The Nursery

It won’t be too long after you discover you’re having two babies, that you will think, “where are we going to put them?”. The answer to this question will probably depend on several factors, the biggest one of which is how much space you actually have. If you have an average sized home with 3 or 4 bedrooms, chances are you don’t really have the space to put the babies in 2 separate rooms. Not to mention, 2 separate rooms pretty much means 2 of everything. Many people also give great consideration to the fact that there will be times when one baby will be trying to sleep while the other one cries. I am here to tell you, that if you keep them together right from the beginning, they WILL learn to tune each other out, so don’t let that be a deciding factor. Finally, I think the thought that goes through most people’s minds is that these little creatures have been cramped into pretty tight quarters, sharing a “room” (also known as a womb!) for almost 9 months. To separate them would be cruel! I’m not saying it would be, I’m just saying some people may feel that way. Whatever your rationale, I am going to talk about approaching a twin nursery from the perspective of someone who has twins that share (and I like to call them “womb mates”-feel free to laugh, and remember you heard it here first!).

First of all, I didn’t know what we were having. Yes, we still exist, that breed of people who don’t learn the sex of the baby. It’s even more rare if you’re having twins, and to be honest, logistically, it is ridiculous to NOT find out because it makes planning for 2 babies extremely difficult. The last thing I wanted to be doing after delivering twins was recovering from a c-section and worrying about the finishing touches that depended on the gender. Having said that, I wouldn’t change it because in my pregnancy, the not knowing is what kept me going, and the double surprise at the end (“it’s a BOY!”, and then 2 minutes later.. “another BOY!”) was absolutely amazing.

Here are the things you need to think about when you start to plan what your nursery will look like:

How much space do you have, what do you need/want in that space, and how will you arrange it? Are there windows, ledges, or outlets that may be limiting?

What kind of color scheme do you want to go with?

What kind of theme do you want?

Can you get creative with closet space and wall space with shelving?

How much money do you want to spend?

Once you ask yourself these basic questions, check out this website: chiccheapnursery.com

This is where I was inspired for all that I did with the boys’ room, but I didn’t copy any one particular idea. Little details like handmade mobiles and refurbished IKEA furniture were things I never would have thought of on my own. Next Tuesday I will post pictures of the boys’ room and talk in detail about what inspired me, and how I achieved my vision.

The best way to get started is find pictures of stuff you love and start a file (or an inspiration board). To that you can add paint swatches, fabric samples, and other items and textures that inspire you (carpet, tile, even clothing). Once your file, or board, is full and you feel you have a good idea of the things you love-you need to ensure you know what you’re working with. Is it going to be a boy? A girl? Or are you going to choose to keep it a surprise? Your colour theme may depend on this but if you have a clear vision, this will seem like a minor thing.

Once you get a “feel” for the direction you want to go, share it with your partner and anyone else close to you who may be helping you out with preparing the room. They will be able to provide valuable feedback and insight into things you may not have already thought of.

Next Tuesday I will expand on this topic. In the meantime, if you already have a twin nursery, I’d love to see pictures and hear ideas! And I’m sure the twin moms-to-be would too!