re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make it a happy place with colors that you enjoy too.

Posted by courthend    Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:51 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure you have everything you need at the changing table, Keep baskets or drawers below filled with onsies, lotions and ointments, one filled with socks, one with bibs and burp cloths and one with diapers. Another with meds and thermometer. Make the room very organized so you can find everything and so DH can find everything too and wont ask everytime where something is.  pick colors you enjoy as well and wont get sick of and maybe something that baby can grow with. Also set the room up so the crib is not on an outside wall because there will be a draft that comes through and could make baby chilled and/or sick. Also make it as safe as can be for example nothing hanging down to where baby could grab and pull things down onto them. Last but not least the room should be comforting and a place to soothe,calm and bond with your baby. Set up a soothing music station, a cozy chair and blankets!

Posted by Jhil26    Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:36 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

MAke it something you love as well, you will probably be spending many hours raocking in there! LOL!

Posted by dansan826    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:24 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

go with something popular and easy to find, like winnie the pooh or teddy bears. That way if someone wants to get you a gift for the nursery, they'll be able to find something.

Posted by succ33d    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:26 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

After all the basics are in...don't forget to add something personal.  Add lots of colorful pictures anf family photos to the walls.  The baby definitely needs something to stimulate them by their changing tables.  My daughter loves to look at different pictures that I post there while I change her.  I also included family pictures so she can begin to recognize familiar faces.

Posted by rspiegel    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:39 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Pick one thing you love - a piece of art, a clothing print, a blanket... and then pull colors from there! This way the nursery will look pulled together. And don;t forget lots of photos of famly and friends - surround your baby with images of those that love him or her!

Posted by MommyKisses    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:43 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

The Blue Zoo set is adorable, would go well with my collection of Noah's Ark toys and collectibles.

Posted by cdziuba    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:44 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I would say the best tip is to make it gender nuetral and light colored.  That way you can use it for all children and you feel happy being in there, even in the middle of the night!

Posted by bettie    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:46 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Putting together a nursery should be an enjoyable experience. The nursery should grow little by little as you and your baby grow.

Your pregnancy is a great time to brainstorm and start the base for the room.

I feel if you keep a somewhat neutral cheerful base of colors, it will serve you well for years to come. You may have a girl for your first child, and then down the road have a boy. If you keep in mind that you may have another addition to your family at some point while you are planning and designing, your nursery will serve you and your family well for years to come.

Wall art and colorful linens can liven up a room and add so much personality.

Once your baby starts to develop more, you will learn what characters and storybooks they really like. Try a series of artwork on the wall from their favorite collection. Or paint the alphabet around the room in colorful letters to help them learn as they grow. Whatever you do, there are so many design options available have fun with it and make it your own!

Posted by neneyoshi    Thursday, March 20, 2008 5:52 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure everything you buy is washable. Buy nothing that says "spot clean only" or you will regret it!

Posted by pielum    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:09 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure its not overwhelming with lots of clutter and simply simple with colors that baby will enjoy and parents too. Make the room a place you can spend together and that you love to be in.With mommy,daddy,and baby personalities! Just simply a place you can be a happy loving family!

Posted by MegaliciousMommy    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:18 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure its not overwhelming with lots of clutter and simply simple with colors that baby will enjoy and parents too. Make the room a place you can spend together and that you love to be in.With mommy,daddy,and baby personalities! Just simply a place you can be a happy loving family!

Posted by MegaliciousMommy    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:19 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure the lighting is felxible sometimes you will want it bright other times you will want a soft light you can check on them without waking

Posted by saldridg    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:34 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Keep it simple, comfortable and pretty.  Either put in a twin bed or comfortable chair, that if need be, you can sleep with baby.  I remember when my first born son was sick, I slept in the nursery for a number of nights.  Just in case he needed me at night.  Thanks for the great giveaway.

Posted by peg42    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:47 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

besides having the basics (crib, dresser, changing table...) get creative!  think out of the box!  mix and match items from the bed sets, paint the room in a way that makes sense to you (not what someone is selling you).  and have fun doing it!  

Posted by krystalmatsue    Thursday, March 20, 2008 6:56 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Don't just look in baby departments and baby stores for room decor. Some of my favorite pieces came from a trendy urban college-kid type of store!

Posted by dharmarebel    Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:07 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Start with the crib - and start early!  It's the focus point of most nurseries.  With so many only available (or available in your location) online, you need time for delivery.  Backorders, damage from shipping, and other problems can set you back weeks.  If you have to return, replace, or find a new crib you'll need plenty of time to get this done before the little one arrives and you'll need to know what you're going to have in order to plan the rest of the decor.

