When planning for the birth of a child it is hard to think of the day that they will be leaving for college. But, trust me, as the father of 2 college-age girls, it does happen. It happens so quickly that soon you savor the time you spend with them because they are never home.

My oldest son’s wife is expecting a baby soon and they just found out it is a girl. Since I have had experience in that area I thought my advice would come in handy. They just bought a country house plan and I want to help them decorate the nursery in a way that will grow as fast as their little one.

My advice follows; the first thing to keep in mind is that with each age their likes and dislikes can change dramatically. So keep that in mind when setting up the nursery for the first time. At birth they can’t tell you if they like it or don’t, but trust me, in time they will.

When you think of a baby the colors that come to mind are soft pastel colors such as pink, yellow, green and blue. These colors are cuddly and comforting but don’t have the power to last. You will be repainting soon so why not start off with bright bold colors such as sunshine yellow accented with deep fuchsia. Then use soft hues of these colors in the accessories such as wooden letters that spell out your daughter’s name, bows on the curtain rods, bedding and throw rugs.

As a shower gift, my wife and I have decided to purchase the furniture for the room. We are going to get a convertible crib that turns into a toddler bed, a day bed and then into a full-size bed. This will eliminate them having to purchase a new bed every 3-4 years. We are also going to purchase a strong bookshelf with removable doors. That way when the baby is little and you need wipes, diapers, blankets, etc. within reach you can keep the doors off so these items can be grabbed quickly. Then, once the toys start over flowing and then ribbons, bows, and then CD’s or whatever media will be by then the doors can be added and then closed to cover up the clutter.

By the time your little one starts school she will no longer want the baby room but a big girl room. You can easily change the bed into a day bed, paint the walls her favorite color, add a patterned rug to the floor and rearrange the furniture so she has a lot of floor space to play. Of course by then you will have to remove the “baby” bows and ribbons on the curtains and replace them with bright colored shades. To create a wonderful canopy bed a colorful cloth shower curtain can be added for little cost and effort but will mean the world to her.

Now the real work comes in – your daughter is a teenager and definitely has an opinion on everything, including on how she wants her room to look. The first thing to let her know is that there is a budget and there will be compromise. Understanding it is her room and her space but is also a part of the family home.

She is now at the age where the day bed becomes a full-size bed, the canopy is removed and it is time to paint the walls. She will choose the color and hopefully it is something you can live with. Not too worry though because it will be covered up with posters. She will need a new bedspread, rug and curtains, along with a desk that will hold a computer and possibly a printer.

Amazing how quickly she has grown and with proper planning her room will be able to grow with her without too much expense.

Just to summarize, below are the main things to remember:

• Stay away from colors that your daughter will get tired of;
• The furniture you purchase should be able to adapt as she grows. For example, the bed and the bookshelf that doors can be added;
• If you plan to add some items to personalize her room for a certain age, make sure it is inexpensive and removable;
• It is easier to choose fabrics that are multi-colored because you can choose accent colors from them to update without having to buy new ones each time you add a coat of paint;
• Never build or purchase something around a piece of technology. A good example of this is a stand or entertainment center to fit a TV. The wide screen has now replaced the tube TV and their dimensions are very different.

From one parent to another we always want the best for our children and with these simple room-planning tips you can give them a wonderful room that makes them feel special. Their room will be custom designed for them from the time they are born until the time they are ready to venture out on their own – and you may still be able to afford college!