The room in which your baby sleeps, grows, and plays is important. It deserves more thought than placing a crib in a spare room. That said, the actual design process of nurseries can be quite intimidating—how do you know you’re doing it right? Now more than ever, people are keying in on sustainability and bringing planet-friendly practices into their homes. Well, we have just what you need with these tips for designing an eco-friendly nursery. Not to mention, if you ever want to sell, an eco-friendly nursery goes a long way!

Choose Nontoxic Paint

The paint you put on the nursery walls is actually one of the most important aspects of an eco-friendly nursery. Traditional paints contain a lot of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which release harmful chemicals into the air. You don’t want that for your baby, and you don’t want that for you. Instead of just picking up whatever paint you see, do your research on health-focused paint options. We love ECOS Paints!

Be Choosy About Furniture

Rather than buying a brand-new wooden dresser, think about choosing sustainable and reclaimed furniture pieces instead. In addition, choose furniture items that are VOC-free and that feature food-grade finishes. Your baby will end up chewing on the furniture at some point—make sure it’s okay if that happens. Also, choose furniture that will grow with your baby—you don’t want to have to keep purchasing new furniture as your baby grows up.

Buy Used When You Can

One of the most important tips for designing an eco-friendly nursery is to fill it with used times. There are so many baby items you can and should buy used, from the clothes they’ll quickly grow out of to the stroller and high chair. Keep these choices in mind while you’re shopping for all your baby things. Ask yourself the questions—can I buy this used? Will buying these used be a more sustainable choice?

Rethink Carpet Choices

Carpet may be soft, but it can also trap allergens and contain harmful chemicals. Again, think about the health of your child—the air they breathe, the carpets they roll on, the furniture they’ll surely chew on. If you can, replace the carpet with sustainable hardwood flooring. If that’s not possible, place an organic rug on top of the carpet where the baby can feel free to play.

Bring In Natural Light

Natural light is your friend. You don’t want fluorescent lighting glaring into your baby’s eyes as they look up at the ceiling. Windows are also your friends, as are accent lighting pieces in soft tones. When you need bright light, open the curtains instead of turning on the overhead light. It will do wonders for soothing the baby!