Creating the nursery for our baby boy was a labor of love. Formerly, this was a guest room that didn’t get much use and was always my least favorite room in our home. With its off-centered window, it felt incomplete and challenging to furnish. However, the moment we found out I was pregnant, I was SO excited to transform this space into a cozy nursery.

Starting with a Blank Slate

The first step in our DIY nursery project was to clear out the room completely. Given the room’s modest size, I considered the essential pieces of furniture we would need: a crib, a dresser, and a glider chair. Although I initially thought about incorporating a daybed, it would have made the room too cramped. Maybe once Brayer transitions to a “big boy” bed, we’ll revisit that idea—but for now, I’m not rushing time away.

Choosing the Perfect Color Scheme

Choosing the color scheme was tough as I am so indecisive. We ended up going with Sleepy Blue by Sherwin Williams. I knew all along I wanted to add chair rail moulding to the room to add some character to the walls as well as trim. We planned to paint the bottom half of the walls Sleepy Blue and wallpaper the top.

Finding the Right Wallpaper

After weeks of searching for the right wallpaper, I found Love vs. Design. This company allows you to customize any wallpaper design on their website, from the color scheme to the texture of the paper. You can order samples of your customized paper that come in a peel-and-stick form, making it really easy to apply and take off. We chose “Classic Check” (far left) in the Glissade material. I love that the plaid will grow with Brayer, and I can repaint the Sleepy Blue to a darker color as he gets older. P.S. Love vs. Design has a 15% off discount code: LVE15F!

Choosing Furniture

I envisioned the nursery with timeless and gender-neutral furniture. While I typically enjoy sourcing pieces from antique stores and repurposing them, the idea of having brand new items for our little one felt right this time. I stumbled upon Namesake Home, which offers the most beautifully crafted pieces.

The Crib

We chose the Liberty 3-in-1 Convertible Spindle Crib with Toddler Bed Conversion Kit. Its warm white finish perfectly complements the wallpaper. This crib will grow with Brayer, transitioning from infant to toddler stage. I completed his crib with this simple white and blue crib skirt from Serena and Lily, a crib sheet from Kyte Baby.

The Dresser

To match the crib, we ordered the Liberty 6-Drawer Dresser. I adore its vintage feel, accented by brass hardware that adds just the right touch of masculinity while maintaining a sweet, classic look with the scalloped apron at the bottom. I ordered these drawer organizers to section off each drawer–highly recommend!

Chair

For the glider, we opted for the Crawford Pillowback Comfort Swivel Glider. This chair has quickly become a favorite spot in our home. It is SO comfortable and wide enough for me to pull one of my legs up while feeding Brayer. The gliding motion is smooth and perfect for soothing him. We also purchased the Crawford Gliding Ottoman, and I’m glad we did—it’s essential for those late-night feeds when you need to prop your feet up.

I finished the chair off by tossing a cable knit baby blanket over the chair back from Elegant Baby and a lumbar pillow that I had monogrammed here locally in Charleston.

Lighting

Shockingly, we found all lighting via Amazon! We removed the ceiling fan that was in this room and purchased a new light fixture that felt more fitting for the nursery. I found this inexpensive beaded flush mount light, linked here. The beaded design adds a touch of coziness to the room. we placed a floor lamp behind the glider chair to provide soft lighting for those times when we prefer not to use the overhead light. I also discovered these wall sconces (which I did end up recovering in a green gingham fabric) and opted for battery-operated light bulbs, eliminating the need for hardwiring. I initially chose the sconces primarily for their aesthetic (not so much for function), but the battery-operated bulbs actually provide the perfect dim lighting for those middle-of-the-night diaper changes.

Storage

Finding a practical solution for crib linens and toys was important to me. I knew I wanted baskets with lids to keep everything out of sight. Initially, I was drawn to this option from Serena & Lily, but during a trip to World Market, I discovered nearly identical baskets at a much better price. I ended up purchasing both the medium and large sizes, using the large for toys and the medium for crib/bassinet linens.

Drapery

As I mentioned earlier, the window in this room is off-centered on the main wall, which has always been a challenge for furniture placement. To address this, I decided to install drapes that span the entire back wall to disguise the window’s awkward placement. These custom-made, blackout pinch pleat curtains were a gift from a close family friend, making them incredibly special. I cannot recommend investing in blackout curtains enough for your nursery to ensure the room stays dark during nap time.

Art

I found the sweetest watercolor print from an Etsy shop called TeddyandWhiteStork. I had it framed and matted locally at McGregor’s Gallery here in Charleston — they were so helpful and I highly recommend if you live here!

Rug

We chose a neutral rug for the nursery from Rugs USA, ensuring it can work well with future changes in the color scheme as he grows. Initially, I was concerned that the rug might not be soft enough for him to crawl on comfortably. I was surprised by its texture, which is perfect for crawling and play. I love that the rug adds a brightness to the room.

It’s amazing how much love and care can go into designing a room, especially one meant for the newest member of our little fam. I can’t wait to watch him grow in this room in the years to come!