One of the great joys of having a baby is the time—and the money, of course—you get to spend decorating your nursery. No expense spared and no tawdry pieces selected. With your baby and especially your baby's bedroom, everything has to be perfect—look perfect, smell perfect and be the essence of perfection in every movement. Of course, if decorating a nursery really had no expense spared and could really be made into the essence of perfection, the world would seem devoid of all problems. But since this is not the case—especially since you have to make room for all of the diapers, the changing table and most importantly the Diaper Genie, there are a few pieces of perfection that might need a little bit of help along the way. Never fear. Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction.



You're not required to keep everything you get at your baby shower—So your favorite cousin bought you a basinet filled with diapers and baby wipes. Great! Store the diapers and baby wipes—you'll never get enough of those—and then find the nearest store that sells the same basinet and trade it in for something you actually need, like blankets and baby clothes. The same goes for colors. When you're trying to create a pink nursery for a little girl, the last thing you want is a safari striped Diaper Genie. So go ahead and exchange it for the one you want. After all, this is about you and your baby. Not about everybody who bought you stuff.

Think safety first—When you think of protecting your baby you're probably thinking about rails on the crib and the changing table, but safety is also about keeping your baby clean and free from germs and dirt. Start with a “No Shoes” rule for the baby's room and you'll find that it remains much cleaner for lots longer than if you didn't have the rule. And don't forget to purchase a high quality area rug for the baby's play area. Area rugs come in all different shapes, sizes, colors and yarns, so you can choose the perfect one for your nursery. Many area rugs, especially cotton area rugs, can be washed or taken to the cleaners when necessary so you'll always have a safe and clean place for baby to lay and to play during the day—this is also a great idea in other areas of the house but you can also use blankets for this.

Think playful—Stop trying to make the baby's room perfect and don't try to be one of those high class aficionados. It's a child's room so make it look like it. Bright or pastel colors, fun objects and shapes are perfect for children. A wine and roses motif is probably better suited for your dining room.

When you're decorating your nursery, let it be an experience to remember by making it just the way baby likes it: playful and creative.