Room to grow

Few things in life match the excitement of welcoming a new baby into your life and into your home. For many moms and dads the design of the nursery is one of the most fun aspects of preparing for parenthood, and rightly so. 

Elmarie Bester, Principal at Leapfrog Faerie Glen, suggests taking care to renovate and decorate smartly, in a way that will allow for an easy transition from baby to toddler and beyond, that will add value to your property. "Consider designing the nursery in a way that it is able to easily evolve as the child grows. Do this by opting for furniture, finishing and furnishings that are classic and durable, as opposed to fashionable and baby-specific," she advises. 

It also pays to consider the overall aesthetic of your home, your long-term plans for the property and, of course, your budget. 

The big picture 

Whenever you choose to make any changes or improvements to a property, start by considering the bigger picture and your medium to long-term property goals. 

Achieving that Pinterest-perfect look might mean breaking down walls, replacing carpets, installing skylights, adding a mezzanine and and and, but start by considering how the change affects the space in the long run. "Changes that alter the structure or layout of a space should be viewed as an investment into the property as a whole. Chat to a trusted property advisor about whether the changes you intend making will add value to the property, should you decide to sell in the future," Bester says. 

Safe and sound

Safety is paramount in the nursery. Pay special attention to the following:

• Make sure the cords of the drapery or blinds are not within baby's reach from the cot or changing table 

• Place the cot, changing table and other large furniture pieces away from the window

• Make sure the burglar bars on the windows are tightly secured

• Consider installing a smoke detector in the nursery 

• Place plug protectors in all the unused electrical outlets

Fitting furniture 

Where possible, opt for furniture that's not nursery-specific but can grow with your child, or be used elsewhere in the home. 

A feeding chair could simply be a comfortable occasional chair in a classic style while a chest of drawers makes for a great changing table. While you can't get away from needing a cot, you could consider buying one second hand. 

Colour palette 

The very nature of a nursery is an invitation to experiment with colour - how many other spaces will you paint marshmallow pink or draw a rainbow over an entire wall than here? But when it comes to selecting colours for the more durable and long-lasting pieces such as curtains, furniture and carpets, classic and constrained may rather be the way to go. 

"Keep the big-ticket items plain and neutral but add that pop of colour and fun with less expensive pieces like decorative scatter cushions, loose rugs, art prints or accessories," Bester says.  

Love is all you need 

At the end of the day, advice around how to design and decorate a nursery is really only a guideline. "Make it a space that's happy, comfortable and fit to purpose - a space that you love being in," Bester concludes.