Authentic Animal Themes
While baby animal themes like kittens, puppies, lambs or teddy bears may look sweet in your awaiting arrival's nursery, consider how educational and lasting an authentic animal theme can be for your developing child. There are many different landscapes that conjure up scores of animals to include in your nursery theme. Look around the globe for inspiration and decide if the animals of the jungles and rainforests appeal to you, or if your baby would enjoy the animals of the ice floes more. Of course, the desert may seem a barren theme until you think of all the coyotes, lizards, birds and desert plants found there, and savannahs inspire warm, open scenes filled with lion, tigers and elephants. If you're an ocean lover, your child's nursery theme would surely be a lot of fun to create with whales, dolphins, octopus and brightly-colored fish for your baby to study. Remember that your baby isn't the only one who should enjoy your nursery theme; mom and dad will see the room everyday too, so if the theme doesn't appeal to your senses, consider another one that does.Sunrise, Sunset and the Seasons
Depending on the time of year you're expecting your baby or the season that you and your spouse enjoy the most, you may want to consider a seasonal baby nursery theme. Imagine oak and maple trees with falling autumn leaves blowing in the wind along your nursery walls. Winter themes can be filled with geometrical snowflakes that engage your baby's eyes and footprints that lead to a little boy or girl walking through the snow. Spring themes burst with brightly-colored flowers and green grass borders, while summer themes are the brightest, with glowing yellow sunshine radiating across the room and children playing in a lake or stream. One of the most popular nursery themes lately (even with celebrities) has been a celestial scene representing a nighttime packed with stars, moons and even planets. Contrarily, a sunrise or morning theme is another way to represent the feeling of summertime with a landscape that shows the contrasting colors of the dwindling night against the brilliant colors of a rising sun over a mountain valley.Non-Stereotypical Nursery Themes for Boys and Girls
Most themes that are typically thought of as being only for a boy or a girl can be rethought for either gender, or be completely gender neutral for those awaiting a wonderful surprise. Using contrasting rainbows of colors can make even themes like trains, planes and automobiles available to either a boy or a girl. And while fairy themes and dolls may seem like themes reserved for a girl, remember that even Raggedy Ann had an Andy and Tinkerbell lived among Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Take the norm and adjust it to accommodate your style, and don't worry too much about stereotypes if there's a certain theme you want to try.Books, Movies and Cartoons
If you grew up loving Winnie-the-Pooh or Sesame Street and you're certain you want to use that theme for your baby's nursery, consider whether you'll use "classic" characters and styles like classic Pooh (Pooh without a red shirt) or "Mommy's generation" Sesame Street characters like Bert and Ernie, instead of an "everything Elmo" theme. Of course, there are always cartoons to inspire fun nursery themes such as classic Mickey and Minnie images or the new Dora the Explorer. Beware of some cartoon or movie themes which may come with a hefty price tag because of their trademarked designs that you can only buy in certain stores.Whichever nursery theme you choose, have fun with it. Think about how you'll achieve your theme beforehand and ask yourself how easy or difficult your theme may be to create. While designing your baby's nursery can be a fun experience, when you're expecting, make sure the experience doesn't get too stressful. Simplicity is fine and your baby will love the nursery no matter what.