Creating this nursery was one of the most rewarding decor projects I’ve ever embarked on and I am so happy with how well everything turned out. I can’t believe how many details, and setbacks unfortunately, are involved in fully putting together a space this small. However it was all worth it in the end and ironically this is now the only fully decorated room in our home and for sure my favorite. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do this daybed, aka my bed, every night!
It’s no secret I’ve always been obsessed with the color blue, so of course finding out baby’s sex was male sealed the deal in terms of where to start. My first big decision was finding a non-toxic paint from Clare, which had a small but really great selection of blues. I wanted a color more rich and my husband wanted something lighter, however we were able to meet in the middle on the cheerful, yet bold Nairobi Blue. I know a lot of people are scared sometimes to use color, particularly in smaller spaces, but I think it’s always worth exploring because it can add so much depth to a room! Every time I walk into Parker’s nursery I immediately feel more cool, calm and relaxed, hoping that energy also spreads to baby’s future sleep progressions.
I also loved how the hue had a bit of warmth in it that picked up some of the green tones I decided to layer the space with given how over-blued the room was initially becoming. The gingham blackout curtains, toile de jouy throw pillows, frames and filling in the monogrammed lumbar pillow all embraced the sage, in addition to adding some more dimension to the blues and whites.
The theme I had in mind was Oh the Places he’ll Go! Likely coming from my own desperate desire to travel after a year of pandemic woes and now being baby bound, the idea of instilling a strong sense of adventure and curiosity around the world inspired me most. So I sourced as many wanderlust inspiring toys and decor I could find without a passport stamp, my favorites being the model sail boat, illustrated world map and amazing hanging hot air balloons, perhaps my favorite detail of all?!
As for furniture, my absolute favorite piece is hands down the custom blue daybed I had made. I selected a pale blue upholstery and denim blue contrast piping, a body hugging mattress, plush bedding and loads of pillows for family cuddles! Pearl and Muffy already think this is their bed and I absolutely LOVE sleeping here while Parker is in his SNOO bassinet at night. I’ve decided to try keeping him in the nursery from the very beginning so he’s fully at home in his room from day one and so far so good. The daybed will also be great for story time each night with myself, my husband and our girls Muffy and Pearl.
Additionally we plan to use the daybed as a toddler bed and perhaps even big kid bed since it’s a twin. I had a daybed growing up and loved the versatility for reading and hanging out with my friends, perhaps this daybed is really just for me which is perfectly fine given it’s become way more appealing than my own king size bed to not only myself but also my husband and two dogs! We literally have to cary Pearl out after every feeding because she won’t leave her cozy undercover nook!
Given my daybed obsession, we went with a very simple white crib, adorned only with a lovely blue and white patterned sheet and a monogrammed pillow that will of course never be there when Parker is sleeping. His baby blanket was one of the first things I pinned on his Pinterest board with the most adorable illustration of animals seeking adventure!
In the continued spirit of wanderlust I printed and framed photos I’ve taken while on vacation to places like Capri, Milos, Colorado, Cuba, Lisbon, Chicago, Israel and Charleston in a gallery wall display that gives me joy each time I take a look. The vintage trunk nightstand is adorned with a lamp to remind us all of our late little piggy, along with a sage green pagoda and framed print of Arthur and I with Stanley the giraffe at the Malibu Wine Safari, one of our earliest dates and first photo ever taken together. The cozy boucle glider we found is ready with an India inspired block print quilt to match and Moroccan pouf for those tired and slightly swollen feet I have.
Another big priority for this room was maximizing storage as much as possible! I know how important it will be to ensure everything has it’s place so immediately my head went to built in shelves, but after reviewing timelines and costs for install I found a great alternative with this shelving storage unit from none other than Ikea! I can honestly say that aside from the daybed, this was perhaps the second best purchase given how much storage it provides with both open and covered shelving, drawers and best of all a center console that we can use as a changing space. This made the absolute most sense given changing tables seem to be such a waste beyond the first few years.
Additionally we lucked out on a great size walk-in closet which we installed custom shelving inside. Picking out outfits for our little guy has been one of my most fun tasks these few months and so hanging them in front of this lovely toile blue wallpaper was an absolute treat! I couldn’t resist this woven animal basket which I say will make a great laundry hamper but who honestly cares it’s so damn cute.
Now that we’ve been actively using the room I have realized some big takeaways, the first being that the nursing chair is worth the biggest splurge given newborns need to be fed non-stop and you will be spending lots of time there! Originally I wanted one that had a higher back but I am glad to not have that now because I honestly worry it would make falling asleep with the baby easier, something we all need to avoid. I also love the fabric, it’s extremely cozy and warm, which helps for those late night feeds.
The other big takeaway was the daybed, whether custom made or not it’s super helpful for guests and the whole family to be involved. Arthur has been with me for every feed so far and it’s so nice having him and the girls there even if he’s passed out on the daybed. I also love sleeping there while Parker sleeps because he’s so young and I imagine it will be a lot easier for me to wean off the daybed than for baby Parker to eventually leave our bedroom at six months when he leaves the SNOO bassinet.
One last takeaway that isn’t exactly about the nursery itself is the journal we use to track Parker’s feedings and diapers, two really important sources of information about how he’s doing, especially in the first couple weeks of life! I am sure there are a million apps to use on your phone, however, I think it’s helpful to have something tangible especially if you have anyone helping out like a grandparent who isn’t too tech savvy! And we already use our phones for the Nanit Plus baby monitor and SNOO, so it’s nice to have something off the phone, and let’s be real, the blue cabana stripe is just so cute!
