Create the Perfect Nursery with VOX
Planning a nursery is exciting, but the list of things to decide grows quickly. This step-by-step plan uses VOX nursery furniture to help you create a room that's calm, practical and ready to grow with your baby. Want an overview of the ranges first? Read our VOX nursery furniture brand highlight.
Step 1: Plan the layout
Sketch the room with the door, window and radiator marked. Then plan three zones:
- Sleep: the cot or cot bed, away from windows, blind cords, radiators and heaters.
- Change: a changing unit with everything you need within arm's reach.
- Store: a wardrobe and drawers for clothes, bedding and spares.
Leave a clear path between the door and the cot for those night-time visits.
Step 2: Choose the cot or cot bed
A cot bed is usually the best value because it can become a first bed when your little one is ready. Options include the Vox Vintage Baby Cot Bed, the Vox Spot Cot Bed in White & Acacia and the Vox Lunea Convertible Cot Bed 70 x 140cm. If you'd like baby close to you at first, the Vox Customisable Cot Bed with Drawer & Bedside Sleeper Function is worth a look.
Whatever you choose, buy a mattress that matches the size stated for your cot, and keep the cot clear of pillows, duvets, bumpers and soft toys. This follows safe-sleep advice from organisations such as the Lullaby Trust.
Step 3: Add a changing station
Put the changing unit where you can stand comfortably, ideally near the wardrobe or drawers. The Vox Spot Baby Changing Unit with Drawers in White & Acacia and the Vox Simple Customisable Baby Changing Unit both include storage, so nappies, wipes and spare vests stay in reach. Never leave a baby unattended on a changing surface.
Step 4: Get the storage right
Baby clothes are small, but there are lots of them, plus bedding, muslins and toiletries. Use drawers for everyday items and a wardrobe for hanging clothes and bulky things like spare bedding. The Vox Lounge Chest of Drawers in Light Grey & Oak and the Vox Nature Double Wardrobe in White & Oak work well together. As your baby becomes a toddler, low, mobile storage like the Vox Muve Kids Storage Cart with Wheels Beige & Oak Effect keeps toys tidy.
Always fix wardrobes and chests of drawers to the wall using the fittings supplied.
Step 5: Save time with a nursery set
A set takes the guesswork out of matching sizes and finishes. Popular choices include the Vox Vintage 3 Piece Cot Bed Nursery Set, the Vox Bosque Baby Cot Bed 3 Piece Nursery Set and the Vox Milenne Baby Cot Bed 2 Piece Nursery Set. Browse all nursery furniture sets.
Step 6: Soften the room
Finish with a washable rug, blackout curtains or blinds (with cords tied up out of reach), and soft lighting for night feeds. See our nursery rugs and nursery decor.
Step 7: Think ahead
Choosing a range that continues into kids' furniture means you can add pieces later instead of starting again. VOX's kids bedroom furniture includes desks, beds and storage for the years after the nursery.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start setting up the nursery?
Many parents start in the second trimester, so furniture has time to arrive and be built before the final weeks. Choose whatever timing feels comfortable for you.
Is a cot or a cot bed better?
A cot bed usually lasts longer because it can become a first bed. A cot can suit smaller rooms. Compare the dimensions on each product page.
What should go in the cot?
Just a firm, flat, well-fitting mattress and a fitted sheet, with baby's own bedding as recommended in safe-sleep guidance. Leave out pillows, duvets, bumpers and soft toys.
Do I need a changing unit?
It isn't essential, but a changing unit at a comfortable height with built-in storage makes nappy changes easier and keeps supplies in one place.