How to choose a name print for the nursery

A name print is a small decision that ends up on the wall for years, so it is worth thinking about the wall before you think about the print. These are the questions that matter.

Which size?

An A4 print suits a shelf, a small wall or a gallery wall with other prints. An A3 print suits the space above a cot or a changing table. If you are not sure, A3 looks better on a large blank wall, and A4 looks better in a group of three.

Check the spelling twice

Names with a capital in the middle, an accent, or a spelling that people get wrong need extra care. Type the name exactly how you want it, read it out loud, and ask someone else to read it. A nursery name print is made from what you type, so what you type is what you get.

Choose the colours from the room

Look at the curtains, the rug and the cot, and pick the theme that borrows one of those colours. Woodland suits warm wood and green, Rainbow suits white walls, Stars suits dark blues and greys, and Plain suits a room that is already busy.

Where to hang it

• Not directly above the cot, if it is heavy or has a glass front, because it could fall.
• Out of the baby's reach once they start pulling to stand.
• At eye level for an adult, which is about 145 cm from the floor to the middle of the print.
• Away from direct sun, which fades colours over time.

Frames

A frame is not included. Standard A4 and A3 frames are easy to find and cheaper in a shop than as an add-on. A frame with a mount will make a print look more finished, and an acrylic front is lighter and safer than glass in a child's room.

Making a set

Pair the name print with a birth stats print in the same theme. Hang them side by side at the same height, with about 5 cm between them.