Published on 26th June 2025 by Tessa Robinson
In theory, creating a nursery should be simple: just pick a theme, choose a cot, and add some wall art. But in reality, it’s no easy task.You can feel inspired everywhere around the internet and read about every type of blog and guide but then it all comes down to what is best to you, to your home and your lifestyle. In addition, one should keep in mind that posts on Instagram and Pinterest are not realistic; behind beautiful images there is mess and the fact that parenting is not ideal and easy.
Forget the Rulebook & Skip the Stress
The first thing you need to do is ditch the idea of perfect. Your nursery needs to function for you; it doesn’t need to look like it belongs in a catalogue. The easiest thing to do once you’ve thrown perfection out the window is to focus on the basics. Consider where you will feed the baby, change and put the baby to sleep. With them in place, some decorating should be easier and much more fun.
Don t overlook checklist (or three). They are excellent at dealing with the sheer workload you feel you must complete, and help you feel in control more, and keep up with tasks. An idea for three lists could include: Must-Haves (cot, changing area), Nice-To-Haves (nursing chair, shelves, mobile), and Dream Items (like that £700 designer wallpaper you love but don’t need).
Plus you don’t need to get everything immediately; some items can wait until your baby actually needs them. Saving you some time and money!
Get Motivated, Not Forced
Pinterest boards and Instagram reels may work both ways like a sword. They make awesome sources of inspiration as you explore colour schemes, layouts and cool hacks. However, they also can set unrealistic expectations by setting up an idealistic nursery because you will be there looking at an empty space to their staged and professionally photographed nursery.
Easier Decisions to Start With
Not everything is difficult when it comes to designing a nursery. Some parts can be nice and straightforward. For example, choosing materials. Easy-to-breath fabrics, such as cotton or muslin, will be a preference when it comes to bedding, curtains, etc. The best alternative is to take the non-toxic paints and the VOC-free finishing on the was fish and furniture and a healthy alternative to your baby (and home). Another factor that is important is flooring. Durable and easy to clean such as luxury vinyl tiles are perfect because they are also soft on the feet, particularly when a fluffy rug is used during tummy time.
Don’t forget about storage! You’ll thank yourself at 2am when you can easily find clean clothes in the dark because you thought ahead with your storage locations and accessibility.
Thinking Beyond the Baby Years
Babies grow. Fast. One minute your baby is tiny, the next they’ve outgrown all the clothes you’ve bought them. And while it can be very tempting to go all in with a pink room that you’ll have to repaint in a few years. Instead, keep the future in mind with your design.
Modular storage, timeless furniture and neutral wall color are timeless pieces which you can adjust to your child as she/he grows up. You need not like a neutral palette, it is possible to filter through colors using the decoration, or to use colors that are non gender specific; perhaps it can be useful not to fall in the masculine blue and feminine pink clichés.
Final Thoughts
Author Bio:
Sophie Marlowe is a digital content writer and outreach executive for Luxury Flooring. She specialises in crafting engaging blogs on home improvement and home decor with a focus on flooring. Sophie writes handy how-tos, easy guides, and helpful comparisons, letting the reader be informed and inspired to take their home to the next level.