Get nursery design inspiration with these baby nursery decorating ideas.
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Planning and preparing the nursery was one of my favorite pregnancy experiences. Putting together the space to welcome your baby into is likely some of the most intentional home designing that many women do. Just don’t let time get away from you because nap mode is real too! This post is full of baby nursery decorating ideas from my sweet Eleanor’s nursery.
Baby Nursery Decorating Ideas
How To Get Started
1. Try creating a design board.
I am a big fan of vision boards for decor planning. Because I am way too indecisive to make multiple trips to the store buying and returning things that may or may not work together as I had hoped. There are certainly fancier ways to do this, but I like to use screenshots on Google Slides to bring pieces together and help settle decisions. Accomplishing a complete, cohesive look is made simple by swapping the images in and out.
If that feels like too much work, just dedicate a new Pinterest board to baby nursery decorating ideas instead! You can even create sections within a board that can be specific to ‘crib ideas’ or ‘rug ideas’ etc. This process will help you decide on a theme.
2. Decide on a theme.
You may have a specific theme in mind after searching around for design ideas. If you are struggling with the concept of a theme, focus on the mood or aesthetic you want instead. What 2-3 words would you use to describe the feelings you want the room to have?
For me, it was less theme and more mood. I wanted our nursery to be minimalistic, with natural-boho touches to create a calming atmosphere. My whole house airs more on the neutral side and my plans for our nursery were no exception.
3. Shop for staple pieces early.
It may feel like you have plenty of time, but when you think about it, you have less than 9 months to prepare this room [or even less if the baby comes early- Oh hi, Eleanor!] And while the baby probably won’t be sleeping in the nursery immediately, it’s the last thing a tired mom wants to hurry and pull together after their arrival. Plus, it’s gentler on the budget when you can space out some of those larger purchases.
I ordered the essential pieces like the crib, rocker, and dresser before I found out whether we were having a boy or girl. Once we knew she was a girl, I settled on a more feminine rug and worked my way up with the smaller decor pieces from there.
4. Don’t forget the details.
These are the most important decorating elements that will drive your nursery design: rug, curtains, lighting, paint.
Rug– Even if you already have carpet in your nursery room, an area rug adds so much charm and truly makes the space feel complete. Plus, you want your little one to have a fresh cozy surface for tummy time and crawling around.
Curtains– I love my whimsical sheer curtains with fun tassels, but I recommend black-out curtains over what I have now. I mean, I think they’re cute (which is why I haven’t parted with them yet), but not ideal for naps and an early bedtime. Eleanor’s sleep stretches are so much longer in a dark room, so keep that in mind when shopping.
Lighting– Swapping out your standard, overhead lighting for a fun light fixture or chandelier can make such a powerful design impact. Just take a closer look when you’re scrolling Pinterest for inspiration *heart eyes*. But, did you know that using a fan during sleep reduces the risk of SIDS? So if you do happen to have a ceiling fan, I think it’s worth keeping around.
Regardless, get a small lamp for late-night feedings and diaper changes.
Paint– (or create a feature wall) This may seem obvious, but a fresh coat of paint that is dedicated to the nursery theme is important. If you have your design plan figured out, go ahead and knock this task out early so you don’t have to move furniture around while doing it. Creating a feature wall with woodwork, wallpaper, or a mural is a unique way to make a statement.
Eleanor’s Nursery Tour
The decorative piece hanging over Eleanor’s crib is something I made myself. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted, but couldn’t seem to find the right style or scale. Sometimes it is just way easier to buy what you can find online, but I have found that those handmade pieces mean so much more every time you look at them.
Search around local stores for items inspired by those dreamy Pinterest pieces. I was able to find my 3-tier diaper basket at TJ Maxx for a quarter of the price of the one I fell in love with on Pinterest.
How you decide to organize all of those baby things can work for your design or against it. You can’t go wrong with decorative baskets or shelves to store books, toys, or blankets. I also LOVE these dresser divider baskets for organizing baby clothes.
Do you have any sentimental pieces in your home that tell a story? Maybe an heirloom piece of furniture or special ornamental item? I love that.
My most sentimental piece in the nursery has to be Eleanor’s NICU beads strung over the woven macramé in her room. Each bead strung by her NICU nurses represents every day spent fighting, lab drawn, IV line, and so on. Read more about Eleanor’s birth story here.
Crib / Rocking Chair / Curtains / Rug / Dresser / Etsy art / Crib skirt / Floor play mat / Wooden baby gym / Changing pad cover / Crib sheet / Drawer organizers
I hope these baby nursery decorating ideas were helpful! Happy nesting.
Such love went into this room! Every detail is perfect and so beautifully reflects your style and personality. What a great eye for design.
❤️