›› Spring is the time for renewal and rebirth in nature. Given this backdrop, it’s tempting for those designing a baby nursery to create a theme of lambs, chicks, fresh flowers, and pastel colors.

“Be careful with the cute decorations because they’re not babies for very long,” says Christa Grover, owner and interior designer at Aurora’s own Dahl House Design, LLC (www.dahlhousedesignllc.com). “The problem with picking spring colors is people tend to go for really girly baby stuff. I try to design more around the age of two to six years old.”

Grover speaks from the experience of designing baby nurseries for some of her clients as well as for herself. She has a two-year-old son and is expecting a daughter in July.

Color Therapy

Grover treated herself like one of her own clients when it came time to paint her son’s room.

“I tried to find a color I knew he could grow into,” she says. “I chose a neutral beige, and a sophisticated blue for an accent.”

For those who don’t want to find out the baby’s gender prior to delivery, Grover cautions against yellow. “A lot of parents go to yellow and it’s actually a tricky color,” she says. “It can make infants agitated, and I don’t recommend it for baby nurseries.”

While Grover says there is not one ideal color for a baby nursery, she steers her clients toward warm hues. For example, there can be “cool blues” and “warm blues” to choose from, she says.

Once the paint is dry, it’s time for a little fun with décor. Semi-permanent wall decals can be an easy option to apply and later remove without any wall damage.

When it came time for décor in her own son’s room, Grover went with a mural of a bear. “Not Pooh bear,” she says referencing the familiar Winnie the Pooh bear from books and movies. “This is like a real bear and it’s something he can grow into as he gets a little older that I don’t have to change every couple of years.”

Back to the Future

When shopping for furniture for the nursery, think again of how long this child will use it and if it can be used in another room of the house later on.

Grover recommends that parents-to-be shop for cribs that can transition to beds when the child outgrows the crib, so that they don’t have to soon shop for a toddler bed or twin bed and rails.

It’s worth the investment to get a chair for nursing the baby, and Grover prefers those with extra padding and a reclining option. “Get one you’re going to want to sit in,” she says. “With my son I had a hand-me-down chair that squeaked and I said, ‘I cannot have this in his room!’”

Dressers that are relatively low can be converted to changing tables with a specially designed pad, but even a changing table can have a practical use once the baby is potty-trained. “My sister-in-law converted her changing table into a bookshelf,” Grover says.

Another creative tip is to remove closet doors and put a dresser or changing table in the closet space, which isn’t used much for hanging tiny baby clothes.

“When choosing furniture and colors for the nursery, think about how it is going to look with the rest of the house,” Grover says. “The baby’s room should not be the complete opposite.”

Nursery Needs

There are so many cute and handy things to buy when shopping for a new baby. Aurora interior designer and mom Christa Grover offers some practical tips on what expecting parents do and don’t need in a nursery.

Don’t bother with a fancy diaper pail. The truth is that dirty diapers stink no matter what the container is designed to do. Grover’s solution is to simply use a small bathroom trashcan and empty it frequently to a lidded bin in the garage.

A mobile is only as good as it looks. “You don’t want them to play in the crib,” Grover cautions. Her advice is to try a mobile over the changing table instead or don’t bother.

Plan ahead. About 18 to 20 weeks into the pregnancy is the ideal time to meet the interior designer or start placing orders, especially if you select custom fabrics or finishes. By the 30th week, a Mom should be nesting by putting away the baby clothes, blankets, and toys.

Grover directs her clients to Aurora’s own Guys and Dolls (https://guysanddollsfurniture.com) to outfit any nursery.