Planning a nursery scheme is one of the most exciting decorating projects you'll ever undertake, so it's important to find the perfect nursery furniture for a children's room. A nursery furniture set keeps things nice and easy and is often a good money-saving option. But mixing and matching baby furniture is lots of fun, too, and gives you the chance to inject your own personal style into your nursery design.
A few nursery furniture essentials to add to your shopping list are a comfortable nursing chair, a sturdy changing table (ideally with shelves or drawers to keep baby wipes and nappies in easy reach) and, of course, a good crib, cot or Moses basket. You'll also need plenty of toy storage and a children's wardrobe or chest of drawers for all those adorable baby outfits. Make sure you choose well-made pieces of furniture that are as practical as they are pretty, and comply to UK safety regulations - that way you know your little one can sleep safe and sound in their new nursery.
This imaginative little wardrobe (pictured left or right) works beautifully as a stand-alone piece or as part of a nursery furniture set that combines to form a cute house shape, with star-shaped cut-outs for handles. On its own, the wardrobe would be perfect for a compact nursery or eaves space thanks to its narrow width and unusual sloping top - make sure you match the direction of the slope to the shape of your room.
Songe Wooden Child's Wardrobe, £165, Maisons du Monde
It's never too early for your baby to start learning. Well, okay, perhaps the alphabet is a bit ambitious for a newborn, but this ABC-adorned chest of drawers will make a lovely addition to your nursery furniture anyway. Its classic shape and subtle ivory hue mean it will blend beautifully into any nursery scheme. This is such a classic piece that it could last your little one through their entire childhood and even beyond….
Hastings Ivory ABC 3 Drawer Chest, £549, Marks & Spencer
A Moses basket is a traditional but practical alternative to a crib or cot when it comes to choosing nursery furniture. This model slots neatly into a rocking stand (sold separately) that will help soothe your baby to sleep. Remove it from the stand and it becomes a handy carrycot. The basket is padded and the mattress is breathable, water-resistant and machine washable - a blessing when it comes to cleaning up 'little accidents'.
Little Rocker Moses Basket, £27, George at Asda
Who says nursery furniture can't be stylish? This oh-so-chic nursery furniture set taps into the current trend for all things grey, we're big fans of taupe grey; it can make a gorgeous alternative to the pink and blue you so often see in nurseries - especially if you team it with a soft, pale yellow. On-trend while providing your baby with a pretty but practical cot, wardrobe and changing table. The cot can be set at three different base heights and converts into a toddler bed suitable for children up to four years old - making it a good investment piece.
Franklin Grey 3 Piece Cotbed Set, £1,157, Mamas & Papas
This is such a clever idea - it proves that cool design and practicality aren't mutually exclusive, even when it comes to nursery furniture. A changing table is an essential piece of nursery furniture, but what if your nursery doesn't have room for one? Enter the Roba changing table, an ingenious, space-saving plywood design. This clever piece of kit screws firmly onto the wall, and folds down to reveal a sturdy changing table and shelves, before folding neatly away into a compact, contemporary and rather stylish cube design. Comes complete with an easy-to-clean soft changing pad, that is both waterproof and washable.
Waldhochzeit Wall Mounted Changing Table, £96.99, Wayfair
Multi-tasking nursery furniture is a must-have for busy new parents. This chic chest of drawers doubles up as a changing table thanks to its removable changing top, which comes complete with storage compartments for baby wipes and other useful nappy-changing bits and bobs. When your little one grows out of nappies, you can remove the top for good, leaving just the stylish storage unit.
Hayworth Dresser with Changer, £329, Mamas & Papas
How cute is Mr Bear? This lovely little storage unit will easily double up as a toy for your little one once they start crawling and toddling. In the meantime bedtime stories are even better with Mr Bear - an adorable little book storage cart that will serve your little one well from baby's first board book through to The Gruffalo, The Tiger Who Came to Tea and beyond. Better still, he comes with a matching toy chest, children's chair and framed print.
Mr Bear Book Storage Cart, £40, Great Little Trading Company
When shopping for nursery furniture, don't forget to include a good toy box on the list - essential for storing all those baby gifts that friends and family will bestow on your new arrival. This animal-adorned chest will make a sweet addition to the nursery scheme and adds a fun touch to the concept of tidying up once your little one is old enough to 'help'. It comes with cute little matching chairs, too.
Mr Bear Book Storage Cart, £69, John Lewis
This natural wood crib will work like a dream as part of a mix-and-match nursery furniture scheme. The smooth swinging motion will help your little one drift off on those nights when sleep doesn't appear to be top of baby's to-do list. When sleep does arrive, you can lock the swinging mechanism so nothing disturbs their slumber. recommended from birth up to 6 months.
Breeze Acorn Crib, £119, Mamas & Papas
This hard-working cot will see your baby through from newborn to toddler. The adjustable cot base can be fixed at two different heights and one cot side can be removed once your little one is big enough to climb in and out by themselves. The classic design and white painted finish will sit pretty alongside other nursery furniture, while the built-in drawers with colourful knobs sneak in some handy extra storage. The cot base is designed to give maximum support and comfort to help your baby - and you! - get a good night's sleep.