The following step-by-step guidelines will help answer some of your questions and guide you through the process of decorating a baby nursery.

When it comes to decorating baby rooms you have many options. If you have a particular paint color in mind or have discovered some baby bedding you love you can start with that - just about anything can be used as inspiration for a nursery decor theme.

Step 1: Research first before making a purchase

The most important thing to do when trying to come up with just the right look or theme for your baby's room is to do your homework first. Gather some inspiration by window shopping, browsing through magazines or searching out what's available online. The key is to first browse and get ideas but not to buy anything until you have a firm plan in place, otherwise you may end up spending more time and money shopping than you really need to. You see, if you start buying everything you like when you first see it, you may find your ideas don't end up working so well together and then you may be faced with having to take things back (that is if the store you shopped at will even accept returns). In short, it does pay in both time and money to plan out your baby's room in a logical and organized manner.

Step 2: Jot down your ideas

As you gather some inspiration from various sources, make note of your ideas as well as your likes and dislikes. What colors do you prefer? What kind of feel do you want your baby's room to have? Consider what furnishings you want if you are buying new. Consider quality nursery furniture that will stand the test of time like convertible cribs that can later become a toddler bed or twin bed.

Step 3: Walk around the room and note measurements

Explore the space that will be converted into your baby's nursery. Walk around the room and envision how you would like it to look. Will the ideas you like work within the available space? Take measurements and make notes so you have everything you need on hand when it comes time to make your purchases.

Step 4: Come up with a plan

Once you have a good feel for the space and have your measurements in hand, the next step is to create a floor plan. A floor plan (even a rough sketch) will give you a better sense of if your ideas will actually work within the available space.

Step 5: Experiment with different furniture arrangements

As part of your floor plan, create some simple furniture templates and play around with different arrangements to see what will work best. This is a very important step to do if you are planning on buying new furniture and will be using the space for your child's bedroom for years to come. You see, while a new crib may fit in nicely alongside a bookcase, a toddler or twin bed may not. You should take into consideration not only your baby's current needs but also his or her future ones.

Step 6: Test out different colors

The first step to selecting the right paint color(s) for a baby nursery is to pick up a collection of paint chips from a local paint retailer. With the aid of paint chips, explore a variety of colors until you find a color that appeals to you. Once you have a favorite color or two in mind, you can narrow it down to a particular shade or shades. Usually one base color is good with one or two other colors as an accent. The accent colors can be introduced into the room using a second paint color, crib bedding, artwork, wall stickers, wallpaper, accessories etc.

Step 7: Decide on how you are going to decorate the walls

Decorating the walls of a baby nursery can be fun. There is so many nursery wall decor ideas out there to go with just about any baby room theme you can Imagine. The key is not to overdo it - the last thing you want to do is to create a room that is busy and will overwhelm your baby. A little wall art or a mural on one wall should suffice. You may also wish to consider wall decor ideas that can be easily updated as your child grows. Peel and stick mural stickers are a great idea as they are usually easily removed.

Step 8: Consider window treatment ideas

You don't have to know how to sew in order to come up with adorable window treatments for your baby's nursery. The key is to first decide on practical window coverings like black out shades or blinds (for daytime naps) before making a decision on how you will dress them up e.g. with a valance and/or side curtains. For longevity, select quality drapery fabrics that complement the wall color and flooring. Nursery curtains and valances with a baby motif can be beautiful but will need to be updated sooner than later.

Step 9: Are you make any changes to the flooring?

In most cases, you probably won't be changing the flooring but you may want to consider adding in an area rug that will help pull together the colors in the room. A colorful area or throw rug placed on top of neutral wall-to-wall carpet is a wonderful way to bring an added splash of color into your baby's nursery.

Step 10: Shop for a bedding set

A good crib bedding set can be all you need to inspire an entire nursery theme. A crib itself can become the focal point of your baby's nursery or it can simply be an accessory item and a hand painted wall mural can take center stage. If you are planning on creating a nursery that will also function as a toddler's room and beyond, you may want to consider solid or stripes instead of crib bedding with a baby related motif. The reason I suggest this is that the crib bedding you buy today usually fits most toddler beds therefore if you've purchased a quality bedding set, you child could use it for several years before outgrowing it.

Finally, test your design ideas out using a sample board. It brings all your wall, window, flooring, and bedding samples together and allows you play around with your options. (A sample board can simply be a poster board showcasing all your ideas.)

A lot of beautiful baby rooms come from trial and error. Have fun and experiment with different baby nursery looks until you achieve the one you desire for your baby.

Happy Decorating!

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With the recent focus on green living and organic products, many parents have become interested in creating non-toxic, natural living spaces for their children. One room of particular concern is the baby nursery. Since babies are still developing, their living environment is very important. Creating an eco-friendly or organic baby nursery is a smart move not only for your baby, but for your family and the environment as well.

