Labor of Love: Designing a Nursery for the Whole Family

If you hope to create a timeless look, consider a modern crib with vintage flair. Many heirloom-quality reproductions offer the beauty of antique cribs as well as current safety features that may not be found in older models. There are numerous cribs to choose from when purchasing a traditional or vintage-inspired design.

Iron cribs are a long-time nursery favorite. Today, iron cribs feature exceptional craftsmanship with detailed scrollwork of yesteryear as well as whimsical finials such as stars, bunnies, and teddy bears.

Another popular option is a wooden crib painted in white or a soft pastel. The crib's edges can be slightly rubbed to expose the natural wood, which adds charm to the design. Another classic wood crib alternative to consider is solid cherry. The cherry finish adds a warm glow to the baby's room with its red and brown tones.

Once this initial decision is made, the rest of your nursery design challenge is to find décor accessories and crib linens.

Recycling the Old

Do you have a family dresser or armoire that has character and just needs a face lift? Create a truly unique nursery focal point by using existing furniture as a canvas. Whether your favorite memories of childhood include dreams of a make-believe kingdom, a favorite storybook character, or walks along a beach, you can bring your memories to life by painting a mural on your furniture. If you don't feel comfortable painting the design, work with an artist to translate your ideas into art. Let the artist create a one-of-a-kind work of art that will surely be a family treasure and can be shared with generations to come.

If you desire a subtler look for your nursery, you can enhance your furnishings with antique glazing, distressing techniques, and decorative hardware. These details will add to the warmth and coziness of the room and help create a cohesive design.

Colorful Touches

From crib bedding and accent pillows to window treatments and upholstered chairs, fabrics add the finishing touch to the nursery. Toile, chenille, and velvet fabrics are all popular choices for crib linens. These fabrics were also familiar to our parents and grandparents and are a wonderful choice for a vintage nursery. Chenille and velvet are cozy and comfortable and help create a special resting place for baby when used with extra soft cottons. You can choose to finish the entire nursery in richly textured and patterned fabrics or introduce them as trim in crib bedding.

Parents want their nursery to be the perfect place for their baby to sleep and grow, the setting of baby's future childhood memories. Whatever design decisions you make, your furnishings and décor accessories will complement the main element of your baby's room—your love and care.