[Article] Design Tips for the Little One’s First Bedroom

[Eddie]

Oh Baby! Expert Design Tips for the Little One’s First Bedroom

(ARA) –Of all the tasks to complete during pregnancy, decorating the nursery may be the most fun. Now new parents can have designer access to the hottest trends and nursery design tips from the master of good design, Ty Pennington. He is sharing his design expertise through “Ty’s Nursery Guide,” a step-by-step guide that helps parents identify their nursery design style.

The following questions from “Ty’s Nursery Guide” can help parents begin discovering their inspiration:

* Which colors appeal to you most? Soft pastels, classic primaries, vibrant hues or earthy tones? Remember, you can choose more than one.

* If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would that be? What does it look like there?

* Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl? If so, do you want the room to be boy or girl themed? Or gender neutral?

After completing this type of “Inspiration Quiz,” Pennington says to start forming a theme. If earthy tones or vibrant hues are dominant, the nursery could be themed after a Fairytale Forest or Grand Garden. If classic primaries are preferred or mom and dad love the outdoors, Beach Baby may be the way to go.

Once a theme is determined, it’s time to pick up the basics. The nursery checklist in the free guide can help busy parents ensure they have all the necessities. A sampling of nursery must-haves:

* Crib – If only one item can be splurged on, it should be the crib. Visit http://www.CPSC.gov to check crib safety recommendations.

* Mattress and sheets – Skip the bedding set. A tight-fitting mattress and a couple of crib sheets are all the bedding an infant needs.

* Dresser and changing pad – A waist-high dresser can hold a lot of onesies, and can work as a changing table with the addition of a pad.

* Glider or chair – A comfortable place to sit for feedings and late-night rocking.

Don’t forget that while great design can make a nursery dazzle, it should also make life easier for parents. Storage containers that do double duty for toys and clothing or a feeding chair ergonomically designed for a new mom’s healing body may ease stress during those first few months. Even formula feeding has gotten simpler for those who choose it. Similac SimplePac is a new baby formula container that replaces the iconic can. The package was redesigned based on extensive research with more than 1,600 moms and includes several features like an innovative “grip-flip-scoop” design that offers a simplified approach to bottle-feeding time.

“I’m all about top-notch designs that make things easier for people, and this new package redesign from Similac definitely makes feeding time easier for moms,” says Pennington.

For more nursery decorating tips from Pennington, to download a free copy of “Ty’s Nursery Guide,” or to find out more about Similac SimplePac go to http://www.StrongMoms.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Some interesting statistics to accompany this story:

* Americans spent $6.2 billion on gadgets, equipment and furniture for babies in 2007. (Source: Mintel International, Baby Durables Report published in March 2008).

* New parents spent anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 to prepare the nursery in 2007. (Source: Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association).