Woo to the hoo. We finally finished the nursery! And at just four weeks before the beanette’s estimated arrival (although we’re sure she’s gonna be late) we’re beyond excited to have a cheerful and functional room waiting for her. It definitely has come a long way from the blank canvas that we started with:
And that closet. Let’s just say it was one of our major challenges when it came to storage space, function, organization and all that good stuff:
Luckily we were able to introduce a ton of stash space thanks to a crib with a large built-in drawer, a generously sized double dresser (snagged on Craigslist for just $20), an already owned storage ottoman, and a side table with retrofitted basket “drawers.” Plus adding a padded bench with a large toy bin slipped under it (two more things we already had on hand) gave us even more spots to tuck toys, clothes, books, and everything else that comes with having a wee one. Oh and did we mention that the room is only 8′ x 10.5′? Yup, it’s the smallest room in the house (except for the bathrooms). But without further ado, the big baby-tastic after pics:
We had so much fun hunting down deals like this playful $50 aqua capiz chandelier from a local lighting outlet (which casts so many fun shadows on the ceiling for Baby P to enjoy).
And DIYing our own no-sew curtains with some cheerful printed fabric allowed us to create a much more balanced and grand look on a wall that formerly boasted a small-ish window that was off to the side (we’re all about cheating windows with curtains so they look centered). Is there nothing that a set of high and wide fabric panels can’t solve?
Bringing in the former side table from our guest bedroom (originally from Target) creates a nice spot for a glass of water, a reading lamp and some books. And the super insane coincidence was realizing that some woven baskets that we already owned slipped perfectly into the side table’s open shelves to create two basket “drawers” (which offer up even more room to house books and toys out of view- anything to keep the clutter factor to a minimum!). And because the baskets are woven and don’t have any harsh pointy corners, we even think Baby P will be able to easily use them to put away her own toys when she gets older and a bit more mobile (which of course will be our cue to switch out the real plant on the table for something less dirt-riddled).
And we can’t forget about the super cozy sink-in-able bucket chair that we snatched up for just $20 at a thrift store. Paired with an already owned ottoman (topped with a homemade faux sheepskin rug) it creates a nice little feeding and reading corner that even Burger thinks is the bee’s knees.
We also love that we were able to place the chair next to the window so we can appreciate the natural light streaming in during the day, along with the view of our big green backyard (which is sometimes accentuated by a playful chihuahua on an intense bug hunting expedition). And isn’t that little wooden tree in the windowsill adorable? We got so many great baby gifts from friends and family, and the makers of this one (Plan Toys) are extremely eco conscious and use only the greenest materials and non-toxic dyes and glues.
Oh and we can’t forget how much the soft aqua ceilings (Mythic’s Adanna Aire in a flat finish) next to the crisp white molding and the pear green walls (Mythic’s Autumn Bloom in eggshell) transformed this formerly tan-walled guest room into a dreamier place for our little girl (read all about the painting process right here). Plus we figure she’ll constantly be gazing up at the ceiling when she’s in her crib, so it’s nice to know it’s sort of sky-reminiscent as opposed to plain old white.
Here’s a shot of the $20 Craigslist double dresser that we totally refinished (earning ourselves six generously sized drawers for storing everything from diapering supplies to clothes and even tiny socks, bibs, and other pint-sized accessories). And the wire and faux flower mobiles that we made to hang over the changing pad along with the DIY shelves built by my handy hubby really add kid-friendly function and form to the entire wall.
You might notice that small basket to the right of the dresser in the photo above. Well let’s zoom in, shall we?
It’s actually a cheap-o Ikea basket which we then lined with extra crib skirt fabric that we already had on hand. Bam- instant hamper for under $5. And we like how the lighter woven texture ties into the basket “drawers” in our makeshift side table under the window- and even the textured ottoman that we paired with our thrift store chair.
But back to the dresser for a minute. Remember when we lined the drawers? They definitely add a splash of happy to the space every time we slide them open to gaze at all the tiny outfits and accessories awaiting Baby P. Is there anything cuter than baby shoes?
