They say having a baby can change one’s life. I say Amen to that. Just when you thought you’ve gone through a whole lot growing up – fitting in, struggling with peer pressure, battling with self-image issues, finding your niche, planning your career – you have yet to experience the greatest challenge in life: parenthood.

Raging hormones got the best of me that I was already with child at seventeen. As the rest of the youngsters were splurging at Barneys, struggling to find the perfect pair of jeans, I was coughing up cash at the local baby bedding boutique, scouring blankies and other custom baby nursery items. Shopping for custom baby furniture was by far the easiest and most enjoyable bit, if I may say. There were the sleepless nights, incessant crying and bickering (baby and parents alike), constant feeding and cleaning up – you pretty much know the drill. It was the most taxing job, without pay at that, but I got the “best employee” title in the bag.

Like I said, I enjoyed the shopping bit that creating a custom nursery design and decorating my baby’s room became my second job – full-time, hands-on mommy being the first. I was lucky enough to have a husband – boyfriend back then – who was financially supportive above all else. We took inspiration from A-list Hollywood celebrities’ luxury baby rooms in creating our dream nursery for Aaliyah. I wanted the best for my baby – don’t we all?

Through the course of my career as self-proclaimed interior designer, I’ve learned a few helpful decorating tips that I’d be more than happy to share it with parents out there.

• Room size doesn’t matter. Just keep in mind that the furniture you’ll be filling the designated space with would serve dual purposes. One example is a low and wide dresser that can also work as a table for changing nappies. Get one with many shelves for storage so to minimize clutter and save up on space.
• For baby’s crib, the key is location, location, location. Look for a convenient spot for the crib avoiding windows where baby would be exposed to direct outside light and air vents, for obvious reasons.
• We often hear the phrase “favorite chair in the house”, in your nursery’s case a comfy rocking chair would be just that. Rocking chair is the new lazy-boy as you’d be spending most days comfortably seated in it.
• Scheming is good – at least for room colors. Apply your chosen theme or color scheme on beddings, floor coverings and draperies.
• For walls use removable adhesive designs that would easily peel off. Trust me you’d want to update the designs as you would your wardrobe. I myself went through different ‘phases’ – Disney princess, under the sea, outer space – hence the stock of removable wall stickers at home.

The arrangement of your baby's room is very important and should be able to provide functionality for both parent and baby. Your nursery should be able to provide access for you to attend to your baby and should not be dominated by furniture. Baby furniture also makes excellent gifts for birthdays and weddings. Newly weds would love to receive baby furniture since they will not need to shop for baby furniture anymore.

Some furniture would be essential to your nursery. Your crib should be your nursery's centerpiece. You should choose a crib that will fit with the rest of your nursery pieces. Cradles are also great nursery furniture. Bassinets are used for children less than 4 months old. Changing tables are crucial pieces to your nursery as well. You could also opt for dresser/changer combinations if you want to save space and money. You will also need gliders to feed and bond with your babies.

Your crib will not be complete without nursery bedding. Nursery bedding should not only be aesthetically pleasing but they should also be able to provide comfort for the baby. Your nursery bedding will set the tone of your nursery which is why you should choose the correct bedding theme. The mattress will be the bedding's most crucial element. A standard mattress will fit in almost all cribs except round cribs. The mattress should have a foam inner liner and a high coil count. A quality quilt will go well with any crib. For protection, you would want to have crib sheets to shield your mattress from solid and dirt. You should not use pillows in your crib or your baby may acquire SIDS. Your crib would also want to have a bumper and a valance.

Having a new baby on the way is always exciting, but it can also be a lot of work! Often you need to move to a larger space as you get a bigger apartment or a house. Then you have to prepare your home to be baby friendly and safe. Included in this is decorating the baby’s nursery! This can be a really fun thing to do, but the task may seem overwhelming. Luckily, this article will help you simplify the nursery decorating process. If you are expecting a baby girl, why not welcome your new princess in style with a princess themed nursery?

It may seem complicated, but this fun girly theme will be simplified by following the tips in this article. And you’ll be glad to know that this particular nursery theme allows for a lot of flexibility when it comes to furniture and decorating decisions.

<b>Princess Furniture</b>

When decorating a nursery, always start with the basics: furniture. Getting the right type of furniture is key. Classic or vintage furniture is more appropriate for the princess theme then modern. Now, your first basic item would be a nice crib. Next, it’s important to get a dresser or drawer chest, and a changing table. This is all furniture that will make your life easier, but if you have limited space you can opt for a combination dresser/changing table, or a crib that included an extension that can be used as a changing table. And if you do have the space, the ideal dresser for your little princess would be an elegant drawer chest with a hutch. Not only is this furniture fit for a princess, but it’s also practical as it creates much storage space.

Remember, keep things elegant by matching a crib to the other furniture for a more sophisticated look. You can also make your nursery ready for future fun by adding a child sized table and chair set. In fact, there are many princess themed tables that would be appropriate for the room and include a mirror and stool set. This can really add some critical touches to them room and make it look truly princess ready.

