dresser, but a book shelf would fit perfectly.
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* Measure your window height and width. Measure the top of the window up to the ceiling and out to either wall so that you know how much space you have to work with for window coverings.
5.) Decide your Sustainability Quotient (SQ). What are your plans for this space and furniture in the future? Will it be used for your next baby? Do you want to be able to convert the entire room into baby's big boy/girl room by just adding a few details? This will be important in deciding what kind of furniture you will purchase.
The Crib: If you plan to use the furniture for the next baby, you'll want to go with something more neutral that will go with boy or girl (note: this is what most couple's do). If you know that you'll take the furniture from crib to full bed, you may want to go with a convertable crib (note: Around the Peekaboo office, of all of our friends, family and client's nurseries, we've never seen a crib converted into a full bed. Moral? Don't stress on taking your room from nursery to college!).
The Dresser/Changing Table: A dresser or a dresser being used as a changing table actaully could go to college with our child. This may be a furniture item where you want to invest a little more.
The Rocker/Glider: A glider is seldom kept in a child's room as they get older. It's usually used in the next kid's nursery, then it's out the door. Is there another place in the house that you can use a glider? Perhaps a reading area? If so, look for a neutral color that will go not only into your next child's nursery, but also in another area of your house much later.
If you've done parts I (Assessing Your Nursery-published 1/15) and Part II (Planning Your Nursery-above), you should be feeling pretty good about where you are in the nursery creating process. Now it's time to get down to the numbers!
Next - Part III: Budgeting for Your Nursery
Miss Part I? Read it HERE!