Here’s a closer shot of the three-orb mobile that we crafted while parked in front of the TV one night for less than $12. We love how it gently sways above the changing pad and we have our fingers crossed that it’ll really come in handy once the beanette gets more wiggly and we have to keep her distracted while we hurriedly change her.
And here’s a detail shot of those lovely shelves that my manly man built with his own two hands (ok, and some power tools). We love that they’re constructed like long skinny wall mounted boxes to keep books from toppling down as they might on an open shelf. And we can easily switch out those books, frames, and toys to keep reinventing that wall as our baby girl grows.
And because we’ve heard that well ventilated rooms with fans can help when it comes to scary things like SIDS, we sprung for this vintage-looking turquoise charmer (by Deco Breeze in “sky”) which is just as easy on the eyes as it is functional. Plus we love the fact that small fingertips can’t fit past that protective wire cage.
But let’s swing over to that formerly sad little closet. We livened things up by painting the inside of it the same soft aqua color as the ceiling, hung a fabric curtain for some pattern and interest, and added a second hanging bar along with baskets, shelves, and boxes to store a lot more than we thought we ever could in that tiny enclave. Check out the whole closet transformation here.
And maybe I have to revise my “is there anything cuter than tiny baby shoes?”question. Because the answer might be “baby clothes.” Oh and we love that we were able to repurpose a hanging shoe organizer from Ikea as a caddy for everything from bibs to burp cloths and even tiny leggings.
Here’s a shot of our crib tucked into the corner to keep as much open rug space available for playtime as Baby P grows. We love that the crib we chose has that drawer built right in for even more storage space (it’s actually empty right now, along with the storage ottoman- which we think is a good sign since we’re sure to accumulate more stuff as we go). And we even got to whip up a no-sew crib skirt to the tune of just $14 to add texture and hide the formerly open space between the bottom of the mattress and the top of the drawer.
Here’s a close up of a super affordable Marshall’s mirror that we grabbed back when it was black. Reinventing it with some cheerful green paint and hanging it (extremely securely) across from the window allows it to bounce some nice light around the small room. And we figure between staring up at the blue ceiling, the aqua chandelier and this whimsical mirror while she’s in her crib, the beanette will have no shortage of places to peer while she dozes off.
And here’s our art wall which we recently refreshed with some under-one-dollar decorative craft paper, a few photos and prints that we already had, and two new pieces from Etsy and Wall Blank. We especially love the mixed and matched feeling of playfulness that it adds to the room (and the fact that we can switch things out whenever the urge strikes). Plus the asymmetrical arrangement makes it feel more fun and less formal, which seems fitting for Baby P’s cheerful pear and aqua nursery.
We already mentioned the old thrift store bench that we brought in with a bin of toys under it for more display and organization space in our modestly sized room. We really love how the soft celery color and the patterned upholstery fit right into the room without competing too much with the curtains. Talk about a happy accident since we redid that $7 bench over a year ago without ever knowing that it would someday be worked into our future nursery.
But back to our art wall for a moment. Here’s a closer shot of one of our favorite sentimental ideas. We’ll be placing the beanette’s hospital wristband in that chunky frame on the bottom (and until then we made our own little placeholder version). We also plan to create a paper silhouette of her sweet profile once she’s here (to match the one that we already have of her four-legged brother Burger). Gotta love some fun and easy personalization- especially when it’s free.
So that sums up our recent guest-bedroom-to-nursery makeover. And because we’re suckers for photo documentation, we glanced at this picture from the beginning of the project…
… and just knew that we had to replicate it a few months later now that the room is done:
There’s that belly shot so many of you have been requesting. The funny thing is that while I’m definitely bigger in the after shot than I was back in January when the first back-to-back picture was taken, it’s crazy to think that in it’s been three months since that photo and I haven’t grown all that much. I guess it’s safe to say that I popped early.