<b>Princess Accessories</b>

Now that you’ve got the basics, it’s time to accessorize the room. First, you’ll need bedding. Pink is a great choice, and you can usually find bedding that has a princess theme. To keep the room royal, get a matching bed skirt, and add a white or pink canopy above the bed to complete the look. Alternatively, if you don’t care for canopies, add a fairies mobile above the bed instead.

Now it’s time to add those important little touches by decorating the dresser, table, and chair. Stuffed animals and dolls are the best way to do this. Use cute teddy bears that are either pink, white, or classic colors to fill the shelves. Then get a princess doll to sit on the child sized chairs. Another fun touch would be to add a stuffed dog under or next to the table, because nothing says royal like a lapdog for your little princess!

<b>Walls, Floor and Ceiling Decor</b>

When you have the decorations and furniture figured out, it’s time to paint the room to match. Pink is a very appropriate choice for a princess, so choose a shade of pink for the walls. Keep the ceiling an ivory white color so that the room is not completely overwhelmed by the pink. These bright colors will give your room a fairytale look, and to take things further, you can even add a chandelier to bring in some magical fairy light at night. Then get a rug for a the floor that has a castle or tiara theme. Light blue or pink again would be a great choice for the rug. Then accessorize the walls with paintings or pictures of castles, or even a picture of a Disney princess to hang beside the bed!

So there you go! You can achieve a truly royal (and fun) look with some themed bedding, children’s furniture, and stuffed animals. Follow these simple steps and before you know it you’ll have the perfect castle sanctuary for your little princess!

There are plenty of models and brands out there when it comes to baby furniture cribs. Maybe you use a cradle for the first six months or so, but after that a crib is really a good place for the baby to sleep. So to invest in a good baby crib is really something worth while.

If you have allergies in the family, or are otherwise aware of toxic substances, maybe you should consider a natural baby crib. The amish baby furniture sets are totally free from toxic coloring or impregnators, and have really beautiful designs. You could easily end up furnituring you whole nursery with amish furniture, because they are so beautiful and have really clever storage systems. There are also hand painted cribs that are adorable, but unfortunately a bit costy. But, luckily enough there are cribs in all price ranges, so either if you're on a budget or can spend anything you like, you will find something that fits you. Be aware of the safety standards and that the crib meets all the regulations required.

Many cribs comes with their own mattress, and that's probably the best option because it should fit the crib neatly. There are two types of mattress and those are inner spring/coil or foam. The innerspring style of mattress will usually last much longer, and because of that it's a little bit more expensive. A waterproof mattress pad to protect it can be a good thing to have under the sheets as well, be aware the you don't have anything plastic that the baby will sleep directly on.

See to it that the cradle is a place that he or she will enjoy staying in, and a place for it to relax. Place some nice pictures or fabric on the wall above the crib, and have some suitable items like a baby crib mobile or soft toy attached to it. As the baby gets bigger and starts to play a bit by itself, you can have a softer start in the morning if you place some interesting things beside the crib, that the baby can reach and play with for a while (place a chair beside the crib to put the toys on). In that way you can rest a bit longer in the morning, and the baby gets a nice start to the day by playing and discovering the items. Remember to swap the things regularly, a baby wants to discover new things always and gets tired of playing with the same things too long. You can do the same with all the toys. If they start to just laying around, and the baby is not playing with some of them, take those away for awhile. Take them out again after a couple of weeks, and those toys will be as good as new and exciting to play with again!

For more info on baby furniture cribs, natural, hand painted and more, please visit our baby safety siteBaby Crib Info

For infants, parents may prefer to have a bassinet. Since bassinets are made small, they can easily fit in the parent’s bedroom. At least for the first month or so, they would like to know that their little one is safe and getting the rest that they need. This piece of eco-friendly nursery furniture is made from bent plywood.

When the child is a few months old, then it’s time for them to get a crib. Eco-friendly nursery furniture usually has cribs that provide a sturdy and strong structure. The crib would include a fixed rail made from Birch wood. Parents will find the veneers to be of high quality, made from either maple or walnut. In addition to that, the crib would serve a second purpose as a conversion to toddler day bed. That way, parents would not have to get another bed for some years to come.

When choosing a crib, make sure that this piece of eco-friendly nursery furniture is made of wood that is solid. If the wood has to be refinished, use paint or finish that is non-toxic. This will alleviate inhalation of any harmful chemicals. For a crib mattress, it’s best to get one that is made from organic cotton. This material will help to protect the baby from rashes and other skin irritations that may exist.

A bed that is made from natural solid birch wood would be a great piece of eco-friendly nursery furniture to have in the bedroom. This kind of wood makes the bed to stay strong and sturdy. Paint that is non-toxic is used to make the bed come to life. The material is of great quality and will last for a long time. If there are no younger siblings, then the parent could give it to someone else.

Another piece of eco-friendly nursery furniture that a baby can sleep in is a day bed. It’s easy to assemble and you don’t have to spend hours doing it. Also, if you need to change a rail, you can do so and put a shorter side panel it its place. Even though these may cost more than regular nursery furniture, you’re just not paying for the furniture itself. You’re also paying for the quality and assurance that your child can be free of any harmful toxins and chemicals that could harm them.