Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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How To Make A Nursery Mobile

Wanna see a pregnant lady in a crib? Boom, there it is.

Mobile1

Yes, this is a story all about how my life got twist turned upside down I made our little man a mobile. It’s kinda rustic (it’s made from a manzanita branch) and kinda modern (there are fun circles in a bunch of colors and sizes that hang down at different lengths) and most of all it makes me smile. Is it weird that hanging this actually made me feel more ready to have the little guy in my arms? Like “OK, the mobile’s up – now the baby party can start.”

Mobile11

Much like the mobile I made for Clara’s room (that one was comprised of little floral orbs made from wire, faux flowers, and glue)…

Nursery Mobile Detail

… this one was pretty simple to put together. Clara even helped!

Mobile10

First I dragged my decorative manzanita branch out of the storage room (what? everyone doesn’t have a decorative manzanita branch standing by? well, that needs to be remedied). It was sold by West Elm a few years ago, so it has been bleached and debarked and it’s nice and solid – so there’s no worry of anything flaking off like old bark and falling into the crib. I thought leaving it this raw color would be a nice counterpart to the colorful round disks I wanted to add. As for the dangly strands, I had two paper banners from Target that I picked up for $2.18 on clearance a few months ago without any earthly idea of what I’d eventually use them for.

Mobile3

Once the mobile idea popped into my head, well, they seemed perfect. Except of course they were colors/patterns that didn’t really fit into the nursery scheme thus far. But it wasn’t anything a little craft paint couldn’t solve. So I laid them out on a few old cereal boxes from our recycling bin and Clara had fun helping me paint them. They needed two coats to cover those patterns underneath, but it was pretty easy to get done – even with a wiggly three year old assistant. Mostly it was one of those we-both-hold-the-brush-so-we-don’t-get-paint-all-over-the-strings projects, but she has a lot of pride over the mobile she made for “her baby” and it was a fun thing to do with her.

Mobile4

While those freshly painted circles were drying, I realized they probably wouldn’t be enough to fill out the entire branch (even if I snipped them into smaller 25″ strands). So I broke out some white embroidery floss and decorative paper. Using a few round items around the house I traced multiple versions of three similarly sized circles to the ones in the pre-made banners onto craft paper in similar colors to the paint I used. For the smallest circles I used the base of the craft paint that was still out on the table, the middle ones were from tracing the bottom of another slightly larger bottle I had, and the biggest circles were from the base of a small cup. Then I just cut them out, making sure I had an even number of each.

Mobile5

The even number was important since I used them to sandwich my white embroidery string with some Aleen’s Tacky Glue. Just pressing them together over the string after dabbing them with some glue dots seemed to do the trick, and I spaced them by eye, using the spacing of the Target banners as my guide (those were around two inches apart).

Mobile6

I made each strand around 25″ long, just like the pre-made banners that I had snipped apart to make sections of that length. When everything was dry, it was time to tie them firmly onto the branch at different increments for a nice dangly effect. I hung the branch over the back of two chairs so there was room for my strands to dangle while I tied them on, and I just randomly spaced them so they were all slightly different widths from each other.

Mobile7

At this point Clara was over the project and happily putting stickers on the window nearby (that’s a really nice look from the curb, by the way), but Burger did mosey on over for a peek as I went.

Mobile8

On the topic of hanging things over a crib, we’re definitely paranoid with a side of neurotic. For example, in Clara’s nursery we hung a mirror over her crib, but we actually drilled directly through the frame in multiple places to secure that thing to the wall so tightly that even John couldn’t yank it off the wall – even though it was out of Clara’s actual reach.

So although this mobile weighs a fraction of a pound, we relied on three heavy duty brass plated plant hooks (they each support 10+ lbs and have extra long screws so we could be sure they were either hitting a ceiling beam – two of them did – or a heavy duty anchor that we added) along with extra strong fishing wire that’s almost invisible, so it looks like it’s floating. We just knotted the fishing wire to the branch in three spots that needed some support (both ends and the triangular middle branch area) and connected them to the plant hooks that we secured to the ceiling, directly above those points. And that’s how this pregnant lady found herself chilling in a crib.