But enough bump chatter, let’s talk budget. We headed into the nursery makeover assuming we’d spend around $1500 (since we had absolutely nothing and needed lighting, paint, a chair, a dresser, a changing area, a crib, a rug, storage solutions, a closet makeover, a mirror, art, curtains, shelving, a mobile, and more). We arrived at that estimation since some simple online shopping revealed that even affordable places like Target charge around 1K for a crib, a dresser and a changing table (which doesn’t include other major items like a chair, a rug, lighting, art, shelves, etc). Of course we hoped to whip things together for less, but we always like to be realistic instead of overly optimistic when it comes to budgeting (since it feels a lot more triumphant to come in under budget when you take the time to land on a feasible estimate- as opposed to completely blowing a budget that was way too low to start with).
Here’s the full budget breakdown:
- No-VOC wall, ceiling and closet paint: $80 (Mythic paint was a much-loved splurge)
- 100% wool 5 x 8 rug from a local outlet: $99
- Aqua capiz chandelier also from a local outlet: $50
- DIY window & closet curtain fabric: $105 (another splurge, but they make the room)
- Curtain rods and ring clips on clearance from Target: $10
- White faux wood blinds from Home Depot to block all light: $37
- Modern crib with built in storage drawer: a gift from my sweet mom
- Organic crib mattress: generously provided by Savvy Rest
- Thrift store chair: $20
- Chair pillow from TJ Maxx: $6.99
- Ottoman, bench, side table and baskets: already owned
- Faux sheepskin rug on ottoman: $19
- Marshall’s mirror & paint to transform it: $50
- Craigslist dresser & refinishing supplies: $31.51 ($20 dresser, $11.51 supplies)
- Drawer lining project: $1.30
- Closet makeover: $18.36 (hanging bar, storage systems, etc)
- No-sew crib skirt: $14
- DIY mobile: $12
- Organic crib sheet and changing pad cover: $29 with coupon
- Blue fan from Target: $55
- Homemade wall shelves for books and toys: $14
- Ikea lamp on side table: $19
- Ikea basket for hamper: $4 (along with already owned leftover crib skirt fabric)
- Art: $42 ($25 Wall Blank print + $12 Etsy print + $5 worth of craft paper)
- TOTAL: $717.16
Not too bad, right? Especially when you think about shows like Trading Spaces having 1K to transform a space. And the fact that we were able to pick up two major pieces (the chair and the dresser) for just $20 a pop definitely allowed us to take on a ton of smaller projects that might not have originally worked within our budget. Now granted the gifted crib and mattress definitely helped when it came to staying under a thousand dollars (and coming in at less than half of our original $1500 budget) but we’re thrilled that we were able to whip up so many under $20 projects with that freed up moolah (from our mobile making and shelf building adventures to our drawer lining project, no-sew crib skirt and even our big closet makeover).
So what do you think? Are we ready for a baby or what? And what really is cuter… baby shoes or baby clothes? We’re so excited to finally share our big nursery reveal with you guys and we’d love to know if any of you are making over a nursery in your home- or sprucing up a kids room for your own growing bambinos. Heck, even if you’re kid-free, are you planning to take on any of the projects that we tackled for this space like ceiling painting, curtain making, dresser refinishing, closet organizing or shelf building? Do tell.
Psst- Wanna see our nursery progress from the very beginning? Here’s our painting post, our big shopping spree, our crib hunting rundown, our curtain-making tutorial, our fun little chair search, our mirror-painting extravaganza, our DIY faux sheepskin project, our big dresser makeover (and subsequent drawer lining project), our closet makeover, our homemade crib skirt undertaking, our DIY mobile, our shelf-building adventure and our art wall makeover. Oh the memories…
Jo says
Looks fab! You must be getting so excited. Good call on being overdue. Better to count on that than to think you’re going to have her arriving early and get frustrated at the waiting. If she does arrive on time it’ll be a bonus :)
Ashley @ The Design Thief says
You guys did an ah-mazing job! I love the room and you’ve inspired me to spice up my own daughter’s nursery. Did you guys have the whole space planned out before you began, or did you gather ideas as you went? Either way, you do great work and I know your little one will love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ashley,
We pretty much posted in real-time as we went, and our plan definitely evolved along the way. We had some pretty definite ideas from the get go (we wanted to refinish a double dresser, paint the walls green with a blue ceiling, add a curtain to the closet instead of a door, etc). But many things (from the floor plan to pretty much all of the accessories and smaller projects that we tackled) were brainstormed as the room started to take shape- and it was really fun to evolve the room as we went. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
shanna says
OMG stop it this instant! This room is so perfect! Perfect for a baby and perfect for a mommy. You’ll be spending so much time in that space, so it’s wonderful that it is a space that you will love to be in. Congrats guys! The nursery is absolutely adorable. And Sherry, you look fab! In the blink of an eye, your little one will be here – ready to sleep like a champion (here’s hoping …) in her own special space!
