A guide to decorating a nursery
- Nicole Wood
- Consultant
In short
Decorating a nursery is exciting, but start with the practical part: blockout window treatments so baby can sleep day and night, in a cordless or well-secured design for safety. Then have fun with a theme. Scandi is a great gender-neutral base, while modern monochrome, a whimsical storybook look, safari and animal prints, a nautical pirate theme, or a floral flower-power room all bring personality, easily carried through in curtain or roman-blind fabric.
For expectant parents, decorating the nursery is one of the most exciting parts of nesting. Choosing a theme can be tricky, and then there are the window treatments to think about. Here is how to get the practical part right, then six themes to inspire you.
Table of contents
Start with the window treatments
Babies sleep through the day as well as the night, so blocking light is the priority. A floor-to-ceiling curtain with a blockout lining gives a soft look, while a blockout thermal roller blind with a fascia is a neat, minimalist option that helps baby sleep. Whatever you choose, pick a cordless or well-secured design for child safety; our guide on choosing the perfect bedroom blinds covers blockout and safety in more detail.
Six nursery themes to inspire you
Scandi
A popular gender-neutral choice if you are keeping the surprise. Keep it simple and natural, then dress it up once baby arrives with blush, mint or duck-egg-blue accents. Natural linen floor-to-ceiling curtains with a blockout lining suit this look beautifully.
Modern monochrome
Hard to go past black and white. Start with a white room and add black and grey accessories, then team it with a simple striped roman blind, or soften it with floor-length curtains in a black-and-white print.
Fantasy fun
Add colour with a whimsical, storybook-inspired design. Playful illustrated fabrics make great gender-neutral curtains or roman blinds, and can be carried through to coordinated cushions and duvets.
Safari
An animal theme offers endless possibilities, from super-bright and colourful to subtle muted tones. A timeless animal-print fabric featuring lions, zebras and giraffes makes lovely curtains for a safari nursery.
Pirate life
Embrace treasure-island adventures with a nautical theme of ships, anchors, treasure and world maps. Layer stripes and anchor prints for a coordinated look.
Flower power
Embrace all things floral, layering florals with pastel polka dots and stripes against white or grey walls so the prints really pop. Coordinated wallpaper can complete the look.
To get the nursery ready for your new arrival with the right curtains or blinds, request a free in-home consultation and one of our consultants will help you find the perfect fit.
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Frequently asked questions
What window coverings are best for a nursery?
Blockout is the priority so baby can sleep during the day as well as at night. A floor-to-ceiling curtain with a blockout lining, or a blockout thermal roller blind with a fascia, both work well. Always choose a cordless or well-secured option for child safety.
Should nursery curtains be blockout?
Yes, ideally. Babies and toddlers often nap in daylight, so a blockout lining or fabric helps darken the room for better, longer sleep, and a thermal lining keeps the room comfortable too.
What are some popular nursery themes?
Scandi, modern monochrome, a whimsical storybook fantasy, safari and animal prints, a nautical pirate theme, and a floral flower-power look are all popular. Fabric, curtains and roman blinds are an easy way to bring a theme to life.
What is a good gender-neutral nursery theme?
Scandi is a popular gender-neutral choice that is easy to accent with blush, mint or duck-egg blue once baby arrives. Safari, monochrome and storybook themes also work beautifully without leaning to a particular gender.
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