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Decorating Baby Nursery

While decorating your baby's nursery, spend time looking at the lighting around the room during different times of the day. Since lighting is one of the most neglected areas in home construction, there is a good chance you will want to make some improvements in your baby's nursery. Through creative lighting, you can bring the room to life and create the right amount of light in just the right places.

As with everything else in the home of a new baby, when placing lights, think of your baby's safety. Keep cords, plugs, and hot bulbs away from your fast growing and soon-to-be mobile baby's reach.

In the nursery, lighting is very important. A task light is a nice addition to have by the changing table. Use a soft light in a swing-arm, wall-mounted, or table lamp. Be sure to keep the light out of your baby's eyes.

Ideally, in your baby's nursery, just as in other rooms, there will be a variety of light sources. Layering low-key with bright light is a trend that is as mood elevating as it is aesthetic because it evokes a more natural feel.

Directional lighting around the perimeter, where you have artwork and furnishings is also nice. Lights pointed at murals, prints or other artwork and reflecting off the walls create dramatic effects.

If directional lighting is not an option, strategically place table lamps near the walls and use light-colored lampshades. Because babies will stare at lights, be sure the lighting is not too bright. In addition, lighting dark spaces on the tops of wardrobes and other spaces that are not ordinarily illuminated will make the room more cheerful. To add general lighting, designed to reflect off the ceiling and the walls, create a soffit.

While an overhead fixture usually provides general illumination, your lighting should not end here. You have many options; including installing dimmers on all of your lighting.

Types of light bulbs to consider using in your light fixtures include:

• Standard, incandescent light bulbs; used with brighter lighting or at night, they create a cozy feel.
• Xenon light bulbs light more accurately and efficiently than incandescent and halogen, without emitting the UV rays and intense heat of halogen. They are very cheerful when used in places like an alcove, soffit, or above a wardrobe.
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs; cost more than incandescent, but last much longer and light more efficiently.
• "Daylight" light bulbs; produce a brighter, crisper and more balanced light.

Lighting fixtures for your baby's nursery are available in many decorative styles and nursery themes. Table lamps come in hundreds of shapes, from ducks to airplanes. Browsing through lighting and baby stores can be very inspiring and can lead you to create your own lighting sources. For example, strings of miniature Christmas lights can add magic to a houseplant, a collection on a shelf or a table fountain.

While looking at the lighting in your baby's nursery, remember to consider naptime. If the room is not too brightly lit, consider window treatments such as curtains that will allow your baby to see outside the window. Light blocking shades are nice if the baby will have a lot of mid-day sun. You can also make your own roller blinds with fabric and a kit available at many craft stores.