cece says
Beautiful room guys!!! Saw a few things we have in common…clothes, books, etc. What a great room to welcome a little girl. Looking forward to finally seeing pictures of her. Your life is about to change in such a wonderful way…excited for you both.
Teresa says
absolutely charming! this room is so sweet, but not too super babyish. love it and so will baby!
Julie says
The nursery is fantastic! You did such a wonderful job of giving the room both a relaxing and soothing quality and providing so much for your little one to gaze at. With only four more weeks to go now you have time to enjoy your last moments as a couple before entering into the greatest adventure of your lives – PARENTHOOD. Wishing you and your family the best in the coming months – cherish every moment.
suzanne says
WOW!! It is absolutely gorgeous! You did a fantastic job for an amazing price. Love the cheerful colours and all the great storage ideas. LOVE the shoes! Your Baby P is very lucky to have such a cool room and lucky to have such loving and thoughtful parents!
Jenny D. says
Sherry and John it’s beautiful! What a bright, yet peaceful space! I bet you spend a lot of time in there already. I know I would. I’ll be coming to you guys for a mood board for sure when we’re ready to take on a nursery!
Megan says
How adorable! Everything has really come together. You guys are SO inspiring and Baby P is just going to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her new space! Congratulations again and best wishes!
Kate says
I love love love it! It’s definitely the cutest, most organized, most cheerful nursery ever! And it’s also the least baby-ish, which is a major plus in my eyes!
Megan H says
absolutely gorgeous!
Hannah says
Amazing! What a warm and wonderful space. I love all of the thoughtful details and I love the dresser and the orbs above it. Congratulations!
TG says
Your nursery is sooo cute. Happy baby to you both!
Lisa says
You guys have done a fantastic job on your beans nursery. It looks so inviting and happy and those baby shoes are truly adorable. Must show this to hubby and get him all clucky about making a little bean of our own.
Simon says
Great job, guys! Always an inspiration to see your work!
Joy & Simon
Jordan says
Sooo incredibly sweet and adorable!! You two rocked it!!Great Job!!! any ideas where to find a great deal on other colored capiz chandy’s? Thanks!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jordan,
You might want to try ebay, amazon, or even just google around for “capiz light” or “capiz chandelier” plus the color you’d like (ex: “pink capiz chandelier”). We’ve also seen them for sale at beachy-ish stores, so if you’re ever on the coast they sometimes sell a few that look like long colorful wind chimes – but you could easily add a light kit to create your own chandy. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I ADORE the chandelier! So cute!
Ericka says
I am in awe – speechless! I LOVE it! You guys did a beautiful job! How I miss the tiny newborn days! :) You guys will see – it goes by so fast! So when you have your little girl in your arms, savor every moment!
I think baby shoes and clothes are equally as cute – I just can’t make up my mind!
joanne moy mcIntyre says
wow! <3 it… such a lovely space for the lil bean to grow up in :)
CONGRATS!
Meg says
Wow! Looks great! We find out tomorrow what we’re having…so I’m anxious to start putting together our nursery. Thanks for all the great ideas!
Charity says
Incredible, you guys. Baby P has the most enchanting room to welcome her into her new home. So happy for you :)
Loren says
Everything looks so sweet and well put together, you guys have done a great job.
You guys looks adorable in your photo (as always). Good luck with the baby!
P.S. Do we get any hints about baby names you’ve picked out?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Loren,
Baby P (aka: the beanette) actually doesn’t have a name yet. Of course we have a few favorite contenders but we want to meet her to see which one “fits” her best. It’s actually really fun to have a big surprise waiting for us at the end. Who will we be taking home? And will we still end up calling her the beanette regardless of the name we choose? Only time will tell!
xo,
s
Dominique says
Perfect in every way! Good job mama & papi!!
