But where do you begin?

Here are some good tips to get you well on your way to creating that perfect space:

1. Determine Your Style: Before you begin planning your space, it's important that you figure out what styles you appreciate and what will work in your home. Although having a home filled with carbon copy furniture can be boring, you do want to make sure that all of your pieces work well together. Having rooms that logically fit together makes your house feel more finished and makes your spaces feel larger as rooms seem to naturally flow into each other. Do you live in a Colonial Revival house filled with antiques, or a Contemporary home filled with modern furniture? If your style does not fit neatly into either category, you may want to consider furniture and accessories in "Transitional" styles which will blend well with any décor.

2. Size of the room: Before you make any major decisions, it's a good idea to measure your space. Be sure to measure windows and closets. Make a scale drawing of your room to begin to get an idea of what will fit in your space and where some pieces may go. A good rule of thumb for scale drawings is ˝ inch for every foot measured.

3. What Is Your Problem? Do you have a small space or an extra large room to fill? How much storage space do you have? Where will you keep your baby changing supplies? The answers to these questions will help you to determine the types of pieces that you will need in order to make your space as functional as possible.

4. Select Your Furniture: Remember, the furniture that you buy represents the biggest investment that you will make in your child's room, so it does not make a lot of sense to try to match a $1,000 dresser to a paint color that can be changed for $20. Your best bet is to select your furniture pieces first and then find paint, bedding, artwork and accessories that will personalize the space. When looking for furniture, ask about the materials and construction. Hardwoods (Maple, Birch, Oak, Beech, Ash, Cherry) are best.

5. Paint: When buying paint, it's important that you take the paint chips home and look at the colors in the light of your room vs. the flourescent lights in the paint store. When choosing the color, make sure to select something that will provide enough contrast to show off your furniture and artwork. Be sure to use washable finishes (eggshell or low sheen) instead of the flat finishes that you may have in the rest of your home as flat paint will rub off when cleaning up the inevitable messes.