The first choice to be made here is whether to buy a set of furniture or individual pieces. And, of course, parents can often find a set they like and buy pieces from it without buying the whole thing. In basic terms a set will consist of a cot (or other type of bed) and a wardrobe with maybe a changing table/dresser thrown in. Additional pieces can include all kinds of storage options -- from bedside cabinets to dressers and shelving -- through to toy boxes, seats, benches and hampers.

Types of nursery furniture

It used to be that nursery furniture came in basic designs -- they might be white or made out of a few basic types of wood, for example. Nowadays, there is as much choice in nursery furniture as there is in furniture for the rest of the house. Parents can choose from man-made furniture or from all kinds of wood including pine, oak, beech and birch. Furniture designs cover all kinds of options from classic designs to modern ones. So, a set can match the rest of the furniture in the house if that suits the parents. It is still, of course, possible to buy sets that are white, pink and blue -- other options here include pastel shades and brighter colours. And, there are all kinds of decorated sets including characters such as Winnie the Pooh and Disney characters, for example.

Essential considerations

Safety is, of course, absolutely vital here. Parents would do well to buy furniture that is well-made and that will stand up to typical baby ?wear and tear?. To this end any furniture purchased for the nursery should be stable and constructed to the highest standards. This should include stuff like having rounded edges on corners and only using lead-free paint on painted furniture.

Many parents are unsure as to whether to buy ready-made furniture or flat-packed pieces. Some believe that ready-made pieces will be more solid which can be the case sometimes -- but, taking time to construct flat-packed pieces correctly will ensure that they will do the job too. The big advantage to flat-packed furniture is that, until constructed, it is small and easy to get into small areas/rooms which may be a consideration in many houses.

Don't cut corners here -- make sure to buy furniture from reputable manufacturers and known retailers. Although the furniture may not have to last for years and years, it is important that it can stand the baby/toddler test for a few years!

Conclusion

Think about whether to buy a set or individual pieces and take some time to consider the space available in the nursery before choosing the actual pieces that will be put in there. Too much furniture in a small nursery could be hazardous later as the child becomes more mobile -- they do have the habit of walking into things in their early years! On the other hand get as much storage space as possible -- it's surprising how much stuff even the smallest baby can accumulate!