Your essential guide to setting up a nursery

Welcoming a new family member is an exciting and transformative phase for many parents-to-be. It's a time filled with anticipation, joy, and the delightful task of setting up the baby's nursery.  Creating a cozy and welcoming nursery is not just about aesthetics; it's about crafting a safe, functional space where your child can grow and explore. 

This guide will walk you through the essential steps and ideas for setting up the perfect nursery, ensuring that every piece of nursery furniture meets your baby's needs and complements your home's interior design.

#1: Choose a safe and cosy cot to encourage better sleep for your baby

Image: Pexels

Young babies are notorious wigglers - in the first few months of life, your little one will be going through a lot of neurological development very quickly, so they are most likely going to wave their arms and legs around quite a bit!

For many parents, ensuring their baby gets the best sleep starts with selecting the right crib. It's vital to choose a crib that not only provides comfort but also adheres to the latest safety standards, protecting your baby from harmful chemicals. 

This piece of baby furniture is essential in creating a nurturing sleep environment in your baby's nursery.

Step #2: Invest in a comfortable nursing chair

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Aside from the cot, a nursing chair is the next most important piece of nursery furniture. 

In the first few weeks of life, new mums will be breastfeeding their babies on demand, around every 1.5 to 3 hours. You’ll need somewhere comfortable to sit and nurse because you’ll be sitting there almost all day, every day! 

A nursing chair is more than just another piece of furniture in your baby's room; it's a haven for countless hours spent feeding and bonding with your baby. A rocking chair can offer soothing motion to help with late-night feedings, making it a nursery essential for new moms.

It doesn’t have to be expensive or glamorous; comfort is key in nursing chairs. Opt for a rocking chair for relaxing movement for your baby and a cushioned design for absolute comfort. 

Step #3: Set up soft lighting

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Despite common arguments about night lights and sleeping with the light on (for example restlessness or potential vision problems), experts have found night lights actually help boost visual and neurological development for infants up to four months of age.

The right lighting in a nursery can make all the difference, creating a soothing ambience that promotes sleep. Soft, dimmable lighting next to the nursing chair allows for those precious moments of bedtime stories or late-night care without disrupting the peaceful nursery space.

There are lots of adorable night lights available on the market, but LED lights are generally recommended for a sound sleep. In fact, research suggests red LED lights can help stimulate more melatonin and encourage your little one to fall asleep faster, so don’t feel the need to shy away from coloured lights!

Don’t forget to add task lighting near the nursing chair so mum can read stories while nursing or read instructions on a medication or formula bottle. 

Step #4: Pick up a soft fluffy rug for your baby’s future tummy time

Image: Fluffy White Fur Faux Sheepskin Rug

Your new family member will essentially be ready for tummy time soon after you bring them home. Experts recommend for babies to sleep on their back, so naturally they spend a lot of time in this one sedentary position. However, tummy time is great for building your baby’s head and neck strength, and can even have the hidden benefit of preventing a flat spot on the back of their head.

Introducing your baby to tummy time is a crucial part of their development. A soft, plush rug not only adds a layer of comfort to your nursery design but also provides a safe spot for your baby to strengthen their neck and shoulder muscles.

Soon after you bring your baby home, you can start introducing them to tummy time (maybe 2-3 minutes per day, then build from there as your baby becomes stronger and more confident).

It is recommended to start practising tummy time by laying your baby across your lap, so they feel safe and sound. Once your little one has grown stronger, you can pop them down on the floor (always under supervision).

It is recommended to practice tummy time by laying your baby across your lap so they feel safe and comfortable. Once your baby has grown stronger, you can place them on the floor under supervision.

Sheepskin rugs are ideal for tummy time; they’re fluffy, dense, and the wool fibres have heat-regulating qualities to keep your baby’s sensitive skin healthy and rash-free. We offer faux sheepskin rugs (perfect for families who steer clear from genuine animal fur) in a range of fun colours like pink, white, and light grey to help decorate your nursery and keep your baby feeling comfy. Shop the range!

Step #5: Add an educational rug for your baby to learn as they play 

Image: Kids Alphabet Picture Rug

Little ones grow up so fast… before you know it, your child will be ready to learn their 1-2-3s and ABCs!

As your child grows, their nursery can transform along with them. Educational rugs are a fantastic addition, offering both a playful and learning experience. These rugs become a staple in the child's room, supporting their development through fun and interactive play. 

Take our Kids Alphabet Picture Rug, for example — featuring bright colours, adorable imagery, and your standard ABCs, your child will play and learn on this 100% nylon mat throughout their childhood.

Our kids rugs have rubber-backing to prevent slips and trips, plus the nylon pile makes it simple to clean. While mum or dad cleans up the mess of crumbs and spills, the little learner will gradually come to recognise letters and related words, like “Q” is for “Queen”!

Our collection of educational kids rugs doesn’t end there, though — we have number charts, country and cityscapes, barnyard animals, and so much more. Discover the possibilities for your nursery set up in our kids rugs collection!

Step #6: Invest in an effective storage system for your nursery

Image: Pexels

Finally, one of the most important things for mum and dad in the nursery is effective storage. Over time, you’re no doubt going to amass a huge collection of baby books, instructional books, dummies, diapers, toys, and so much more — so you’re going to need a place to store them and keep the nursery looking neat and tidy.

When completing your nursery set-up, we recommend investing in some drawers for baby clothes, blankets and wraps, diapers, and anything else you might need to tuck away. A changing table with ample storage for diapers and essentials is also a must-have, ensuring everything you need is within reach. Plus, a set of shelves will help store all your baby’s new books and any parenting books you’ve already mastered!

When your little one finds their legs, they’ll also have a lot of toys to drag around the house. Consider getting them a cart or pull toy box to travel with them around the house, and keep their toys together so there are no lost toys (or tears).

This is also an effective way to teach your little one about keeping the house tidy — as they grow and learn, turn cleaning up into a game. How many toys can you find to put in your toy box?

Setting up a nursery is fun and exciting — what pieces do you need for your bub’s new room?

Things start to feel real when the time comes for setting up a nursery. Your baby isn’t too far away — soon you’ll have a brand new family member to love, nurture, and play with!

Creating the perfect nursery for your baby is a unique and personal journey. From picking out the crib and changing table to choosing the nursery theme and colour palette, every decision helps shape the environment your baby will grow up in. Remember, designing a nursery is not just about following the latest trends or brand new nursery ideas; it's about making a space that feels like home for your new arrival.

Now comes the fun part — shopping for all your baby’s furniture, knick-knacks, toys, and more. As you prepare for your baby's arrival, consider how each piece of furniture and every design choice contributes to the overall feel of the nursery. Our goal is to help you create a safe, comfortable, and beautiful space that meets the needs of your baby and makes those early days as smooth as possible.

Here at Rug.com.au, we have mountains of fluffy rugs for tummy time and educational rugs for your baby to love and learn from. Shop our range of kid's rugs online and complete your nursery set-up — we offer free shipping on orders over $300!

Tie your space together with our massive range of baby nursery rugs online. Shop now!