If your family is growing, so first things first: a congratulations is in order! After you’ve shared the news with your loved ones, added every baby book under the sun to your Amazon cart and witnessed their first precious heartbeat for the first time, you realized there’s a mountain of decisions to think through before you welcome your tiny new human home.

Designing your baby’s room is exciting and special, since it’s one of the first things you’ll give to them as a new parent. It’s your way of saying “welcome home” after welcoming them into the family, so every detail matters. From choosing the color scheme to picking out what furniture you should add, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to plan the perfect room for your little bundle.

Selecting the Ideal Color Palette and Theme

First, you want to lay the visual foundation and design the nursery theme. Before you start getting creative, think long-term. Are you planning to repaint the room in a few years, or move? If so, consider keeping it simple with a neutral base that allows you to change the theme as your baby grows.

If you’re wanting to go all-out and lay roots for the better part of the future, start by deciding the story you want this room to tell. After all, this is where your child will be eating, sleeping, and playing for years to come.

Space themes might mean shades of grey and blue, while nature or forest themes can lean into greens, beiges and browns. Soft pastels never hurt and can be modern and gender neutral. Whichever color palette you pick, start with two or three base colors and go from there.

Crib and Bedding

Your baby’s sleeping situation is entirely up to you. Whether you decide to go with a crib or bassinet, consider a firm mattress that fits snuggly into place. When shopping around for bedding, go for fitted sheets and avoid using pillows, quilts, or stuffed animals in the crib — at least at first — for their safety.

It’s also best to avoid using any loose bedding until your baby is older and able to move around confidently. Many parents opt for sleep sacks, which are wearable blankets that keep the baby warm without the need for additional bedding.

Changing Table and Storage

A changing table with plenty of storage space is considered a must-have for lots of parents with babies. If you opt in for a changing table, stock it with all the necessities like diapers, wipes, body lotions, and diaper creams. You could also buy a changing table with additional shelving or drawers for to store items like clothing, toys, and baby supplies, keeping everything in one place and easily accessible.

If you’re a first-time parent, you’ll quickly realize that babies have a lot of stuff, so organization is key. Storage solutions like bins, baskets, and organizers will help you keep diapers, wipes, and baby clothes within arm’s reach.

Lighting

Choose soft and adjustable lighting options, especially if you plan to have late night feedings and diaper changes in this room. A dimmer switch or nursery lamp with soft, warm light can help create a calming atmosphere, that’s both stylish and functional.

Curtains or Blinds

Install blackout curtains or blinds to control the amount of natural light that pours into the room. This is essential for daytime naps and maintaining a sleep-friendly environment while your little one gets used to their sleep schedule.

Curtains are also a great way to add to your room’s theme or color by tying the whole design together, making the room look intentionally styled.

Wall Art

While functionality is important, don’t be afraid to source some art for your baby’s room. Choose wall art that aligns with your theme and the style you’ve chosen for your baby. You might want to go the DIY route with a painted mural wall, or add a few personal framed prints of things like your your own favorite children’s books, family photos, or quotes you plan to repeat as a parent.

Peel-and-stick decals are extremely popular for children’s rooms because they are easy to apply and remove, making it simple to update the room’s decor as time goes on. So, if you want a fun design but don’t want to commit to a mural, these decals are a solid choice.

Stars, flowers, and ocean waves are some of the traditional design choices, but you can also find more complex decals like Winnie the Pooh or Peter Rabbit characters on Etsy.

Baby Room Essential Items

Now, let’s dive into the essential items you’ll need to make your baby’s room complete. These items not only enhance the functionality of the nursery, but also contribute to your baby’s comfort and safety:

• Baby monitor
• Glider or rocking chair
• Diaper pail or Diaper Genie
• Baby clothes and extra linens
• Baby books
• Toys
• Feeding supplies

Baby-Proofing

Baby-proof the room by securing heavy furniture to the wall and covering all of the electrical outlets. Make sure anything above their crib, like photo frames or mobile won’t fall or hurt them. As your little one grows and becomes more mobile, you’ll want to take the steps to re-proof your room for their height and activity.

Think soft, plush rugs for crawling, covers on sharp corners as they’re learning to walk and safety latches on drawers and cabinets to keep curious little hands away from harmful objects.