A Guide to Planning Your First Baby Room: Essential Items & Steps

You’re getting close to the day when you’ll be holding your newborn in your arms. It’s exciting! Especially if it’s your first time.

You have probably picked out a dozen cute outfits already and a very special name you’ve had in your mind for years.

But you still haven’t started or figured out how to even start decorating your baby’s room. The thing is, it can feel overwhelming when you think about all there is to do, and various solicited and unsolicited pieces of advice don’t really help much but confuse you even more.

We’re here to take some of that stress away. We’ll help you prepare for your baby’s arrival with practical tips and remind you of the most essential items you need so you don’t forget what’s important.

Create a Layout

Step one in decorating your first nursery is to create a plan. Since this will be your baby’s very first room, you want the space to be comfortable as well as designed in a way that reflects your taste (since you’ll spend quite a few nights in there as well).

If you’ve already selected a room for your baby, go sit in it for a little bit. Take a deep breath and imagine that your newborn is already in your arms. You’re rocking your baby to sleep while singing a lullaby.

What does the room look like? Do you have an idea where the crib will go?

Are you sitting in a rocking chair while holding your baby? What color are the walls?

You probably already have a vision of at least some elements of the room, so write them down. Use Pinterest for inspiration or browse a few baby furniture store catalogs to get an idea. You only need the basic layout plan; you can easily add the details later.

Find the Right Crib and Mattress

This will be the main piece of furniture in your nursery and the baby’s very first bed, so it’s important that you find one that is both safe and stylish.

You’ll be spoiled for choice wherever you turn your head, but first decide on the most important factors: size and cost.

A standard crib is a good choice, especially if you have a bigger home and you’re planning on having more children, so you want it to last for years and years. They are durable, spacious, and safe, and you can easily make them work with every decor.

If space is limited, you might want to consider getting a bassinet for the time being, since they are smaller. This also works well if you can’t decide on a crib just yet or you’re planning on moving sometime in the future, so you don’t want to commit to something more long-lasting.

There are also mini cribs, which are just as functional as standard ones but don’t take up much space.

The mattress should not only be firm and comfortable for your baby to sleep on, but practical too, since, as you might imagine, you might need to clean it quite often. Preferably, pick one with a removable cover that you can machine wash.

Don’t Forget a Changing Table or Mat

While it’s definitely not necessary, adding a changing table to your nursery will change your life, especially in the beginning when you’re still learning every day.

It’s a convenient way to safely change your little one’s diaper that you can place right next to the crib, and many moms find it easier on their backs, too. It also provides a bit more storage room since these tables typically include a few open shelves where you can put diapers, towels, or other necessities.

If getting a changing table isn’t an option due to budget or lack of space, you can opt for a sturdy changing mat that you can place on the dresser or anywhere you want. When making the decision between a changing table and a changing pad, you should consider how often you’ll be changing the baby in the nursery vs other rooms in your home.

Decor and Details

When planning your baby’s first room, you’ll probably change your mind a lot when it comes to decor and accessories, so we suggest taking it slow. Remember that you can always add more details later on, when you’ve already planned out the nursery layout and picked out the furniture.

You can start with something that’s meaningful to you, like wall art with motives you like and a few soft pillows that add pops of color. To add a hint of uniqueness, you can opt for custom nursery signs, like a personalized canvas with your baby’s name.

Don’t overdo it on details, though. Select a few plush baby toys and soft pillows that add pops of color. It’s important to avoid clutter and adding too many accessories since you don’t want to trip over things every time you walk into the nursery.

A Dedicated Feeding Space

Experts say your baby should eat as often as it’s hungry (or at least every 2-3 hours), so you’ll spend a lot of time doing feedings.

When preparing for a newborn, you’ll need a comfortable place for feeding time. While you probably won’t only do it in the nursery all the time, it’s smart to add a feeding spot in there because the tired version of you feeding the baby again at 4 a.m. will be thankful.

Get a chair with good back support, like a baby rocking chair or glider. It will make feeding time even more magical as both you and your baby are comfortable. Ensure the feeding spot is at a convenient distance from the crib so everything is prepared for this magical time.

Choose Proper Lighting

We don’t get just how much lighting matters unless we find it difficult to fall asleep due to it. Proper lighting can help enhance your baby’s sleep, while a light that’s too bright can keep it awake at odd hours.

You want to create a soothing environment, so opt for warm lights that can be adjusted for intensity as needed. It’s also important that the lights can mimic nighttime any time of the day, to help your baby fall asleep faster.