DIY Baby Nursery With A Designer Look
Around the beginning of 2020, I knew we had to start preparing the baby room. During the same time, Covid19 virus was quickly turning into a world-wide pandemic. Reflecting back now, as a small business owner and new mother-to-be, this was the most stressful time of my life.
My plan was always to hire a designer to help me put the baby nursery together. Of course, most people would think hiring someone for a baby room is frivolous. But back then, I was working about 60-80 hours a week and I simply didn’t have the time for anything else. Well, the world changed in 2020 and then suddenly, I had time!
My strategy was to pick out the crib bedding first and use that as the color theme and inspiration for everything else. I found (through Pinterest searches) a cheery, Boho-chic crib bedding set by Pottery Barn but quickly discovered that this line was discontinued. The only item left for purchase was the fitted sheet and the crib bumper at one store in Los Angeles! But I loved this design so much, I decided to scoop up what was left and then my sister was so generous – she hired a quilter to make the coordinating blankets and decorative pillows. What a treat!
Next, I planned the layout of the furniture. This is how our baby room is pretty unique. We decided to put the crib in the middle of the room. Our nursery is almost a perfect square – 13 feet by 12 feet. My logic was that a baby room’s true focal point is the baby. It’s not the mobile, it’s not the chandelier, it’s not the wall art, it’s not the rocking chair-- it’s the BABY! So why not put the crib in the center of the room if possible?
When I put the crib in the middle, it enabled me to radiate everything else from the center. Those other activity areas were “sub-rooms” in my mind. My sub rooms or activity areas are the following:
- Dresser, Display and Mirror Vignette
- Kids Play Table
- Toy Storage and Canopy
- Library and Rocking Chair
- Closet
- Diaper Changing Table
I also removed my closet doors and put a dresser inside it and turned that into a diaper changing table. When she gets older, it will be used as a regular dresser. But by removing the closet doors, it gave us about 14 square feet more to play with. Visually, it enlarged the room even more than that in my opinion. Functionally, it provided the space I needed for the changing table and diaper pail.
My entire house has gray walls – including the baby room. I didn’t want to paint the entire room so instead, I painted a white, scallop trim along the top of the largest wall. I created the stencil for this by folding a paper plate in half. In addition, I free-hand painted six faux, French frames in gold, acrylic paint. By designing this myself, I was able to personalize them with my baby’s initials. Notice the “S-F” on top of the faux frame around the oval mirror and the “S” and “F” again at the bottom, two corners of one of the frames. (See photos.) The exact paint type can be found here: Gold Acrylic Paint (Amazon)
There are vinyl decal stickers you can buy to get the same type of look but the stickers don’t work well on textured walls. If you have smooth walls, you have a lot more options than I did.
I also wanted a sophisticated baby room that can grow with my child. So rather than put up faux taxidermy plush animal dolls typically used in baby rooms, I chose these animal heads made out of resin. Back when I bought these, they were hard to find. Now, you can find them on Amazon:
It is a more mature look but painted in bright colors give them a whimsical and youthful look. If later, I want to paint them again in different colors or back to white - which is how they came- I can easily do so and it would look good in any room.
It took a lot of planning and dreaming but I’m so glad I had the opportunity to incorporate these personal touches in my baby nursery. All my friends and family love the crib in the middle. For us, it has been both original and functional. My inspiration is of course my little one. She truly inspires beauty, creativity and light!
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