apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Common-sense things you're probably already doing:

:: Use natural materials whenever possible for bedding, curtains, flooring, rugs, furniture, and toys.
:: Keep drawers and closets organized and pruned of too-small and out-of-season clothing.
:: Have different sources of light in the nursery, some for daytime and others for evening and nighttime.
:: Limit the electrical appliances near the crib. This includes various monitors, air filters, vaporizers, fans, etc.
:: Open windows daily for good ventilation.

Some interesting tips you might also want to try:

:: Choose a soft shade of green, blue, pink, orange or beige for the walls. No reds, yellows, grays, or blacks.
:: Bed sheets should be soothing colors. Bright red is a no-no. Soft blue is recommended.
:: Place the crib at the furthest point from the door. You don't want it under a window or in the middle of the room. You also don't want it against a wall that has plumbing on the other side of it.
:: Orient the crib so that it points north, which represents stillness. Southwest and northeast are acceptable second choices.
:: Keep the space under the crib empty. Resist the urge to use this space for storage.
:: Limit the number of toys and books in the room.
:: Curtains are preferable to blinds, and white curtains are best.
:: Try gentle essential oils, such as chamomile, rose, vanilla and lavender.
:: Make sure there are no hard corners from dressers or changing tables pointed at the baby’s head or body. If there is an immovable point, try to cover it with a silk vine or red ribbon.
:: Reconsider the patterns and images in the room, especially if it is a themed room. According to feng shui guide Tabitha Miller, "Avoid garish cartoon characters and action figures. How can boys “stop moving" when they are sleeping on planes, trains and automobiles? That theme would better for a playroom. Nature designs are excellent and promote growth. Animal designs should also be chosen carefully. Ferocious or aggressive animals, even when they are made for a baby’s room, should not be chosen. Some of these are found in jungle motif designs and include lions, tigers, bears, and reptiles. Make sure that designs do not have harsh points, such as arrows, crosses, diamonds, or triangles. Motifs with fish are fine as long as the watery theme is not overly dominant. Otherwise, respiratory, lung, nasal, or kidney problems could develop."

If you're truly desperate for a good night's sleep, you've got nothing to lose by trying these ideas:

:: Start from scratch. Move the baby to a new room. According to one expert, "Ideally, a child's room should be in the middle, or the 'bosom' of the house, to induce feelings of security in the child. A new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom also shouldn't be located where there is excessive noise that might keep the baby from sleeping, such as close to a living room where the TV is on or close to a noisy street or neighbor."
:: Do a thorough cleaning of the entire room -- including walls, baseboards, windows and floors -- with natural cleaners. Repair wall holes, cracks, squeaky windows, peeling paint.
:: Follow the principles above in designing and arranging the space.
:: Declutter your own room of baby-related paraphernalia. While you're at it, organize the baby stuff in the rest of your home, too.

Whether you follow any of these tips or not -- and whether or not you even believe in feng shui -- we probably all agree with feng shui guide Rodika Tchi when she says "Good feng shui always feels good, so start making your choices by trusting your body's responses to the environment you are creating for your baby."

And if you try any of these ideas and they work for you, let us know!

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Image: re:place design

Sources:

Feng Shui Nursery Case Study: Feng Shui Tips for Calmer Nights with the Baby
A Feng Shui Approach to Child Bedroom Design
Welcome the Baby With a Healthy Feng Shui Nursery
Feng Shui for Babies