Nursery doesn’t need to be ready the moment you find out you’re pregnant.
But you don’t want it still serving as a home office at 38 weeks with unopened paint cans on the floor either.
For most families, the second trimester is a good time to get started, with final touches in the third. Here’s when to do what so you’re not rushing through everything in the last few weeks.
First Trimester: Think, Don’t Buy
Weeks 1–12 are for ideas, not shopping. Energy is low, nausea is real, and many families aren’t ready to commit to a nursery just yet. That’s completely fine.
What is worth doing in the first trimester is the thinking work that sets everything else up.
Decide on the room. If you have a dedicated space for the nursery, walk through it with fresh eyes. What is currently in there that needs to move? Are there repairs needed, floors that need replacing, or walls that need patching? Structural work takes time and disruption. Identifying it now means it can be scheduled without pressure.
Set a budget. Nursery costs vary enormously depending on how elaborate you go. A functional nursery with quality essentials can be done thoughtfully. A designer nursery costs significantly more. Know which you are building before you start buying things.
Start collecting inspiration. Scroll, save, pin. Build a picture of the colour palette, the style, and the overall feel you want. This is genuinely the fun part and the first trimester is a good time for it because it costs nothing and requires no energy beyond looking.
Measure the room. Sketch a rough floor plan. Mark where the doors and windows are. Note any radiators, vents, or electrical points. This becomes essential when ordering furniture, because a crib that looks perfectly sized online can be awkward in your specific room with your specific door swing.
Second Trimester: This Is When You Do It
Weeks 13–27 are a good time to get things done. Energy usually returns and moving around is still easier than it will be in the third trimester.
This is when the actual nursery takes shape.
Weeks 14 to 18: Finalise the Plan
Lock in your colour palette and theme. Choose your paint or wallpaper. If you are hiring anyone to help with decorating or if major work is needed in the room, book them now. Good tradespeople book weeks out and this is not the time to discover a four-week wait when you are 35 weeks pregnant.
Order your main furniture at this point as well. Furniture delivery timelines vary and some pieces take four to eight weeks to arrive, sometimes longer. Ordering now means everything arrives in time for assembly without any panic.
What to order in this window:
- Crib or cot with mattress
- Changing table or dresser with changing topper
- Nursing or feeding chair
- Wardrobe or storage unit
Weeks 19 to 24: Paint and Furniture Arrives
Paint the room now rather than waiting until the third trimester. Painting gets uncomfortable later in pregnancy, and fresh paint needs time to air out before the baby arrives.
Choose low-VOC paint where possible. Keep the windows open during and after painting, then let the room air out before adding furniture and soft furnishings.
Start assembling furniture with your partner while moving around is still comfortable. Flat-pack assembly can be awkward on your own, especially later in pregnancy.
Once everything is in place, arrange the room for everyday use. Keep nappies, wipes, and cream within reach of the changing table. Make sure you have enough room to sit and stand comfortably by the feeding chair. Keep the crib away from direct sunlight and windows with blind cords.
Weeks 25 to 28: Details and Storage
The big pieces are in place. This is the window for everything that makes the room feel finished and functional.
Add storage, shelves, blackout blinds, and a baby monitor. Finish with wall art, a soft rug, and a dimmable lamp for night feeds when you don’t want the main light on.
Stock the changing station at this stage: nappies in multiple sizes, wipes, barrier cream, and a spare outfit or two in the drawer beneath it. Set up the feeding area with whatever you will use during night feeds: a small table for a water bottle, your phone, and anything else you will want to hand.
Third Trimester: Finish, Wash, and Get Ready
By the time you reach week 28 and beyond, the nursery should be structurally complete. The third trimester is not for painting rooms or assembling furniture. It is for finishing touches and the final practical preparations.
Weeks 28 to 34: Final Touches
Add the remaining small details. Personalised items, photo frames, any artwork that was being made to order. Anything that was waiting on the gender reveal or the name decision.
Install the baby monitor if you have not already done so. Test it. Confirm the camera angle covers the crib properly and that the signal reaches your bedroom.
Check the room temperature. A thermometer in the nursery helps track the room’s baseline temperature across different times of day and different weather conditions.
Weeks 34 to 36: Wash Everything and Organise
This is the practical final step. Every item of clothing, every fitted sheet, every muslin cloth needs to go through a wash in fragrance-free, baby-safe laundry detergent before it touches your baby’s skin. Newborn skin is sensitive and fabric straight from packaging is not ready to wear.
Once everything is washed, organise by size. Label drawers or storage bins by age range: newborn, 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months. Having this organised before the birth means that at 2am when your baby has just sized out of something, you know exactly which drawer to go to.
Do a final check of the room at week 36. By this point the nursery should be completely ready. Not mostly ready. Completely ready. Your baby may arrive before your due date and the nursery being done means one less thing to think about when everything else is happening.
If You Are Working With a Small Space
Not every family has a dedicated nursery room and that is fine. A corner of the main bedroom or a shared room works just as well with the right approach.
Bedside bassinet takes up less space than a full crib, which is handy when the baby sleeps in your room for the first few months. You can use a dresser with a changing mat on top instead of buying a separate changing table. Wall shelves help save floor space, and a comfortable armchair works just fine for feeding the baby.
The nursery does not need to be a separate room to work well. It needs to be organised, functional, and ready before the baby arrives.
The Nursery Essentials Checklist
Sleeping:
- Crib, cot, or bassinet with firm flat mattress
- Three to four fitted sheets in the right size
- Sleep sacks or swaddles
Changing:
- Changing surface at a comfortable height with raised sides or a changing mat
- Stock of nappies in newborn and size one
- Unscented baby wipes
- Nappy cream
- A bin or nappy disposal solution nearby
Feeding:
- A comfortable chair with good back support
- A side table for water, phone, and anything else needed during feeds
- If breastfeeding: a nursing pillow
Storage:
- Wardrobe or drawers for clothes organised by size
- Shelving for books, toys, and supplies
- Baskets or bins for smaller items
Lighting and Environment:
- Blackout blinds or curtains
- A dimmable lamp or nightlight for overnight feeds
- A room thermometer
- White noise machine
Safety and Monitoring:
- Baby monitor, audio or video
- Baby monitor should be positioned where it cannot be reached from the crib
- All furniture anchored to the wall if it poses any tipping risk
- Electrical outlet covers
- Blind and curtain cords tied out of reach
Wrapping It Up
Start planning in the first trimester, get the main work done in the second, and use the third to finish up and get everything organised.
By 36 weeks, the room should be clean and stocked. Your baby may not sleep there right away, but having it ready means one less thing to worry about.
Take your time and enjoy putting it together. This will be your baby’s first little space.