It's unbelievable how fast babies grow. One day, you're rocking your little one to sleep and the next he or she is running over to the bookshelf to pick out the bedtime story. By the same token, you'll feel like it was just yesterday that you picked a theme and decorated the nursery, but it's time to transition to the toddler room. All of these changes might seem overwhelming at first, but with the right tips – and helping hands – you can switch things up with ease.

Here are a few hints to assist the nursery to big-kid room transition:

Invest in – or convert – a toddler bed
The biggest and most important change in the room is ultimately the sleep space. Going from a crib to a toddler bed is a big step, but it changes the entire look and feel of the room and officially stamps the space as a big kid's place. If the crib came with a conversion kit, simply take down the front safety rail. Or, invest in a new toddler bed to which you can easily attach a headboard for your teen in the future.

Upgrade the bedding
A new bed needs updated sheets, pillowcases and blankets. Talk to your child about what he or she wants to see on their bedding right before they start to snooze. Maybe it's a cute pattern, or a bold color that makes the space pop. If you have an indecisive child, bring a lot of different ideas to the table for inspiration.

Find complementary decor and accessories
The bedding should be the focal point and the piece that influences the rest of the design and decor throughout the toddler room. Find complementary accessories like shelving, area rugs, art pieces and other decorations that can fill the space and make it evident that it's a big kid's room.

Repurpose the changing table
Just because your child is out of diapers, doesn't necessarily mean the changing table has to go. In fact, there are plenty of different ways to repurpose this piece of furniture. Display more decor here, or use it as a storage station for clothes, accessories or toys.

Create an activity corner
Now that your child is up and moving, he or she needs a place in the room to retreat to for fun. An activity corner makes a room more inviting and less like a place to retreat to for sleep – something that defines the line between an adult and children's room. Place a custom storage unit in the corner to hold toys, followed by an activity table for coloring, making puzzles and more.

Watching your children grow up can be a lot to take in. Don't let the transition period become overwhelming too! With these tips and tricks, as well as assistance from a personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors, you can create the big kid room of your loved one's dreams. One of our professionals will come over to your house for a free consultation to evaluate your space and discuss your ideas. This is a great time to introduce your little one to the decorator, because your kid's personality and viewpoint will come in handy during the planning process. Once you have all of your ideas organized, your design assistant will develop a plan of action and discuss next steps to ensure the transition is seamless and nothing short of spectacular.

What are you waiting for? It's time to let your children blossom in their new favorite living space. Contact a design consultant from Decorating Den Interiors today to get started.