Preparing for your first baby is a time that’s full of anticipation and excitement, and there’s an awful lot to think about. Is your home ready for the new arrival? What can you do in the months leading up to the birth to make those first months as comfortable as possible? From home furniture that offers maximum comfort to effective child proofing, here are some top tips on preparing for the arrival of your first baby.

Carousel Designs

Focus on Themed Décor:

One of the most exciting parts of preparing for your new baby is decorating their room. Although you may not want to start painting or buying furniture until late on in the pregnancy, it’s a good idea to choose the room early on and begin de-cluttering. You can also think about colors and fabrics as well as a theme, if you want to have one. The room decorating process isn’t just a practical experience, it’s a chance to sit in the space where you and your baby will soon be spending time and reflect.

Hansen Architects

Wendi Young Design

Choose Comfy Furniture

As well as thinking about the furniture your new arrival will need in their room, it’s important to think about your own comfort. A rocking chair or nursing chair will make a huge difference and enable you to be comfortable during those night time hours of nursing. Think, too, about how comfy your mattress and bedding is. If you’ve been meaning to invest in more luxurious replacements then now is the time to do it. The sleep you do get will be really valuable, so you want it to be as blissful as possible.

Elizabeth Krial

NFK Furniture

Child Proof Your Home

There are a few things you can do in terms of child-proofing your home. Baby won’t be crawling for a while, but it’s still worth tending to loose electrical wires, plug holes and storage of any potential dangerous items now. You may also want to get a stair gate so it’s there when you need it. In the bathroom, you’ll need your baby bath chair. For peace of mind, you might want to set up baby monitors between bedrooms.

Thom Filicia

Bravo Interior Design

Stock Up the Kitchen 

Once baby arrives there will be little time to do much except getting to know your new arrival and tend to their needs. Stock up the freezer with meals so you can heat them in the microwave when needed. Buy your favorite snacks and make sure you look after yourself and still enjoy a treat from time to time.

Dave and JoieCaesar Stone

By preparing your home for baby early on you’ll have more time to relax and reflect in the run up to the birth. Decorating can add to the fun and excitement, and ensure maximum comfort in those first few months, too.

Designing your kid’s bedroom can be a little tricky considering they will out grow any kid-themed decor before you know it! You don’t need to splash out on luxury furniture or life-time investment pieces, with a few key accessories you can have your kid’s bedroom looking modern and stylish all while keeping within your budget. Check out some of our favourite, affordable accessories:

Make Your Own Headboard

A headboard is the perfect accessory that will never get old and always look great no matter how old your kids are. Tufted headboards are my favourite, and they can be easily made at home on a low budget with minimal woodworking skills. A tufted headboard DIY is a project you can create over the weekend and a great way to get your kids involved choosing the fabrics, trim, and buttons! When creating your own décor accessories and furniture, what I love the most is that all your doors are open to create the picture-perfect customized piece you imagined from the start.  Wouldn’t a lovely plush purple velvet headboard look perfect with those diamond encrusted buttons you’ve always dreamed about?!

RSVP Design Services

Julie Rootes Interiors

Laura Wilberding Interiors

Roll Out a Bright New Rug

A cheap and quick way to add a splash of colour into your kid’s bedroom is with a cheerful rug. I love rolling out a brightly colored rug and watching it work miracles to a dull, washed out room. One of my fave places to shop at is Inhouse Rugs which is loaded with bright, patterned designs that not only add life into a room, but also protect your flooring.

A kid’s bedroom is great for entertaining your kids and their friends, but with a lot of people going in and out, you need to make sure your floor it protected. Kids can be messy and destructive, so you want to ensure your flooring is covered, especially hardwood that is prone to scratches and stains. Investing in an expensive rug is also a no-no; it will be stained before you know it! Scourge the clearance sections like at Inhouse Rugs and you won’t have to worry about marks, stains or any spills as a cheap rug is easily replaced.

Platinum Series Homes

Kristin Drohan

Rikki Snyder

Spice up Your Lighting

A pretty chandelier is the ideal way to add more light to your kid’s bedroom, as well as create a quirky, and magical atmosphere to the room. Try hanging up a small chandelier full of dangling beads to better reflect light throughout the room as well as give a fairy tell type of ambiance. You can also try retro, novelty mood lights like those from Men Kind, for a gaming-type light fixture. The choice is yours, but make sure to choose pieces that can easily be transitioned from a kid’s to a teen’s bedroom.

Lauren Ruben ArchitecturePlatninum Series HomesLauren Ruben Architecture