Robin Rooney says
The nursery looks amazing!! Your fresh color scheme and mixing and matching of furniture finishes and materials is so classy. I especially love how the room doesn’t scream “Hi, I’m a nursery!” and will be easy to adapt as Baby P gets older. Way to go and good luck to you on the home stretch!
Harper says
Perfect and absolutely gorgeous! The details are awesome – my favorites are the artwork arrangement and pink mobile.
Peyton says
Your nursery is amazing, you are both so talented!
Angela says
The nursery looks great! It has such a happy vibe to it!
Now I’m going to be THAT person. When are you going to start telling us about the other room you’ve hinted about working on?
P.S. My guess is the guest bedroom.
YoungHouseLove says
Patience my dear Angela. All will be revealed in a few short weeks. Pardon our snail’s pace but we always believe in taking a bit of a breather between big room makeovers (just to keep our sanity) while we build our savings account back up. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Sarah says
LOVE the nursery- LOVE the bump! We have a 6-month-old and are moving into our first house next week. I can’t wait to use your ideas! (In the nursery but also the rest of the house).
michelle @ design palate says
Beautifully done guys!
Beth says
This nursery is giving me a serious case of baby fever!! Aaagghh!
It’s gorgeous :-) Yall did a great job. And of course I love your resourcefullness, so inspiring.
Congratulations to you both!! Baby P is a blessed little girl!
Cate says
Okay, I admit: when you all first started your nursery makeover, I was skeptical. Okay, I hated it. But now…oh, it’s so adorable! Want to trade? ;-)
(Also, I’m sure you’re both sick of well-meaning advice by now, but I was poking around the internet this morning looking for gifts for my daughter’s upcoming first birthday and stumbled upon some adorable maple teethers on etsy. I thought you two might be interested since you’re big on eco-friendly items, and they’re SO cute! Plus, I know our daughter would rather gnaw on her wooden crib than plastic teething rings. ;-) )
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Cate! Sounds like something we’d love. Off to check them out…
xo,
s
Cheryl says
Inspirational as always! Love everything about it!!!
Corrie M. says
Definitely one of the most fun nurseries I have ever seen. Congrats to you both!
Brian & Corrie
Gloria says
What a beautiful nursery! Fantastic work, you two! The colors, the furniture, the little details all work so well to create the perfect space for Baby P! Looking forward to meeting her soon. Thanks for sharing all you do.
April Bryan says
What a calming and beautiful but fun room for the new baby. I love it!
Grace Hester Designs says
Sooo lovely! And thanks for giving us all the resources and step-by-step posts. I like that it’s got elements that are new and handmade and personalized. The way things were planned and laid out also feels like you could maintain it even after Baby is here.
And of course, thanks for the belly shot (since I was one of the many readers who asked for it). You look soooo cute and petite still! Hope everything’s going smooth and you’re feeling great. (Fatigue was my biggest “challenge” for both pregnancies).
Stacy Lapinel says
The only thing cuter than baby shoes and baby clothes is Baby P’s nursery!! Absolutely adorable, yet not too baby-ish, and still goes with the rest of your house. I am so in love with it that I want my own baby now! haha
Claire says
You have room for one more adult in there, right? I’ll take any space you have… a corner with a large pillow to sleep on will be fine! Seriously, that room is amazing. Its quite stunning to see it all together. You’ve revealed bit by bit over the last month or so but it is really exciting to see the final product.
I think baby clothes are the cutest- especially little tiny dresses. I always get excited when a friend has a baby girl because I LOOOOVE shopping for little girl clothes! I’m years off from having my own nursery to get together but I will definitely be revisiting these posts when it comes time to decorate for our own bean.
Kate @ Domesticating Kate says
Wow, that is fantastic!! I love how everything turned out – I think the wall with the shelves and the mobile is my favorite. I also love the sky blue ceiling.
That room looks super fun and cozy, and the best part is she’ll be able to grow into it because it’s not too baby-ish. It must be such a relief to be done with so much time to spare!
