A sheep comforter is where it all started for Melinda Buchanan, a mother of one with another on the way from Ruckersville, Va. "I was looking for a crib set and fell in love with the sheep theme," she says. "Our nursery theme started with sheep, but morphed into an 'animals' theme as we added alphabet animal cards around the wall and an alphabet animal poster."

For Andra Kosik from Buffalo Grove, Ill., it was the fact that she was carrying twins. "We have fraternal twins – a boy and a girl – so I wanted to pick something that would work for both genders since they'll be sharing a bedroom," says Kosik. "I chose a fish/aquarium theme, loosely based upon some of the graphics found on the furniture we registered for, and the colors found in their bedding set. This would save time by not having to come up with completely unique art."

"It" is the inspiration for that special place: the nursery. The decorating options for a baby's room are as limitless as the smiles that light up a new parent's face. The theme is just the first step in a series of steps to prepare the room where you and your baby will spend many hours – awake and asleep. But it's a good place to start.

Sheep or fish? Dinosaurs or dots? Ballerinas or baby ducks? For most moms-to-be, picking the nursery theme is almost as exciting as seeing those double lines on the pregnancy test. But what should she keep in mind when making her choices?

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