Designing Your Perfect Nursery: A Complete Checklist for Safety, Style, and Sweet Dreams

If you’re looking to design the perfect nursery, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the options. Between Instagram, Pinterest and the seemingly endless amount of baby products available, it can be tricky to figure out where to even start. 

I’m Naomi Coe, founder of Little Crown Interiors, and with 18 years in the business, I know a thing or two about nurseries (I even wrote a book about it! Your Perfect Nursery—get it here). It’s important to me to deliver nursery designs that are not only beautiful, but functional and safe as well. There are some key factors to consider in your nursery design, and we’ll go through them all—from wall treatments and floor plans to budget and choosing the right window treatments.

We’ve put together a comprehensive nursery guide so you can be confident in your design and product choices! 

Safety First

We love a beautiful nursery, but it has to be safe. There is a ton of safety information available, but here we’re going to focus on a few of our biggest nursery safety tips.

Crib Placement. The crib needs to be placed away from windows (windows can be a hazard for broken glass, drafts and sunlight exposure). Make sure to keep the area around the crib clear of cords, heavy or glass wall decor and other furniture.

• Secure Furniture. It’s important that any large furniture, like a dresser or bookcase, be secured to the walls to prevent it from tipping over in an earthquake or even just a child trying to climb. 

• Use Non-Toxic Materials. Whenever possible, use nursery products that don’t contain high levels of VOCs. Look for products that are GREENGUARD Gold certified or OEKO-TEX certified. For paint, ask your preferred paint company for the lowest VOC option. Organic materials are great for products like the crib mattress and rug since baby’s face will be near those items for long periods of time.

• Pay attention. My biggest safety tip is to pay attention to the habits of your baby. Use a baby monitor and regularly observe their behavior and tendencies. 
  

Master the Measurements: Proper Hanging Heights

At Little Crown Interiors, we do a lot of virtual designs for clients across the country. So we often have to instruct them how to hang artwork and other decor. Here are some rules of thumb for measuring and hanging nursery decor:

• Wall Art: You’ll want any wall art to be out of reach, especially if it’s hanging over the crib. Never use glass and if you’re using framed art prints, replace the glass with plexiglass. If the artwork isn’t a safety risk, a good height is a little higher than eye level (so the center of the piece is about 57” off the floor).
  

• Curtains: When you order drapery, like the Otterspace blackout curtains, keep your curtain hardware in mind, as it will add some height to the overall look. For placement, we recommend hanging your curtain rod at least 4–6 inches above the window frame for a classic look, or 3–4 inches from the ceiling for a more dramatic effect that visually elongates your windows. For the best result, choose a length that allows the curtains to just graze the floor or hang with a slight break for a tailored finish.
  

• Glider: Most gliders end up in the corner of a nursery, but what a lot of people forget is that it also needs space behind it to rock back and forth. Make sure you have at least 10” behind the glider so it has room to move.

Choose the Right Hardware

When selecting nursery hardware, you’ll want to pay attention to size, finish and materials. Most clients like to stick to a single metallic in the room, like brass or silver. If you have a gold chandelier, you may want to also choose gold hardware. However, mixed metals work too! Just make sure they are balanced throughout the space. 

• Curtain Rods. You’ll want a curtain rod that’s about 8-10” wider than the width of your window. For example, if your window is 30” wide, choose a curtain rod that’s 36-40” wide. Most curtain rods are adjustable! You may also choose to get rings.
  

• Knobs. If you want to switch out the knobs on your dresser for something cuter or safer, you’ll want to measure the size of the existing hardware so you can choose something that will fit.
  

Achieve Balance in Nursery Design

As you’re working through your nursery design, you’ll want to make sure the space feels balanced. This is a designer trick to really give your nursery a cohesive and complete feel. 

• Mix it up. Use a mix of textures, colors, and materials, and make sure they are balanced in the space. For example, if your main neutral is white, use white in a few places around the room. Then when you layer in an accent color, also use that color in multiple places. Try to balance color on opposite walls so all the color isn’t in one place.

• Use textures. You can balance the room with textures in the same way as color. Using multiple textures adds depth and interest to a nursery, and a cozy feel.
  

• Achieve Symmetry. Most people are drawn to symmetry. If you’re able to, place the crib in the center of the wall. If you have a window that’s centered on a wall, choose two pieces of artwork that are the same size to go on either side.
  

Nursery Must-Haves: A Quick Checklist

You’ll need a lot of things for the nursery, and you can find a comprehensive checklist in my book, Your Perfect Nursery. But these are the main pieces you’ll need:

• Crib and mattress. Baby needs a safe place to sleep, so a crib (or mini crib) and mattress is a must.
  

• Dresser. Most nurseries need a dresser for storage and a surface for changing. You can use any dresser and add a changing tray on top if you’d like. The dresser is where I usually suggest splurging since it can last for years and years if it’s good quality.
  

• Rocker or glider. If you have the space, a nursery glider can be a life saver. There are so many great brands now and you can even order fabric samples from most!
  

• Blackout curtains. A completely dark room helps regulate a baby’s sleep cycles and supports longer naps and better nighttime sleep. Look for blackout curtains that fully block light and seal around the window frame, like OtterSpace blackout curtains. Traditional panels often leave gaps that let in unwanted light, but OtterSpace is designed to seal completely and is easy to install or adjust as your space evolves.

• Nightlight and soft lighting options. The best nursery lighting is flexible. Having multiple options for daytime and nighttime, especially ones you can reach easily in the dark, will make those nighttime feedings a lot easier.
  

• Storage bins and shelving. You can never have enough storage in a nursery! I love storage bins with lids to quickly hide toys and clothes, and double-function items like storage ottomans or storage side tables.
  

Final Safety Check Before Baby Arrives

Even if everything you purchase is safe, it’s still a good idea to triple check everything. Sometimes items can arrive damaged or aren’t as high of quality as you expect.

• Test everything. Wiggle all your furniture to make sure it’s secure and doesn’t have any parts that might come loose. Check that all screws are tight and legs are sturdy. Open all the drawers on the dresser and make sure they open smooth and the bottoms of the drawers are sturdy and solid.
  

• Check for exposed outlets or cords. Try to hide cords behind furniture as best you can, and use outlet covers for any exposed outlets. Cords on blinds and roman shades can be a problem too, so you may have to address those if you have any. Drapery, like the Otterspace blackout curtains, won’t have any dangling cords.
  

• Get down. I like to suggest that clients actually get down on the floor and “crawl” through the nursery at baby’s level. Grab everything from that level and make sure it’s all safe and secure. 

Designing a safe and stylish nursery is one of the most exciting things an expecting family can do, so have fun with it! Play with your style and make sure it feels good to you. 

If you’re looking for blackout curtains that truly block all light and are designed with both function and style in mind, OtterSpace blackout curtains are a favorite among parents and sleep consultants. They seal completely to the window frame, are renter-friendly, and help create the ideal sleep environment for your baby from day one.