Kate
Meredith says
Everything looks great! I love all the small touches. Especially the table by the chair–so handy! I don’t know if you’re planning to nurse the beanette, but I was (am) always SO thirsty when I’m nursing!
Also, I’m curious about two more things–first, where are your baby leggings from? Around here I can only find them in 12 mo. or bigger! Boo.
Second, now that the lovely room is finished, are you guys planning to have the beanette sleep in there from day one, or will she have a temporary spot in your bedroom?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
Yup, I’m definitely planning to nurse and have heard all about the intense thirst that you mentioned from family and friends (which is why we love that side table for a place to rest a big glass of water). Glad that you think it’s a smart layout for us. As for the leggings, we were actually gifted a few pairs from Target of all places. One set is sort of a navy paisley design and the other is the cutest brown, pink, and lime green heart pattern. So cute! They’re actually sized for 3-6 months so while she can’t wear them right away they’re definitely smaller than 12mo. so hopefully that helps.
When it comes to the where Baby P will sleep, we actually counted how many steps are between our bedroom and our nursery and the grand total is 7 steps (from bedside to cribside) since they’re right across the hall from each other. So the plan is to place a moses basket right inside her crib (which we have heard can make her feel more cozy than a big empty crib) and walk those seven steps to get her throughout the night. We know many people keep their bambinos in the bedroom with them for a while, but ours is so small that the seven step plan seems like our best bet. Of course we’ll play it by ear though and see what happens…
xo,
s
Oonafey @ Little Pink Houses says
It looks amazing, but I would expect no less from you guys!
You look amazing as well Sherry! So excited for you.
valerie J. says
Fabulous as usual! Ya’ll do such a great job. The beanette will always have a stylish room I’d bet. And Sherry, you are one of those truly “cute” pregnant gals. At 36 weeks (I carried to 41wks) people were asking me if I was having twins or needed a chair to sit down and I couldn’t wear shoes. :) You’re doing great!
Sarah says
You guys did such a wonderful job!! Your little one is going to love it.
I have to say – I think baby shoes are potentially the cutest thing ever. Especially popular shoes like baby uggs and baby crocs!!
Well done – as usual!!
Sarah
p.s. Who has the tell Burger (who seems to be quite content on that ottoman) that the room isn’t for him? :)
YoungHouseLove says
So true Sarah! We keep saying that Burger thinks the room was created especially for him (he loves that ottoman, especially when the sun shines in and warms it from the window). We’re confident that he and Baby P are going to be best buddies though, so we love that he’s comfortable in her room (the vet actually recommended getting him familiar with the space so he doesn’t view it as a “hostile or scary and new environment”). Interesting, right?
xo,
s
Pam @ *Design Fanatic* says
You guys did a fabulous job! The budget was great too!!! My favorite things in there are the dresser & the three orb mobile! Wishing you all the best with the arrival of your baby.
Oh, & what a question! Who could chose between baby shoes & baby clothes for cuteness!!!
Julie says
The nursery looks great, guys! I especially love the two-tone paint — having the ceiling be something other than white is such a great idea, especially in a nursery. I may have to steal it when we have a little one on the way. Quick question, though: what are the dimensions of Beanette’s room? Everything seems to fit so well, so I’m wondering how much space you actually had to work with. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
Good question! The room is only 8′ x 10.5′ (yup, it’s the smallest room in the house except for the bathrooms). Thankfully things like a dresser that’s up on legs and small scale side tables and benches keep things feeling airy and not too heavy and overwhelming. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jannell says
Um… you two are AMAZING.
Katie says
My favorite part has to be those precious little shoes! So fun! And you are probably the cutest pregnant person ever!
Lindsey says
Best girl room ever! Good to be prepared. My little man decided to come a month early. I think he was just super excited to see his own awesome room. Good luck!
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
What you’ve done with that color palette is nothing short of remarkable! They entire room is truly gorgeous and Baby P is already so blessed! Best of luck to you!
Cheryl says
This rooms just oozes love. Baby P already seems very much “here”! Blessings all around . . .