When you enter the nesting phase of your pregnancy, you will feel the urge to create a nursery for your little one. If you're doing it for the first time, all the options might feel overwhelming, as you don't know what you really going to need. 

As a mother of two, I can ensure you that you don't need to go overboard with the amount of furniture in the nursery. Scandinavian parents, in particular, focus on neutral colors, natural elements, and minimal furniture. Think about what will be the most functional. Once you become a parent, you realize that logistics and functionality are crucial. 

Creating the ideal nursery

There are so many aspects of this nursery we love; from the walls to the cute details. 

A nursery featuring an IKEA Besta cabinet, customized with Norse Interiors' Eva doors, pulls, and legs.

Creating a cozy space like this is not as hard as you may think. We'll break down the key elements.

Choosing furniture

I think most parents would agree when I say that the two main pieces of furniture in a nursery, are a crib and changing table. This is where you and the baby will spend the most time.

Depending on how much space you have, you should consider where and how to store the surprisingly large amount of things your little ones need. Many changing tables have an integrated storage solution, which is great for accessing things you use often like diapers, creams and soft towels.

Then you need a place to store clothes. Here you should consider that a baby's and toddler's, clothes take up much less space than your full-size clothes so you don't need a wardrobe. A small dresser or cabinet will last a long time. 

Another important aspect to consider is that children grow fast. You can't make their clothes grow with them, but your furniture can. Choose simple designs in good materials that will last, and if you pick your pieces wisely, they can, with small updates, work into teenage years.

With the components from Norse Interiors, you can easily replace the doors or drawer fronts of cabinets and dressers to give the furniture a new look while staying on budget.

Make the walls interesting

Now when functionality is taking care of, you can focus on the more creative side of the nursery. With the sparse amount of furniture, you can really have fun with the walls, to make the place feel warm and interesting.

Use wallpaper or paint to incorporate patterns or objects. This will have a big impact while using a small budget. 

Choose colors that work in harmony

In a nursery, I recommend choosing calm and muted tones; like gray, pale green, and pink/mocha. These colors blend well with natural wood, which you often see in a Scandinavian nursery. Real wood also lasts a long time.

The lighting you choose also is a part of the décor and can make the room feel cozy. Whether you go for a nightlight or a regular lamp, you should make sure the light is soft and warm and has more of a yellow light rather than blue.

Think about the details

Like any great interior design, the small final touches can make or break a room. Stuffed animals and other toys can both be squeezed and played with while adding to the decor in the room. When picking these items, think about the colors and materials so that they complement the rest of the room and creates a unified look. 

For the walls, you can get posters that you can exchange with age or interest. This is a great hack to introduce patterns and details into the room while staying on budget. For young children, you should aim for simple graphics, since it's hard to take to many colors and patterns in. Clean graphic art in colors are always a sure thing.

We hope this nursery guide has been helpful, as you embark one of life's most exciting journeys! 

 

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