One of the many fun aspects of prospective parenthood is the process of feathering the nest for the new arrival. Purchasing and assembling the furniture, readying the layette, stacking the tiny newborn diapers and even knitting the customary booties are all part of the time-honored ritual of making a comfortable, welcoming home for the little one. Another large part of the process is deciding what kind of baby nursery decoration will be contributing to a suitable, pleasant and stimulating atmosphere in babys first bedroom.

As reluctant as many of us are to admit it, baby nursery decor is really more about what mom and dad want to look at than what the baby does, at least initially. Soon, however, this attitude is tempered by the realization that a child will be influenced by his or her surroundings, and it becomes more important to make decorative selections according to that idea. For parents who find they are a bit stymied as to how to go about creating a nursery that they can live with, as well as one that will be a positive environment for their babys formative years, here are a few good rules of thumb.

First, try not to over think it. Many parents get wrapped up in decorating for gender. For many, the sex of their child will not even be known until the day it arrives. When painting or wallpapering the nursery, it is a good idea to select a gender-neutral color, such as yellow or green. It is very easy after the fact to make it more boyish or girlish with the addition of pictures, mobiles, wall hangings and other accessories. A babys toys can also serve to decorate the nursery with a more specific gender flavor.

Make a list of themes that are appealing to you that you think would also be fun for a child. For example, if you enjoy the outdoors, a woodland theme could be very pleasant, and easy to adorn with teddy bears or cute animal characters, or a garden theme could be appropriately child-friendly with the addition of bright flowers, butterflies and birds.

Consider the reality that a baby is only a baby for a short while, and avoid some work later on by selecting dcor that can grow with the child, or that can be easily swapped out as you go. It can be tempting to spend hours applying that cute wallpaper with the rattles and bunnies on it, but you might regret it after a few months when rattles are outdated. Take advantage of the transient baby paraphernalia, such as crib sets with baby-oriented designs, to play a dominant role in the rooms dcor. In addition, think about what subjects will hold a childs interest for a number of years. Nursery rhymes are a good example, as decorations featuring them can be visually entertaining for a baby, and provide further interest during the time the youngster is learning to read.

There are a huge number of options for baby nursery decoration. Parents who are in touch with their own tastes and senses of style can often find the simplest solutions for decorating by just focusing on creating a pleasant atmosphere for themselves, and building upon a firm foundation. A little flexibility will allow for smooth transitions as the time goes by.