The date of your baby's arrival is drawing near. This means that colors, fabrics, space, storage, and nursery designs are flittering in and out of your mind. You probably checked out dozens of magazines and books hoping to find the right inspiration.

Setting up your baby's nursery is a thrilling process. Besides watching your bump grow, designing the nursery is one of the things you look forward to the most. Of course, you want the nursery to be appealing; however, it should also be functional and safe for your little bundle of joy. Here are a few basic tips for designing the nursery.

Prepare The Most Essential Items: Choose items that are essential in a nursery. Other items can be added as time goes by. Here are some of the nursery must-have items:

• A crib and mattress


• Changing mat


• A dresser or table with storage for wipes, diapers, powders and lotions


• Rocking chair


• Lamp


• Waterproof mattress protector and bedding


• Waste basket


• Storage for your infant's clothes

Choose A Color Scheme: If you still don't know the gender of your baby, you should choose unisex colors, such as beige, cream, white, or browns. If you want to go with bold and bright colors, you can consider apple green, duck-egg blue, cherry, or tangerine. Keep in mind though that these color schemes can be very loud and overpowering for a nursery; thus, you may need to paint the room with white then choose a feature wall where you can paint a vivid color.

Pick A Theme: When picking a theme for the nursery, you should focus on a particular inspiration, such as a fabric, pattern, style, or vintage toy.

Furnishings And Fabrics: To add personality into the room, you can choose the right furnishings and fabrics. As a tip, choose soft furnishings since they are more appropriate for nurseries. In addition, choose furnishings and fabrics that are appropriate for your child's age. Here are some of the elements you can add to your nursery:

• Crib quilts


• Cushions for reading or breast-feeding


• Blankets


• Curtains


• Lamp shades

Use these elements to add color, personality, and style into the room.

Lastly, when designing the nursery, you should keep its function in mind. Consider whether the room will be used as a playroom or will it be used exclusively for sleeping? Are you planning to have another child, and if so, will your children be sharing the same room? Remember that after a few years, the room will become a toddler's room and then it will become a teenage room.