Mobile1

I really loved this way of hanging it since it’ll always be out of baby’s reach (this method makes it really easy raise if we ever think it’s within grabbing distance – although once the baby is more mobile we’ll drop the mattress so it’ll be even further away).

Mobile9

It’s amazing how much sweeter the crib feels now. Like it’s saying “bring on the baby!”

Mobile2

Once we got it hanging there was a split second where I wished it was a little bigger, just to fill up that wall more, but it’s almost three feet wide and around 16″ deep and 25″ long, so if it was any bigger the function of it might hinder us since it’s a real-life 3-D object that’s hanging there (we feared we’d hit our heads on it every time we leaned into the crib if it were much bigger). So after staring at it for a while I’ve come to peace with its size.

Mobile15

John actually ordered two samples of Spoonflower wallpaper that he thinks could be fun to further fill out that wall between the built-ins (a complete surprise to me!) so maybe we’ll end up layering in some sort of interesting color or backdrop behind the mobile. It takes 12 business days to arrive, so I can’t wait to get it. Might be a total “nope that would look crazy” moment, or something that we’re both enamored with, so we’ll keep you posted. We’ve also talked about some sort of accent color with paint, just between those two built-ins, so we’re definitely open to seeing where this thing goes.

Either way, it’s pretty cool to see a room that used to look like this…

Nursery Before

… looking more like this these days.

Mobile14

As for what’s left on the list in here, there are just a few outstanding items.

  • possibly tweak the wall behind the crib with wallpaper or some sort of accent color
  • add an overhead light on a dimmer (nothing’s there at all right now)
  • redo the closet for little clothes (paint it, add a second hanging bar or some cubby storage, etc)
  • finishing touches (some other small art/accessories, etc)
  • just add baby

It’s nice to be in the home stretch! Both for this pregnancy (I’m still having morning sickness at 33 weeks) and for the room. Most of all we’re just excited to meet the little guy who’s doing the macarena in my tummy right now. I think he’s a very good dancer.

Oh and since a few readers have passed along an awesome tip about making sure to look at a mobile from below to check that it’s interesting from that point of view, here’s what the bun will see when he glances up. Little spinning slices of color and a nice branchy background. Although I don’t think his eyes will focus that high up for a little while…

Mobile 12

I contemplated adding something facing him to the bottom of each strand (ex: a small animal-shaped piece of paper that would look flat from the side, but read easily from his in-the-crib perspective) but since his bedding has elephants marching all over it, I wondered if it might be more soothing to just see some dancing disks. We’re definitely open to evolving this little creation as he grows though. So if he’s really into some sort of creature (remember how much Clara got into worms and dragons?) I can work those in later. Just don’t want to stimulate him too much since it’s a spot for sleep.

And just because it might be more fun to see a grown man lying in a crib than a pregnant lady standing in one, there’s this:

Mobile1

Is anyone else making mobiles? Or putting the last few touches on a different room that you’ve been working on? What about hanging out in cribs? I’m telling you, it’s kind of a good time.

Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button: 

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Comments

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Lisa! It’s from Joss & Main a few years back. It used to live in our kitchen across from the fireplace, and then was in the corner of our office when we moved, but it wasn’t getting much use there.

      xo
      s

    • Deena says

      I’ve been meaning to leave a reply to someone asking this, because I saw this chair’s Swedish cousin at IKEA last weekend! It’s the Strandmon. Hope this helps the 100s of people looking for a chair like this!

  4. Kelly says

    This room is looking SO good! Playful but sophisticated! Fun but not too themey! LOVE it!

    Will you be putting a small table or something similar near the chair? I always found it so convenient to have a place to set a glass of water or my Kindle while baby and I were settled into the chair!

    Reply

  6. Laura @ Rather Square says

    This turned out so sweet! We have something similar for our toddler – her aunt and cousins made a mobile out of painted branches with owl cutouts hanging from them. It’s a fun way to bring nature into a nursery.

