The Convertible Nursery – A Room That Grows with Baby

Before beginning, take a breather, relax, and sit in the room. Think about your decorating plans and what the nursery will look like. Now, imagine a few years from now, when your baby grows older. Will you need to repaint and redecorate the room? Will the furniture be too small for your child, the clothing too big to fit in the dresser? If you’re willing to spend money for a great nursery, keep in mind that your child will outgrow it much sooner than you think. If you wish to stretch your budget and save time and energy with a minimal redesign of the bedroom, think of the "convertible nursery" approach.

Designing a Nursery

To keep the nursery functional as a child’s room, think of the walls. Instead of baby-themed wallpaper, or pink or blue paint, think of bolder or more neutral colors. Greens or light golds is a great color for any age, and you will still easily achieve the “baby” feel without your child finding it too babyish. Think of patches of bold primary color, usable both for baby and your child. White walls are a great option as well, and gives a clean contrast with the rest of the decorations.

Curtains, trim, shelving, nursery toys, wall posters, rugs and bedding sets can create a more effective nursery atmosphere than the choice of paint itself. Choose decorations that can enhance any wall, such as quilts, framed pictures and window valences. Then, a few years down the line, you simply replace these accents with something more appropriate. Voilà, the nursery becomes a child’s room without having to do an expensive renovation!

Furniture

The focal point of the nursery is, of course, the crib. This will probably be your greatest expense in the nursery, especially if you include bedding and accessories such as bumper pads and diaper bags. Instead of replacing it after two or so years, look for one that can convert into a child’s bed. These convertible cribs feature adjustable mattress heights for your growing infant, and a guardrail when it turns into a bed. Some companies even offer optional mattress rails to turn it into a full-size adult bed.

Convertible cribs cost a bit more and, just like the nursery décor, picture what the bed will look like in a few years. There are some points to keep in mind, though. Because they use the same headboard and footboard as the crib, the equal sizes of both might look strange. Don’t buy something too trendy, for it will look out of style in a few years. Finally, read the manufacturer’s description. Sometimes the conversion kits cost extra, adding a few extra hundred dollars to the price!

Look for furniture that can be used well into childhood. For instance, instead of a small, cute nursery dresser, look for a medium-size or even adult dresser with deep drawers to accommodate your child’s or even your teenager’s clothing. Instead of buying a separate change table, the dresser can be used for this purpose with an attachable pad on top. Bookcases can start off with teddy bears, baskets and other nursery items, and be eventually replaced with a growing library.

Storage will be needed. Lots of storage. Blankets, clothing, diaper bags, quilts, shoes and the like will quickly fill the nursery. Along with a dresser, build storage compartments into the closet, and look for a chest or two. When the child grows, the baby clothes in the chest can be replaced with toys.

It’s now time to decorate and fill the nursery. Think of the present and imagine your beautiful baby sleeping in the room. Spend a lot of time here, because before you know it, your baby will have Barbie dolls or toy cars scattered all over his or her room!

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