If you’re agonising over creating your baby’s perfect bedroom, Katherine Sorrell outlines seven simple steps to making a comfortable and practical baby haven in your home

1 First, choose a sturdy cot in a size which suits the room. Drop sides are useful for picking the baby up without hurting your back, while a height-adjustable base means you can lift the baby out easily from the highest position at first, then lower the base when he learns to pull up to his feet. Castors may be handy, too.

 

2 Next, storage: somewhere to keep clothes, nappies and changing gear, books and toys. Utilise all the areas a room has to offer, particularly any alcoves that can be turned into wardrobes or cupboards. Some cuter kids stuff can be used for decoration, so a set of open shelves, perhaps combined with a peg rail, is ideal, while toys can be stored in soft plastic buckets or drawstring bags.

3 Try to keep the room as uncluttered as possible – when you’re carrying a baby you can’t see your feet, and the last thing you want to do is trip over or bang yourself on a sticking-out corner. Otherwise, simply arrange the furniture so that you can get at everything quickly and easily. Anything you need to access on a regular basis should be kept at between knee and elbow height – reserve under the cot or very high shelving for anything you don’t require too often.

From nursery to toddler’s room – and beyond
• Invest in a cot-bed, with removable sides so that it can eventually be turned into a proper bed.
• Fit removable shelves in wardrobes so that they can be used for folded baby clothes, then taken out when your child is older and has clothes that need hanging up.
• For free-standing furniture such as chairs or chest of drawers, avoid anything too baby-like; instead choose well-made, simple pieces that will still be useable in years to come.
• Keep walls relatively plain – for extra decoration, add wall stickers which are cheap and easily changed.
• Overall, choose neutral colours and add accents of pattern or brighter shades in areas that can be changed quickly and inexpensively, such as bed linen, cushions, rugs and lampshades.

4 Which brings us to lighting: often overlooked, but actually rather important, from both a practical and aesthetic point of view. Because not only should the nursery lighting be bright enough for you to see what you’re doing when necessary, but it should also be versatile enough to provide low-level lighting for sleep times. David Amos of Amos Lighting considers a dimmer switch essential in any child’s room. “They’re easy to retro-fit and cost about £10 plus fitting – a rotary dimmer always starts off dim, so when you switch on the light you don’t get a sudden glare.”

5 When choosing colours, it’s probably best to opt for soft pastels or neutral, calming shades of off-white. Visual stimulation is important for babies, but there’s no need for garish colour schemes – it can be added in the form of a mobile above the cot, some cheerful bunting or a set of twinkling fairy lights attached to a wall.

6 Good window treatments are essential for a finished look to your nursery, as well as taking care of some practical considerations. Simple roman or roller blinds are inexpensive and a great way to add colour and pattern, or you could opt for simple pretty gathered curtains. Either way, it’s important to add a blackout lining to prevent your baby waking at the crack of dawn and, if necessary, a thick, thermal lining to keep out any draughts.

7 And finally floors – a long-term investment worth getting right first time. While your baby may not be doing much at first, as he grows older the likelihood of spills and stains increases dramatically. In other words, pale-coloured, pile carpets aren’t likely to look pristine for very long. “I like wooden floors, softened by rugs, as the boards just get better with age and they’re easy to clean,” says interior designer Geraldine Morley. “Carpet tiles are a fun option, and cork is coming back. Rubber and vinyl are really nice, too – they’re warm underfoot, come in lots of lovely colours and can also be used in conjunction with rugs. But, if you really love carpet I’d suggest something without too much of a pile and perhaps with a stripe for practicality.” And there you have it: a practical and appealing space that’s cosy, calm and comfortable for you and your little one.

Safety in the nursery
Once your baby starts crawling he’ll be into everything. Here’s how to make sure you’re prepared:
• Tuck away or clip down any trailing cables
• Keep any blind pull-cords short enough not to be reached
• Fit catches or bars on the windows
• Screw securely to the walls any furniture that could be pulled over
• Store anything you don’t want him to play with on a high shelf or in a locked cupboard
• Ensure that anything he might climb on is strong enough to take his weight
• Check electrical items regularly for fraying wires or other obvious faults, and never overload a plug socket. Ensure any socket covers are impossible for a child to remove.