Preparing the Nursery page 3

If wall-to-wall carpeting is not in your plans, there are many options to consider. But before you explore your choices, evaluate your floor’s current condition. If you already have carpet, peel back a corner and take a peek. You may find hardwood, cement, or a plywood subfloor. This is your platform and it needs to be in good shape. Seams should be flush. Nails and screw heads must be sunk - you want to be able to vacuum and damp mop a child’s room.

Floor coverings made from natural products are allergen-free and a breeze to clean. These materials include:

Cork, the latest in eco-green flooring materials, is a harvested resource that retains warmth and is loaded with air pockets that act as natural shock and sound absorbers. Many cork tiles have no VOCs and come in an array of colors. Installation is very straightforward : You apply adhesive with a roller to a cleaned and prepared surface and glue the tiles down. And just like linoleum, cork cuts with a knife.

Refinishing wood floors requires sanding with a special floor sander to remove old varnish, cleaning to remove all dust, and finally coating with stains and/or sealers.

Laminates, such as the wood grained styles from Pergo, are popular in children’s rooms. Unlike hardwoods that are nailed into subfloors, laminate floors float on the surface. There are two kinds of laminates: the "snap-together" style, which is easier to install but not as structurally sound, and the "glue-together" type. Both are durable and childproof.

If you like to keep your options open, FLOR™ makes modular carpet tiles that have the lowest VOC in the industry. They come in a variety of styles including FLORKIDS with groovy designs like 'Jigs Up,' colorful interlocking puzzle pieces. Many are made from recycled or renewable resources and are also affordable and quick to install with easy to use adhesive tabs.

FURNITURE
Map out where to place major furniture and necessities. These should include, but are not limited to:

If floor space is limited, go for height. A good shelf unit has good shelf life! It can go from stowing bins of onesies to organizing art supplies and toys. A depth of 12-14 inches is recommended - any deeper and things tend to get lost. Always remember to anchor tall dressers and bookshelves to the walls.

When deciding where to place the crib, consider the following:

WINDOW PLACEMENT
For your baby’s safety, don’t place the crib under a window. Your child will be standing and climbing in no time and windows can lead to a dangerous fall.

FURNITURE NEAR THE CRIB

AIR VENTS
You don’t want hot or cool air blowing on your baby's head. But you also don’t want your little one to get too hot or too cold; 65-70 degrees is the recommended temperature range.

WINDOWS
Most babies sleep best in dark rooms. Look into blackout shades that can go under your drapes or curtains. There are also decorative, light-blocking roman shades are be attractive on their own. As your baby becomes more mobile, he can pull on drapes and curtains, or get tangled in window blind cords. To prevent these potential dangers, avoid using long curtains or drapes and consider cordless blinds or use cord protectors.

LIGHTING
Lighting can help create a soothing environment and you'll want to include both bright and low level settings in your plan. Dimmer controls make it easy to go from playtime to naptime.

SAFETY
If your house is not already equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, look into installing these throughout your home and in the nursery.

REPAIRS
If the room needs any major repairs, such as heating or electrical, take care of them as soon as possible. Once the baby arrives, it will become more difficult to work on these problems.

Once the basics of the nursery are taken care of, you can move on to the fun part… decorating!