5 steps to a perfect nursery

1 Pick a theme

Planning and decorating your new baby's room is great fun. But with so much choice in the shops it can be overwhelming deciding on a theme and key buys. There are also safety issues to consider. Our five-step plan is designed to help make life easier:

Here's where the fun starts. If you know your baby's sex, you may want to choose a classic pink or blue theme. If you're keeping it a surprise you could go for a more neutral look. Subdued hues such as pale yellows or greens, and creams and beiges work well, as do combinations of bright colours like red, yellow and blue.
In terms of themes, the choice is endless, so use your imagination: animals, shapes and landscapes are just a few ideas. When you pick a theme though, think about how it will look in a few years' time - will it be passé or can it be updated?

2 Make a list

There are a few key things you need to invest in:

• Cot This is one of the most important buys as your baby will spend a lot of time in it. You may decide to put your newborn in a Moses basket, crib or cradle to start with and move him into a cot later. Either way, your baby should sleep in your room for the first six months. A cot with all-round slats gives you a good view of your sleeping baby, while drop sides make putting your baby in easier. If you use a second-hand cot you will need a new mattress.
• Changing table It's a good idea to have a dedicated changing area for your baby that's at waist height with a cushioned, wipeable mat on it. Pop a nappy bin next to it so you can throw away dirty nappies easily.
• Chest of drawers Useful to store all those ultra-cute outfits.
• Comfy chair This is for you to sit in during those night-time feeds. A rocking chair is a lovely idea but make sure it has good padding as you'll be using it a lot!
  

Plan the floor space and measure up before you buy the furniture so you know what will fit the room. It's a good idea to always put your baby's cot next to an inner wall, as it'll be warmer in winter. And don't forget storage - you'll find you're given lots of gifts that soon start to pile up, be it clothing, bedding, furniture or toys. In-built storage is great if you have the room for it, while a toy box - with child-safe hinges to protect little fingers - is a useful addition.

3 Get decorating

It’s up to you whether you use paint or wallpaper in your baby’s room. If you’re having a theme though, using a relevant patterned wallpaper is an easy way to bring the whole room together. Many parents prefer to have carpet in their child’s room as it’s much kinder than wood on little knees once he starts crawling. As for windows, try to fit black-out
curtains or blinds as it will help your child to learn that things
are different when it’s dark – it’s time to sleep.

4 Put safety first
If you do decide to paint the room, try to do this about three months before your baby arrives so the paint fumes have time to fade. If you’re getting a new carpet it’s also good to get this fitted as early as possible, again, to air any fumes. When decorating, avoid blinds or curtains with long cords and place the cot away from radiators, windows, lamps or climbable furniture. Plus, once your baby can push up on his hands and knees, you should remove any mobiles or toys that hang across the crib.

5 Talk to friends
Get tips from friends and family who already have babies. Check out their nurseries and ask for advice. It’s likely they’ll have learnt from any mistakes or have found the latest must-have nursery essential to make life easier.

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