Rockabye in Style

Who says you have to choose between the whites and walnuts you so often see in nurseries? I've always loved the look of pale yellow furniture -- it imparts such a nice antique charm, and gives the space a designer flair. Plus, it's neutral enough to be used for a girls' or boys' room, and works well with a variety of shades.

Add a visual stimulus for baby while creating a romantic ambiance by topping a crib with a canopy. Be sure to gather and secure the material around the crib posts, as shown here, to keep it from falling into baby's sleeping space.

No room warrants light like a nursery. I love how these floor-to-ceiling bump-out windows flood the room with natural sunlight, adding a lustrous gleam to the hardwood flooring. Just be sure to install blinds so you can dim the room for naptime.

When shopping for a changing table, choose one that's versatile enough to double as a regular dresser when baby grows older. Once the changing pad is removed, it can be used to display stuffed animals, photo frames, shoes, and more.

Wow! You can't get much more contemporary than a metallic crib. I'm not sure that I'd ever be courageous enough to try it, but it definitely works here. Paired with the cool blues and grays, it serves as a striking focal point that's sure to garner double takes from all of baby's visitors.

The key to a fun, functional nursery is combining smart storage with cheerful decor. This particular space uses what I like to call "soft storage" -- canvas bins, bags, and shelves that take whatever you can throw into 'em. Toddlers may actually enjoy putting their things away with such a bright, fun target. I also love how this nursery isn't afraid to mix and match widely varying colors to make an eclectic impact.

Dark wood is not necessarily a nursery's enemy. Here, the rich walnut works well against the pale blue walls. Plus, the room is spacious and bright enough -- and the ceiling high enough -- to minimize the risk of the darker furnishings feeling oppressive. The fun, patterned flooring adds a funky effect that ties it all together.

Is your little one's domain short on closet space? No worries -- a child's wardrobe or armoire can provide ample hanging storage for all those pint-sized jackets and sweaters. Be sure to use child hangers to maximize your space.

I'd almost forgotten how crisp and bright a fresh white paint job can feel. With our kids, the first thing we always did was rush out and choose a paint color -- but, as this photo illustrates, sometimes the best color is no color at all. White walls sort of step back and let the other sources of color -- wall hangings, bedding, window treatments -- pop a lot more.