Building a Montessori Nursery? Start with the Decor.

When I first pictured a nursery, I thought of the furniture first: a crib, a dresser, a cute nursing chair. And don't get me wrong, those are important! But then I learned about building a Montessori home for my baby, and I started to think about my nursery project as built around something quieter and more intentional which is the visual environment.

Montessori philosophy teaches that babies are deeply influenced by what surrounds them. Long before they can crawl or speak, they're absorbing every detail of their space. They love to observe, and it soothes them when they start to recognize familiar objects or scenery around them. 

Finally, babies really don't need much! It is so easy, especially for first time parents, to get overwhelmed by the endless options (I speak from my own experience). But cluttered nursery can be quite chaotic for a baby who is just starting to make sense of this new world they became part of. So I took it as my own challenge to create a more intentional, curated experience for my baby boy. You are most welcome to join me on this quest if you happen to be building a nursery, or perhaps you want to switch things in up your toddler's room. The great thing about Montessori is that you can build your own adventure, take or leave what resonates, start from day one or year three...

Ok, here are the first three tips I have to share, basically copy and pasted from my phone's notes app:

Starting with the walls

Choose two or three pieces of art that feel calm, real, and intentional. Soft animal illustrations, or natural landscapes work beautifully. Consider hanging them low at your baby's eye level when they're lying on a play mat or floor bed instead of adult height. 

Keeping the palette soft

Muted tones like sand, sage, oat, and clay create a restful environment that doesn't overstimulate. That being sad, you don't want everything to be beige! Your baby doesn't see that well when they are born (maybe you've seen those black and white contrast books for babies, if not, you might want to look them up). So, including more high contrast elements and a few colorful toys is a great idea. 

Less, but better

One thoughtful print is more Montessori than ten cute ones. Resist the urge to fill every wall and shelf.

Once the decor is right, every other choice — the rug, the basket of toys, the curtains — falls into place around it.