There is never a more exciting time than when you discover you have a baby on the way and you are ready to decorate your babies first nursery. However it can be stressful to find the type of decor and all round interiors that will fit a new baby you haven't even met yet.
When the baby is first born its recommended they stay in a crib or moses basket in your room for the first 6 months. So you don't have to rush and you can spend a bit of time picking the best option for the space. Most people choose to use the smallest bedroom for their baby so finding a cot the doesn't drown out the room is really important as although they are only little people they do tend to accumulate a lot of "stuff"! Once you've thrown in a chair for feeding, changing area, chest of drawers or wardrobe and the room very quickly looses that calm and tranquil feeling that everyone wants for their newborn. Ultimately a nursery is designed for the baby to sleep in and a good nights sleep for baby is the ultimate goal for every parent.
When I was pregnant with my first child I did what many expectant parents do and went straight to a big department store and bought all the nursery "essentials" crib, cot, feeding chair, chest of drawers and changing table. I was completely wrapped up in the excitement of knowing we had a baby on the way and we ended up ordering a matching set of white branded furniture. Although the furniture was well made it was way too large and drowned our small box room and we ended up spending a lot more than if we had shopped around and bought things separately. I went against every rule I would usually follow (lets blame it on hormones!)
So for my first post thought I would show you a range of great alternatives to those plain, clunky sets and hopefully shown you some options you may not have considered before.
Alternative Materials
Pottery Barn, Kids Sloan Convertible Cot Bed.
£799 John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
This cot is both understated and striking at the same time. The perspex slats create clean lines and create an illusion of a bigger space. If you're a fan of wallpaper this is great to show it off too.
Juliet Off White Metal Cot
£215 Maisons du Monde www.maisonsdumonde.com
A metal cot is not a material you see very often these days but don't let that put you off. This cot can still create a snug bed for a baby while also creating a unique vintage feel.
Space Savers
IKEA SNIGLAR 60X120cm
£40 www.ikea.com
This is a beautiful cot, an incredibly low price but still great quality. It comes in two sizes so if you want a stylish cot that fits a small space this is a great option.
Stokke® Sleepi™ Oval Mini
£349 www.stokke.com
This is such a clever cot and my favourite. It can be used as crib when baby is first born and with extensions added it can grow up to 3 times to make it large enough to sleep a 10 year old. It also has swivel wheels that can be added so you can move it around easily.
It is a truly beautiful cot that will suit most rooms as it comes in a range of wood finishes and colours.
Storage Options
Chantilly White Sleigh Cot Bed
£399 Cotswold Co www.cotswoldco.com
This cot is perfect if you love a classic sleigh bed and need a bit of extra storage. It would be perfect for hiding all the bed linen or muslin's that often end up all over the nursery. Cotswold Co. offer painted wooden knobs or silver or you can always purchase some alternative ones else where to match a wardrobe or chest of drawers.
Schpinkle Midi Cot Bed with Drawer
£400 Mokee www.mokee.eu
This is such a stylish cot and if perfect if you love that Scandi style. It comes in four colours and converts into a beautiful bed for a child up to the age of six.
This is a higher price than most other cots on the market but you are getting a very special cot.
So this was round up of my favourite cots for a babies nursery that are both beautiful and practical for their early years and hopefully it will help you not to fall into the easy pitfalls I once did.