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Is there anything more fun as a new parent than creating the nursery you’ve been dreaming of for your little one? When we became parents a few months ago, we soon realized our baby needed her own space. We decided the best option was to transform my office into her nursery. While I was a little sad to give up my workspace, any parent knows there isn’t much you wouldn’t do for your kiddos, so it was a pretty easy decision. And getting to create a space filled with all the sweet details made it even better! From functional (yet stylish) furniture to dreamy wallpaper, we’re obsessed with how everything turned out. We’re sharing all the details so you can recreate the look in your own home – no designer required.
Setting the Scene
In my opinion, great design always starts with a great base. For us, that meant choosing a staple color and layering in details that made the space feel special. After looking at the various Home Depot paint brands, we decided to splurge and went with Sulking Room Pink by Farrow & Ball, paired with this stunning Lyons Den Baby Pink Wallpaper from Victoria Sanders Design. We get so many compliments on the paint color and it was well worth th extra money. It’s got great depth, feels feminine for our baby Girl but still soft and timeless enough to grow with her over the next several years. The wallpaper is one of those things that gets more interesting the longer you look at it, with the sweetest African safari story woven throughout. My wife is originally from South Africa and grew up on Safari vacations as a child, so bringing that home with us here in Los Angeles was very meaningful to us both.
Window coverings were another important part of the design for me. We wanted something that looked beautiful but also gave us the privacy and blackout darkness we needed for a nursery. If you know, you know; darkness is key to great sleep for most babies! Loom Decor has the most gorgeous Relaxed Roman Shades that are custom-made for your space, right down to the lining. And before you ask… yes, blackout lining is an option!
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The Furniture
The furniture you choose is also super important. Spoiler alert: you and your baby will be spending a LOT of time in it. We knew we wanted a great glider with all the bells and whistles, which quickly led us to Babyletto. Their Kiwi Plus Glider is not only sleek enough to fit into any decor, but incredibly functional, too. I love that it comes in several different fabrics and has a few options to choose from. For example, you can go with a simple manual glider or upgrade to a power glider that reclines at the press of a button. While we didn't get it, the chair-and-a-half option is also so sweet if you're planning on more than one baby. This Glider has serious bells and whistles – complete with massage and heat options built into the chair along with an under chair light that helps aid dream feedings.
We kept with the Babyletto theme for both the crib and dresser as well. We figured it would be easiest to keep the wood tones consistent, and honestly, we just like the look of their furniture. While Babyletto isn't the lowest-priced option out there, it’s also not the most expensive. The quality is quite nice – I remember touring other furniture brands and felt many of the other options we looked at felt and looked cheaply constructed. We landed on the Pogo 8-in-1 Convertible Crib, mostly because it can literally transform into 8 different setups. From a mini crib to a toddler bed, we love that this is something that can grow with her from the newborn stage all the way to around kindergarten. We’ve already converted it a few times – from a smaller crib to the now full size crib as the baby has hit her milestones.
The Swell 6-Drawer Dresser paired perfectly with the crib, so we stuck with the Honey wood finish for both. And my favorite part about the dresser? It arrives fully assembled right at your door. No fighting over IKEA instructions or spending an entire afternoon putting furniture together… a huge win in my book and no fighting between my wife and I as we got the room ready!
While I'm not sure rugs technically count as furniture, they certainly fall into the same price range, so I'm asking you to bear with me on this one! With the pink walls and statement wallpaper, we felt like a simpler, more relaxed rug was the way to go for her room. The Lariat Hand-Tufted Rug from Joon Loloi checked all of our boxes. It's simple without being boring and I truly love how the curved, scalloped border ties in with some of the other pieces in the room (hello, dresser). After the wallpaper and the paint color, the rug is the most complemented piece in the nursery.
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The Finishing Touches
While our daughter really only needed the basics… you know well that we here at TQE love to spice things up and really hone in on the details. So of course, her nursery was no exception. We grabbed a few things, namely the Howell Shelf and Jordan Floor Lamp, from Lulu and Georgia to start on the details. While neither is labeled “nursery” on the site, we felt both matched the general vibe and would continue to grow with her. The shelves are so warm, housing her books and a few little bitty stuffed animals for now. And the light… where do I begin? It has saved us many a night on our late feeds, allowing her to begin to wind down without a harsh overhead “big” light. Who uses those anymore, anyways?
We also paired it with a matching-but-not-officially-matching Giraffe-Shaped Wicker Basket from Pottery Barn Kids. This, so far, also houses stuffed animals of hers, as well as a few of our most-used baby blankets. We have so many, so it’s been great to have a spot to just toss them where they’re ready for the next outing. I have a feeling that when she can articulate it, that the Giraffe basket will be up there in the list of her fave things in the room.
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Bringing It All Together
Looking back, we both love how everything came together. It’s hard to remember the home office it was before the transformation into Elle’s nursery. We wanted a space that felt soft, sweet, and a little whimsical, but was also functional for everyday life. I think we found that balance with pieces that are beautiful now and will continue to grow with her over the years. And the best part? You don't need to hire a designer or start from scratch to get a similar look!
Ready to create a nursery of your own? Shop all the pieces that brought our little girl's room to life, from the wallpaper and paint to the furniture and finishing touches.