Posted by wanitten    Thursday, March 20, 2008 7:08 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Make sure to make your nursery personal!  We went with a cupcake theme for our firstborn and had each of our friends and family members paint a cupcake tile at a shower, held at a pottery painting place.  (We served cupcakes of course :))  Then we used the tiles as our wall art along with the letters C-U-P-C-A-K-E painted with the same patterns as our nursery bedding.  Even though each cupcake is different, everyone had the same 6 colors to use to create their cupcakes so the look comes together even though each piece is unique.  Incorporate your favorite things.

I really enjoy bright, stimulating colors, but do whatever feels right for you.  If you want a bright orange wall, have a bright orange wall!  It's JUST PAINT!  And if you have another gender down the road and use the same room, you can reuse the furniture and just change the bedding and paint without too much of an investment if you want a different look for baby #2 (or 3,...).

Organization, organization, organization!  Make sure everything is close by and makes sense.  Drawer dividers and baskets helped so much to keep everything organized and handy - socks, burp cloths, extra diapers, rash cream, medicines (always kept in a child-proofed drawer), etc.  And definitely keep interesting items in the diaper changing area - especially when baby starts to roll - a mirror or mobile hanging down will keep them entertained enough to  stay relatively still and on their back long enough to get the diaper changed.

And make sure to get a bookcase.  Babies once they start to get mobile love to pull things off the shelves, and it incorporates a love of reading early on.  Let baby play with and chew on board books until they're old enough to pay attention.  They're still getting to enjoy books!

Whatever you do, have fun, and make it your own.

Posted by cakers74    Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:40 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I went out after baby was born and bought a 15 watt lightbulb for the lamp on her nightstand so that we could do our soothing night time routine (wipe down, massage, jammies, Goodnight moon and then a bottle with music on) with a little light on but not too much.  So a low wattage lightbulb along with of course the lamp, nightstand and a rocker/glider chair to sit and read/feed the baby in before bed!

Posted by tja525    Thursday, March 20, 2008 8:56 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

A good and comfortable rocker/ glider is a must- since you will spend most of your time there for the first 2-3 months. I would also opt for a changing table that have space for wipes, diapers, lotion, etc on top so you don't have to scramble to look for things while having the baby on the changing table.

Just buy 1 bedset for the baby and buy extra fitted sheets to save $$$- after a while you don't want to spend your precious time changing the bedskirt, bumper etc....

Posted by pompong    Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:24 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

One word- STORAGE. Places to put things, an organized room helps me feel far less frantic and chaotic after a long night/day of a crying, fussy baby!!

Posted by CaseyDeuce    Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:42 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

If you want to keep the cost down and do a character theme; go with basic colors for sheets and get the name brand (ie. Pooh Bear) accessories.

Posted by chrislyn111904    Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:57 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I'm definitely a function over form type when it comes to anything baby related(but form is certainly a nice afterthought!). I would avoid stimulating things unless you intend to leave the baby sitting around the nursery for long periods of awake time. Definitely a calm room, with soft colors and sounds. A white noise machine of some sort was an absolute must for me and VERY helpful in getting and keeping my babies asleep(though we coslept with both). Anyway, back to decor, it's important that not only your baby feel calm, but that YOU enjoy the room as well(a calm parent is a heck of a lot more effective!). I think there are a lot of beautiful, modern options out there these days(on a budget!), and it's pretty easy to pull it all together.

I like the "olivia" collection best!

Posted by lifeincircuit    Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:34 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

pick something you really like since you are the one who will really be enjoying it

Posted by nor_lou    Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:42 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Choose colors that calm you down after a stressful long day of running after a 1year old and caring for a newborn. Something you can go from stress to peace as you sit and rock your child(ren) to sleep a place you can relax and take in how great it is to be a mom even though at times it feels like you wanna give up you sit in your baby's room and think wow it is so great to be a mom! (soft and calm colors not loud and busy) keep it clutter free!

Posted by MegaliciousMommy    Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:56 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

My best suggestion? Make it easily washable and affordable! It's better that your money go towards clothing that your child constantly grows out of or diapers that she constantly needs!

Posted by milkmama    Friday, March 21, 2008 12:14 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

i think colors in the nursery should'nt be bright or bold but calm and music playing softly.

Posted by strawberry3d    Friday, March 21, 2008 12:19 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Keep it simple. Don't overdo it. :)

Posted by Tilena    Friday, March 21, 2008 3:28 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Choose a theme that will work as the child gets older. Do things that will "grow" with the child so you won't need to do a complete remodel when the child grows.

Posted by suziesmail20@yahoo.com    Friday, March 21, 2008 5:17 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

have everything set up before baby comes. it's easier on you. try and go with unisex colors that way if you have another baby and it's the opposite sex. you don't have to buy new bedding. i like the blue zoo collection. i could really use this my son doesn't have bedding

Posted by walleshauser    Friday, March 21, 2008 6:14 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Don't go too crazy with a wild them, you'll just end up re-doing the whole thing in a couple years when they outgrow it.  keep it neutral with things you can updated and change as the child grows!  

