A Nautical Nursery: Decorating Tips

What is more fun to decorate than a nursery? There are a myriad of options to choose from and many different themes. One of my favorite themes for any little boys' room is a nautical theme. This is a room that can grow with your little gentleman. Boats can be more cartoonish when he's young and the room can morph into more of a surf shack atmosphere as a teenager. Or the sailing vessels can be timeless and classic in nature and never need to change. The wonderful thing about a nautical theme is that it matches all wood colors. Whichever you prefer, here are some ideas and tips to get you on your way to the nautical nursery of your dreams.

Wall color is all-important. Blue is a very popular one for obvious reasons. It is the color of the sea and of the sky, both of which are important with sailing. You could do the room with just blue on the bottom if you have a chair rail that divides the wall. Or you could do a darker blue on bottom and a lighter blue on top to mimic the beach. If you are very ambitious and have the resources, why not try a mural? You could paint faux "sand" along the bottom of the wall to mimic a beach. The wall could also be painted with stripes if you like a patterned look to a room.

Wall decor is like adding layers to the cake. Most companies make little wall hangings that match the bedding. While nice, this can give a too "matchy" look to the room. Instead, add accessories that show your personality and your beachy or nautical finds. Try hanging a fisherman's net on the wall. Or you could add faux starfish along the wall as a border at the top or around the room at the level of a chair rail if you do not have one. A lantern on the wall would be reminiscent of hanging a lantern on the inside of a boat. You could also add an old-fashioned life preserver or a paddle from a canoe or kayak. Of course you can always add pictures of boats, whatever kind you feel would best fit your nursery. Try tying back the curtains with a piece of rope. Or add some rope to the hem of your valance so that baby can't pull the curtains down when he begins to crawl and pull up on things. Make sure to keep all curtains and blind cords away from the crib to avoid strangulation.

On a shelf, a vase full of seashells would be pretty, but make sure that it's up high. When baby starts walking and pulling on things, you don't want him grabbing seashells that can cut. Another idea to decorate a shelf is to add either a boat model or a boat in a bottle. If you have a rocking chair in the room, add a pillow to it that is covered in a fabric that suggests seaweed. Or you could use a pillow that is made of white canvas to suggest the sails of a boat. Remember never to place a pillow, blanket, stuffed animal, or anything soft in the crib with baby because they could suffocate on the item.

As for the crib set, you can make your own crib skirt and quilt very easily. But if you're not the sewing type or don't have the time, try to find one that goes with your nursery. You can punch up a neutral-colored nursery with some navy and red. Or you can stick with a solid-colored crib set. Just make sure that your sheet is tight-fitting and that if you use a bumper, it is tightly tied to the rails and you take it off once the baby can stand, if not before.

On the floor, you can add a rag rug that looks like a beach cabin from New England. Or you can go with a sisal or bamboo rug that has more texture and may be more reminiscent of sailing to faraway places. If you have a bookshelf or a hutch in the baby's room, why not back it with some nautical-inspired wallpaper? It will brighten up an otherwise boring space and add some interest and pattern to the room.

Whatever theme for a nursery you choose, have a good time decorating it! You and your little one will treasure the time that you spend together in there.