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The Baby's Nursery

Planning and Creating This Special Room

Part One

By Donna Smith

She feels the third trimester is the perfect time to put the plan into action. "In the third trimester some parents may know what the sex of the baby is so they can be specific about colors and themes in the nursery," says Magsamen. "Most baby showers are given at this time as well and once a parent has all the loot from this they can decide what else they may need."

One exception would be if the parents want custom furnishings. "Parents should keep in mind that often when ordering piece availability may be an issue," says Perera. "If ordering custom, items can take up to 12 weeks before they are ready to be delivered, so plan in advance."

Kosik began thinking about her nursery as soon as she found out she was pregnant, but didn't actually do any of the work until late in the second trimester. "We wanted to make sure this pregnancy wanted to stick around before investing too much time/money into converting the room (we had three prior miscarriages)," she says.

When planning, Perera suggests first selecting the furniture, then soft furnishings like bedding, drapery, etc., then move on to paint. "It's much easier to select a paint color based on the existing fabrics in the room than to have the paint color determine what bedding and other fabric options you have to choose from," she says. "Once you have everything figured out, paint, then place all the furniture, install window treatments and accessorize!"

As far as how much to spend on your little one's room, Magsamen reminds parents not to break the bank. "There are so many baby sales and stores that offer wonderful things for the baby at great value," she says. "Many stores today have exceptional design and designers creating for them. Look for baby sales and designers in magazines and store ads. Make a budget that works for you and stick to it. Don't think of this as a chore but as a fun challenge – celebrate when you find a great deal and be proud of what you've created together."

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!