Posted by mollyandmarcus    Friday, March 21, 2008 7:33 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Decorate your nursery in a way that best accommodates mommy's needs as well as baby's. Decorate in soothing colors, and make sure you have your essentials in easy to grab places. Use a theme that can be used for both boy and girl if you are planning on having more than one child. Over-all just have fun with your nesting experience=)

Posted by KrissiandRob    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:04 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Be sure you have a comfy rocking chair.  It will make those late nights (and early mornings) a little more bearable.

Also, make sure your nursery is a safe room where your little one can roll or crawl around without you fearing for his/her safety.

Posted by BigAsWife    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:28 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Keep things neutral and then add key touches that represent your childs unique characteristics. It should be fun, relaxing and have plenty of storage and organization. Great thing is that today there are so many multi purpose furniture pieces that are space saving and become so functional. Bedding should be soft & plush but easy to wash. The DwellStudio line is 100% cotton with natural fibers, which is what any mother would want. No one wants to be concerned about poor quality. Hypoallergenic and eco friendly products are most important. Our main focus is the safety of our baby and saving our future. I love the idea of complimenting mixture of prints,  so my vote would be for the Circles collection.

Posted by miamicubajam    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:37 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

First, and most important, make the nursery part of your home, not an island unto itself.  If it's not a place that feels good to you and part of your home, you wont like spending much time there.  Second, unless you are a constant decorator, avoid too many permanent baby themed items (wallpaper, etc).  Keep the walls simple, and decorate 'baby-esk' with frames, pictures, toys, etc.  I've also seen friends decorate their kids room with disney movie characters or cartoons, that are way too old for the baby, AND will probably be outdated by the time the child is the age to appreciate the decor.  Just keep it simple, and easy to change.  And make it a place you want to spend time in.  Happy you, means happy baby!

Posted by adventureliving    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:44 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

After, a seminar that I attended one of the first things my fiance and I bought was a clean air filter for the nursery. It gets rid of all the in purities in the air. It keeps the babies room clean from bacteria and odds. I think that is something that I would suggest to all expectant mothers who are working on the nursery for their child. It helps with potential respiratory problems. I would also suggest adding colors to stimulate the brain. Lots of colors and shapes. Nice mellow music playing. I also think that the nursery should be a place where the child can grow and transition from a newborn to a toddler. It should not be fill of clutter! It should be clean and peaceful. I think babies sense when there's a riot going on!

Posted by fclassen    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:47 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

When painting stripes in the nursery, use painters tape to make your lines then put a very thin bead of clear paintable caulk and go over the edges of the tape.  This prevents any paint from bleeding under the tape and you'll have PERFECT paint lines!  This is especially important if you have a heavy texturing on the walls.

Posted by eharmonized    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:49 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Please dont count this as an additional entry, it's belongs with my previous comment.  I forgot to mention that I love the circles theme!  Clean and simple.  

Posted by adventureliving    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:52 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

My suggestion is go with a theme that will work as the child grows into toddlerhood. Something that works while the child is a baby and a toddler. I am not big on themes like winnie the pooh and other characters that are really cutesy. What if your child doesn't like it or outgrows it. Keep it simple. with that said, i love the zoo set.

Posted by Heather&Bill    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:52 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I love the Olivia bedding.

My suggestion is to incorporate family mementos into the decor. I've included pictures of grandparents, my own baptism dress, and my husband's baby shoes into my nursery design.

Posted by easagredo    Friday, March 21, 2008 9:20 AM

cozy time

Quiet, serene, and soft gentle lighting. These are all the things that your nursery will require. The room that is made into a safe haven will ensure that your baby rests peacefully, grows playfully, and bonds to you gracefully.

Posted by noahsmommy25    Friday, March 21, 2008 9:23 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I put up an antique map for my nursery. It was soft colors and very educational!

Posted by one_nanana    Friday, March 21, 2008 9:52 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I am decorating with the idea of fantasy and hidden treasures.  I am using vintage hot air balloons (by going on ebay and art.com) and have gone to garage sales to find old trunks to be used as a toy box and to store diapers.  I think it is fun to decorate a nursery in a style where an adult wants to be in there because it makes them feel like a kid again in a refreshing way and not an overwhelming way.

Posted by Jodids    Friday, March 21, 2008 10:39 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Plan, plan and more planning!  I have an extremely tiny nursery 90" x 90" with no closet! Planning was essential to deciding on which pieces to purchase (or register for) that are the most space saving and practical. I measured out the entire room including architectual details such as windows, doors, and heating elements.  I plotted all the measurements onto graph paper. When we were looking at pieces of furniture, it was so much easier to "see" the available space. I even plotted the dimensions of the pieces of furniture on graph paper and cut them out to decide on a room layout. There's nothing worst then getting a large piece of furniture home, putting it together and then realizing that it doesn't fit!

