DECORATING KIDS ROOMS

• Layettes and cribs go away, so don't spend tons of money on expensive curtains over a crib or a fancy rocker, as they're only “temporary” pieces.
• THINK WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND
• Use backgrounds that don't scream "baby."
• Don't spend all your bank on decorations specifically for the crib.
• Don't spend big on furniture that you only will need for 18 months.
• Don't use plush carpeting, it will have Matchbox car wheels and baby doll shoes lost in it. Use a firm, dense carpet.
• Don't place overhead lights in a child's room that have exposed bulbs, as children are on their back and look up.
• Pregnant? Paint the nursery ASAP as the volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in paint are amazingly dangerous. Pay attention!
• A nursery should be cozy, not elaborate. Baby doesn't see it.
• Don't decorate the nursery for others to see; guests shouldn't be in the nursery, anyhow. They may have germs or viruses on their hands and touch the crib and other objects. Bring the baby out to your visitors once they've all wiped down with hand-sanitizer.

NURSERIES

Interesting in its subtlety, with no gender-specific decor. The crib is easily changed out for a bed.

This surfer dawg is chillaxin' in his bodacious orange crib, waiting on his grindage.

Lots of white is good and easy to morph into something else in 24 months. A few pink or blue pillows would be great.

This country-style nursery hits all the important notes — it's cozy,

has soft light, and is easily transformed into a 3-year-old's room without major changes. It also isn't gender specific.

This palatial room, with its gilt accents and wall paintings, almost is successful — it just needs more “stuff" to cozy it up!

This "Pottery Barn"-style nursery is well done, with good colors, cute rugs and accents. The eaves are utilized for storage with built-in dressers and cabinets!

A funky "low-budget" space with repurposed pieces and

This beautiful nursery in London is the quintessential “transitional room.” It has the crib and the wet-nurse bed, which baby will move into eventually. This room will serve this child until she's a teenager. I think the small string of lights around the bed curtains is adorable.

BOYS' ROOMS

Bring lil' Dale Junior up in fast style! It's indestructible and chances are the kid will like it until he's 40 — when he finally moves out.

The wainscoting with rail will catch all the clutter. The cot-style bed and the rolled up "sleeping bag" are quite clever.

The mahogany and V-groove paneling is a home run.

This works well without ever looking dated or juvenile.|
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The captain's cabin has four custom crew-bunks, plus two stowaways on the trundle beds underneath!

If you want your daughter to grow up to be a Ella Thorne...

3-year-old look great for years to come, as the old iron bed and toile fabrics are timeless.

Everything mixes easily with pastels. Personally, I don't like beds in front of windows for fear of drafts.

The bright pink walls give a kick to this low-budget room. The repurposed Victorian headboard painted sweet-pea is flanked by two “found” tables — each a different color.

This schmancy bedroom is just too adult. Kids need to personalize their rooms as they get older, which is a good thing — don't force them to live in a designer show-house room.

This is good for a boy's or girl's room. Aquariums always are fascinating to children. Use a nautical-style desk and light fixture for boys.

Do I need to tell you to avoid images that are scary to kids?

Kids' bathrooms need to be built tough, no possibilities for screw-ups — and LOTS of accessible storage.

If there is more than one child using the same bathroom, make specific areas for each, keeping the fighting to a minimum, please....

• Grab rails at tub and shower
• Deep tub for those long bubble baths
• A colorful wall mural
• Fun colored tile
• Niches and shelves for all the toys
• Easy-to-reach towels
• Big mirrors
• Low, reachable medicine cabinets
• Great lighting
• TV
• Here are a few practical ideas:
• Accessible towels by the sink
• Towel hooks instead of bars
• No shower curtain
• Ceramic tile floor
• Open shelving
• Use non-slip tub sticker or mats so standing kids won't slip
• Have a pull-out step for the short kids to stand on when at the sink that slides under the sink base cabinet when not in use
• Babies need a tub for bathing without shower doors so Maria can reach in and scrub yo baby's ass. Children don't shower until they are 9 or 10.
• Lights and exhaust fan should be in same switch.
• Don't have a lock on the bathroom door (either side).
• Have a tilting mirror that can change as they get taller.
• Put a governor on your shower and tap for slow-flow.
• If you're going to have a lot of babies, get a child-size toilet.
• Buy a hanging plastic shoe holder to hang on the shower rod for toy storage. The key to making any space look nice is to contain the clutter.
• Install grab bars near the tub or toilet to make it easy for kids to get in and out.
• Use plastic drain covers to keep kids from reaching in and to keep toys out.
• Install touchless faucets for both preset, safe temperatures and “easy-to-reach” fixtures.

• Venetian blinds are great and can be made to order in hundreds of colors.
• Pull-down roller shades can be made in your fabric with decorative trim along bottom.
• Roman shades are easy to use, simple and customizable with any textile.
• Balloon shades are more feminine and add softness to a room.
• Plantation shutters are permanent and look great from inside and out.
• Clutch roller blinds are more contemporary and have wonderful filtering capabilities. They are available in numerous transparencies and operate flawlessly.