(ARA) - The crib of your dreams is purchased, assembled and in place. Tiny clothes, burp clothes, bath towels and diapers are stored in a new dresser/changing table. All the nursery needs now is the baby - and a few accessories to add the finishing touch.
"Accessories can underscore or define a room's personality," says Peter Fougerousse, father of three and principal of Rosenberry Rooms, an online retailer that specializes in furniture and accessories for children and infants. "In a nursery, accessories can be both decoration and an essential, functioning part of the room."
"Many of the accessories you rely on to draw together the look of a grown up living space, are available in nursery appropriate versions - from rugs to lighting," Fougerousse notes. "Plus, a number of nursery accessory options are really specialized to create a baby or kid friendly space."
So where do you begin when accessorizing your nursery? At the bottom, of course, with a great rug that can act as either a focal point for the room, or a complement to bedding, furniture and other decor. >nbsp;Keep in mind function, style and material when considering a rug. Bright colors and patterns will lend themselves to a focal role, while neutrals and subdued patterns can enhance overall decor. To get an idea of how a given rug will fit your space, mark its dimensions on the floor with removable tape - this will provide a visual perspective on the rug's size in relation to the room.
"If you find the rug of your dreams on line, don't be afraid to buy it," Fougerousse says. "Just keep in mind that deciphering colors online can be tricky and ordering a swatch is not an option. >nbsp;Decide the style, patterns and colors you like before you look online."
Next, look up - to lighting. All children's lighting is slightly scaled down, and the wide variety of chandeliers, lamps and nightlights available are often custom made and not returnable. Pay special attention to size, wattage and color. Choose lighting that fits the scale of the room and will complement other pieces. Wattage varies greatly from light to light and among manufacturers, with the general range being 15 to 40 watts per bulb. The watts you choose should depend on the amount and style of lighting - a 15-watt, single bulb chandelier might not be adequate if it's going to be the primary, or only, source of light in the room.
Next, dress up the room with art, like growth charts or kid-friendly prints, and detail pieces such as custom drawer pulls, door knobs and pillows. Each touch can further underscore your overall theme. Finally, on a practical note, a wastebasket is a necessity that can also be a fine design accent. Some wastebaskets are available as part of a set of accent pieces, or even with monograms.
To learn more about accessorizing your baby's room, visit www.rosenberryrooms.com.
Copyright >copy; 2006, ARA Content