Expecting a baby is such an exciting time! With happy anticipation, the decorating frenzy begins. Bedding and furniture are purchased, walls are painted and new floors may be installed. It\'s natural to want everything in the baby nursery to be new and beautiful for your precious newborn.

But new and beautiful doesn\'t necessarily mean safe. Conventional furniture, paints and fabrics may have chemicals and toxins that can be unhealthy for your baby. Luckily, stores are offering more eco-friendly options for furniture, wall coverings, floorings, and organic baby bedding. These natural, organic baby products are typically produced without the use of harmful chemicals and thus contribute to a healthier nursery environment.

Here are five smart purchases to make when creating your organic baby nursery.

A Natural Wood Crib: Your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping so you want a crib that is non-toxic. Traditional wood cribs may have harmful stains or finishes while furniture made from pressed wood may contain adhesives that can also irritate your baby. Consider purchasing a sustainable natural wood crib with a non-toxic finish. An Organic Crib

Mattress: Your baby\'s actual sleeping surface is just as important as the crib. Conventional mattresses may contain materials and toxins that may be released into the air while your baby sleeps. To promote your baby\'s health and safety, look for organic crib mattresses that are made from certified-organic materials and fabrics.

Organic Crib Bedding: Many people are unaware that conventionally-grown cotton is one of the most heavily-sprayed crops in the world. To ensure that your baby\'s sensitive skin is not exposed to toxins in regular cotton bedding, consider organic baby bedding made from natural, organic fabrics and eco-friendly dyes.

Eco-friendly Carpet and Flooring: Traditional carpets typically contain known allergens such as adhesives, stain protectors and flame retardants. To avoid bringing these allergens into your baby\'s room, look for healthier alternatives such as eco-friendly hardwoods, bamboo and cork floorings or rugs made of natural fibers.

Eco-friendly Paint: Ever notice that strong smell in the air when painting? Many traditional paints emit toxins called volatile organic compounds which can be hazardous to your family\'s health. Look for low-voc, zero-voc or milk-based paints made of natural non-toxic elements.

Decorating your baby\'s room can be an enjoyable way to prepare for his or her arrival. With careful consideration to these key design elements, your baby\'s nursery will be the healthy, nurturing environment that you desire.

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	Angelcare Baby Sound Monitor, White Sale Price: $58.98
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Decorating a baby nursery can be a somewhat daunting prospect, especially if you are a first time Mom. There are so many decisions to make, so little time. You feel a stress-attack coming on. Wait. Stress is not good for baby.

Relax. Take a deep breath. Baby nursery design can be fun, if you take it one step at a time...

Step 1: Baby safety is your first concern. Be sure to take this into account throughout the baby nursery design process. Make sure you've done everything you can to keep your baby safe in the nursery by using this comprehensive protect your baby in the nursery checklist.

Step 2: Decide on a room style. Cute, modern, traditional, ethnic, the choice is yours. This decision will affect your furniture, theme and color scheme choices.

Step 3: Select a baby crib. The crib will form the focal point of your baby nursery. Take your time and choose wisely. Shape, style, finish and durability are among the factors you should consider.

Step 4: Find baby nursery furniture to complement your crib. Essential furniture items include: a baby changing table; a rocker or glider; a night stand or table and a nursery hamper.

Step 5: How will you provide nighttime light in the nursery? A dimmer switch, sconce, chandelier or nightlight, are among your options. Choose more than one if you like.

Step 6: Choose your baby nursery flooring. Do you want it to match the rest of your home? Do you or your spouse have a history of allergies? Baby may be susceptible too. Take this into account when you make your choice.

Step 7: Decide whether or not you would like to decorate with a nursery theme. Anything goes from cowboys to flowers, pirates to butterflies. Or something more modern, such as blocks or stripes.

Step 8: Work out a color scheme. This will be influenced by your nursery theme if you have chosen one. If not, be guided by the room style you chose in step 2. For example, soft pastels will work with cottage but burnt orange, creams and browns are a better idea for modern.

Step 9: Decorating the baby nursery. Now that the practical stuff is out of the way, get on with the really fun part. Choose your paint, wallpaper, mural, pictures, bedding. Buy stuff, sew stuff, glue stuff. Let the room come alive and move in your furniture.

Step 10: Hang your nursery curtains. Add a block out blind if you want baby to sleep well!

and...

Step 11: Go shopping. Time for that great baby nursery shopping spree you've been waiting for. What's on your list of things to buy?

* Equipment for the baby nursery. For example, a breathing monitor.

* Things for baby's layette. For example, diapers and tiny booties.

* Goodies to keep baby happy. For example, a crib mobile and a baby gym.

* Cool baby gear. For example, a stroller and diaper bag.

Step 12: Finally, pack away all those little baby goodies. Sit back, relax and wait for baby to come and change your life forever.

In the meantime, take a couple of minutes to enter our baby nursery photos contest. Just send in the pictures of your completed nursery - you can win great prizes!