For most expectant parents, setting up the baby nursery is one of the most exciting parts of preparing to be a parent. Whether your new addition will have a room of his or her own, or you are setting up a spot for baby in your own bedroom, it is important to consider both the furnishings and the décor of the nursery.

The first decision when setting up your baby's nursery is what type of furnishings you wish to include. A crib and a changing table are obviously necessary. If space is at a premium, you should shop carefully. There are both cribs and changing tables available with built-in storage drawers. These are terrific options if space prohibits a chest of drawers or dresser.

Once you have made a choice in nursery furnishings, it is time to choose the nursery décor. Many people like to decorate in solid colors or patterns, while others choose to use fairy tale or story book characters. Whatever your choice, bear in mind that you will be spending a great deal of time in the room, so make a choice that you will not tire of quickly, but will also inspire baby's curious mind. In this vein, purchasing a mobile to hang over baby's crib is a great idea.

When choosing nursery bedding, most people opt to follow the theme that they developed with their nursery décor. While this is great, you will be surprised at how often you end up changing sheets and doing laundry when your baby is very small. If you cannot go all out with multiple sets of coordinated linens, you may want to invest in plenty of extra-fitted sheets and blankets for those days when you just cannot keep up with the laundry.