Posted by xcandie1735    Friday, March 21, 2008 10:50 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Do what YOU want.  If you're having a boy & want his room to be lime green & tangerine and outdoorsy, do it!  If you're having a girl & want it to be purple & black and dramatic, do it! If you want it to be neutral or match the rest of your house, do it!  You don't have follow the "norm" or whatever is offered at wal-mart right now.  You don't have to use pink for a girl, blue for a boy & yellow if you're keeping it a surprise.  You can find lots of good stuff on eBay, and even things that you wouldn't normally think of as "nursery" will fit well in there.  Find an old dresser and paint it the way you want!  If you do that, not only will you enjoy spending time in there more, but you'll know that your child's room is truly unique for them.

And don't listen to the grandparents-to-be.  They're not the ones that will be spending countless nights in the room, or that will have to worry about re-sell value!

Posted by SuthernStrawber    Friday, March 21, 2008 11:53 AM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I suggest using Flor carpet tiles rather than a rug or carpet.  Not only do they open up a world of festive designs, they allow easy cleanup and/or replacement.

Posted by bbeer@mac.com    Friday, March 21, 2008 1:29 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

In addition to keeping it simple,  I would recommend adding a couple of plants (which clean the air naturally), and provide a more welcome atmosphere and introduce baby to nature rather than surrounding the little one with lots of technology (lots of gadgets remind me of the "fetus frightening machines" from Monty Python). I like things simple (after all, babies are complicated enough). A safe crib (without all the extra materials that are not recommended, like bumper pads, soft quilts, etc), a comfortable chair for nursing, a rug on the floor for when baby crawls, and an organized dresser/changing station with the essentials nearby. I think a small music box is a must (like Pavlov's dog, hearing the lullaby from the music box that was in my room as a baby makes me sleepy even now).

Posted by ckadleck    Friday, March 21, 2008 2:01 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I like the Dwell sets because they are not too "cutesy" they are more neautral to my eyes.  The best thing about them is they play the backdrop to the mood I am trying to create for my baby.  I dont like the idea of characters and logos all over, I am not selling anything just trying to create a beautiful environment for my little angel to grow in, that is the best thing about the Dwell line I just have not decided wich one I am getting yet :)

Posted by lmaher    Friday, March 21, 2008 3:45 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

I think it should be cozy with a thick rug to crawl on and I love the idea of painting a meaningful quote on the wall.

Posted by bethann5    Friday, March 21, 2008 5:04 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Don't be afraid to use bold colors. And when choosing furniture and art, go with pieces that you sincerely love, rather than what you think will match perfectly or will resemble the display you saw in your Pottery Barn catalog. Eclectic decor is  unique, interesting and stylish. Some of the coolest environments are born of true personal expression. The baby really doesn't care what you choose--so remember that you are indulging your own passion for decorating; might as well design a room that will give you a sense of peace and pleasure.

By the way, if I do happen to win, I would love the Olivia style Dwell Bedding--I think it's gorgeous.

Posted by disarray    Friday, March 21, 2008 5:51 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

If you are painting your nursery or furniture - please make sure to use baby safe paint!

Posted by bluenude3    Friday, March 21, 2008 6:29 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Don't sacrifice your personal interior design style for the baby's nursery. We love mid century modern furniture and found pieces that would work for the baby.

Posted by errohlfing    Friday, March 21, 2008 8:26 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Honestly, try not to spend a ton of money on the frills (bumper, comforter, etc.) for an infant because when you place your baby in the crib you have to remove all that anyway for safety and SIDS prevention. It's nice to have a coordinating set for guests and pictures but otherwise go with something simple, chic and not too pricey

Posted by sweetnlow121    Friday, March 21, 2008 9:44 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

Washable paint has saved us a lot of potential repaints. Also- go with a older theme- that way you can keep it around longer

Posted by MomsRock    Friday, March 21, 2008 9:47 PM

re: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway Contest

With our first child, we kept it bare minimal. Even though I loved Amy Cole's pink butterfly crib set, we couldn't afford it at the time, but it was no big deal. We had a crib, a cute dresser (filled with wicker baskets for easy storage), some 'cubes' from Target, a few pictures, a rocker, diapers, humidifer, and wipes, moniter, and a closet with more clothes than I owned. The 'comfortor' for the crib is a beautiful fuzzy pink blanket that she just loves, from Target. We also have a mobile that puts pictures on the ceiling and a little device that plays nature sounds and lots of stuffed animals. It wasn't essental for us to have a lavished baby's room then, it was even painted the same creame color as the rest of our house. We even have an old painting of a man fishing, left over from our office, still hanging in her room! We never used it much, but as she is a year old now, we spend a little more time in there and it still looks pretty chaotic (old baby stuff everywhere). I don't really regret not deco