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The Baby's Nursery

Planning and Creating This Special Room

Part One

By Donna Smith

For Sandra Magsamen, artist, lifestyle and decor expert, author of Living Artfully: Create the Life You Imagine (Free Press, 2006) and creator of the Messages from the Heart™ brand for JCPenney, it should be a reflection of the mom-to-be. "Mom should consider a theme that they love and that is a reflection of who they are," she says. "If a mom likes flowers and butterflies then fill the room with a garden theme. If she likes Donald Duck then paint a mural with that theme. The only rule is that that are no rules. The important thing is to make a physical space that will nurture the baby and be a welcoming place and safe place as the family cares for and loves the newest member of the family."

Perera is seeing a new trend in nursery design. "The main theme that has emerged for nurseries over the past few years is decor that mirrors grownup trends," she says. "Nurseries are no longer filled with childlike pieces of furniture; they have become very modern and chic."

The themes that Magsamen is seeing in the market place are, "simple design, modern bold graphics, use of brown in the patterns, cute animal figures, verse driven patterns, rainforest themes, cars and trucks for boys and flowers for girls," she says.

Want to see more?

• A Dash of Pizzazz: Add Personal Touches to Your Baby's Nursery
• Decorating Baby's Room with a Colorful Canvas: Invite a Rainbow into the Nursery
• A Man's Touch: Designing the Nursery with the Dad-to-be
• Talk about it!