Have you noticed that there’s a big baby boom going on? Maybe it’s just our family – 7 of our first cousins are about to have babies, and 4 of them are due the same week in mid-August! (Note to self: Start scouting for gifts.)

If you are expecting a little one, here are a few suggestions to help you make your present home feel more spacious and peaceful, after your baby comes home:

• Keep the color scheme in the baby’s room soft and light and similar to the tones in the rest of your home. Bold primary colors are passe, except when used as accents. Instead, opt for shades such as pale banana yellow, green-gray or lavender-gray with lots of white trim to punch it up. Crib bedding, paint and flooring are now available in these hues. Here’s an example of lavender bedding at babybedding.com

• Try to get nursery furniture that is all the same color or in similar wood tones to avoid a choppy look. If you use all light wood, all dark wood or all white pieces it will look much more cohesive than if you choose furnishings in different finishes.

• If you need extra storage, consider a long crib skirt that goes to the floor, so that you can hide bits and pieces underneath.

• If you are in the market for any new furniture, for other rooms in your home, be sure to avoid pieces that have pointy corners. Softly rounded edges will prevent accidents in the future.

• Have a wooden or painted shelf built all around the room, 1 1/2′ – 2′ below the ceiling. This will provide storage for stuffed animals; a place to display breakables that you want to keep out of baby’s reach and book storage, until baby is old enough to read.

And speaking of reading, try to make as much time for it now as you can. Once your sweet little bundle arrives, your reading may be limited to bedtime stories for the next few years!