8 Ideas to Make Your Baby's Nursery Comfortable and Calming

Setting up a nursery can be an exciting part of preparing for a new arrival. In the early months, while your baby is still sleeping in your room, a nursery is a quiet place to spend time with your little one. It needs to be a comfortable and functional space where you and your baby can relax, feed, play, and (hopefully) sleep when the time comes.

Here are eight ideas to help nursery planning feel less overwhelming.

1. A comfortable chair

Whether nursing, bottle feeding, enjoying a cuddle, or reading a bedtime story, a comfortable place to sit is a must-have. A supportive armchair or a more spacious loveseat are great options. Look for one with soft upholstery, arm support, and a seat deep enough to get comfy during early morning feeds. If you have enough room, a chair bed can be useful for those times you need to lie down nearby.

2. Blackout curtains or blinds

A darkened room can make a big difference in helping your baby settle and stay asleep. Blackout blinds or lined curtains help block out natural light for daytime naps and early bedtimes. These come in light-coloured, airy fabrics, so you can still choose a calming aesthetic while keeping things functional.

4. Soft lighting

Overhead lights are too bright for night feeds, or other times you want to keep your baby feeling sleepy. Instead, add gentle, warm-toned lighting, like a table lamp or dimmable wall light near your chair to create a soft glow. Nightlights with low-level illumination are handy for quick check-ins without fully waking your baby (or yourself) and are more convenient and less glaring than your phone torch.

4. Ample storage

Babies need many things despite their small size, from clothes, sleepsacks, and nappies to muslin cloths and bedding. Plenty of accessible storage will help you have everything you need within easy reach. A slim wardrobe or tallboy chest of drawers will store clothing and linens now, and grow with them over the years without taking up too much space.

If you have room, a changing table with drawers or shelves underneath gives you extra storage space, or place a changing mat on top of a stable chest of drawers.

Storage baskets are useful for laundry and small items while doubling as decoration. Shelves can hold books, soft toys, a baby monitor, and anything you want on display to give your baby’s room more personality.

5. Flexible furniture

If you're investing in bigger pieces of furniture, think about items that will adapt as your baby gets older. In addition to a convertible or DIY changing table, a cot that converts into a toddler bed is a practical choice that extends its use and saves you from having to buy more furniture in the short term.

6. A soft rug or playmat

A rug will make the room feel cosy and inviting and offer a soft spot for tummy time or crawling later on. Choose a low-pile rug that's easy to clean and comfy underfoot, or go with a playmat, which is often padded, waterproof, and available in playful designs.

7. A fan for hot weather

16–20°C is the recommended room temperature for babies. During hot summer days and nights, if ventilation from an open window isn't enough to keep the room cool, consider buying a fan. Certain models offer quiet modes, and the gentle white noise can be soothing for some babies. Place the fan somewhere it can’t be grabbed or knocked over, and position it to circulate air around the room rather than blowing directly on your baby.

8. Make it feel homely

You'll likely spend lots of time in your baby's room, so make it a space you enjoy. There are lots of ways you can decorate to make it visually interesting and welcoming without it being overstimulating. You might be drawn to a serene colour palette which feels like a sanctuary or a fun, patterned wallpaper that evokes childhood nostalgia. Including artwork or sentimental framed photos is a simple way to make your baby's nursery feel homely and personalised.

A calming, well-designed nursery is about making a space feel safe, comfortable and easy to use, especially when you're half-asleep and holding a baby. With a few thoughtful choices, you can create a room that's as welcoming for you as it is for the newest member of your family.