    Reply

  8. Heidi says

    Absolutely adorable! And I really do appreciate the details you provided of how you made sure this mobile is sturdy. I just had a friend who freaked out on the topic of “over the crib mobiles” and I’ll be completely honest I never even thought of them as a problem before then. Just one more thing us child-free peeps have never thought about before!

    http://jax-and-jewels.blogspot.com

    Reply

  10. Kate says

    Cute!

    I’d be terrified to climb into my daughter’s crib. I know it’s solid, but I’d be really scared that I’d break it!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I felt the same way! I have so many friends who climb in and snuggle/read to their kids (cut to me saying “wait, you get in the crib?!”) so I tried to keep that in mind and think ginger thoughts. Ha! It actually felt really sturdy when I was in there – just like the wood slats + mattress configuration on a larger sized bed.

      xo
      s

    • Julia [Chris Loves Julia] says

      We have so many pictures of Chris in Greta’s crib with her reading. It’s hilarious (because he’s 6’4″) but the crib is still going strong. Haha. (Also, love this mobile and am trying not to be too jealous that your nursery is so near completion. ;) )

    • YoungHouseLove says

      That’s amazing! I think it’s just that you think in your head “these are made for babies” but they have that same wood slat + mattress thing going on that real beds have, so they feel surprisingly sturdy!

      xo
      s

    • Crystal says

      Never got in the crib but we made our toddler bed (using 1x3s for slats) and after a couple of years I still sit/lay on it very slowly/carefully for free of breaking it!

      I love the mobile. Very cute.

    • Megan says

      My sister in law has the same crib from Walmart and it does not have wood slats– it’s wire. Did you guys modify yours? I like that idea since wooden slats are probably much more durable! :)

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we kept the wire base but we added wood slats that sit just below the mattress, because our AngelCare monitor called for a “rigid wood base” (we didn’t want to use thinner stuff like plywood since there are glues in it that can offgas). I can share a picture for you guys if you’d like. They’re just thick wood boards that fill the entire base under the mattress, so it’s more sturdy and rigid. I guess the Angelcare monitor just can’t sit on the metal spring pad since it’s not solid?

      Update: just ran upstairs and snapped a pic for you guys, so here ya go (the slat on the back says “Clara’s crib” since we labeled them when we moved).

      xo
      s

    • Megan says

      That’s awesome! I’ll share that info with her– I never knew that was an option. Thanks for sharing! :)

    • rachel says

      Structurally, a bed that is originally constructed with wooden slats is completely different from a crib with a metal/wire mattress support system with boards laid on top of it.

      In the video you posted of the assembly process several years ago (https://www.younghouselove.com/nursery-progress-crib-notes/), it appears that the wire frame is connected to the sides of the crib in just four places. Those four connectors (I couldn’t see them to know what they are specifically) are bearing the full weight of the metal frame, the three boards you added, the mattress, and a full-grown adult when you climbed in.

      For people who try to be extra cautious about making sure things are safe, climbing into a crib, especially while pregnant, seems reckless.

      Why not just take a moment to move the crib away from the wall to avoid damaging the crib or injuring yourself and your unborn child? As you often say, safety first!

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Even when pregnant, I weigh less than John does, and he has been in the crib countless times (he used to jokingly curl up with Clara in there – kind of like Julia’s husband mentioned above). You’re right that it wouldn’t have taken a minute to move the crib, we just didn’t think it was necessary or dangerous as it has stood up to a lot more weight. Thankfully no cribs or pregnant ladies were harmed in the hanging of this mobile ;)

      xo
      s

  12. Michelle says

    I absolutely love it! My vote is to leave that wall as is. The mobile pops so nicely off it. Of course, maybe my mind will change once we see the wallpaper options. Congratulations on your little bundle to come.

    Reply

  14. theresa a. says

    love it! i definitely vote yes on a colored accent wall or wallpaper, can’t wait to see those swatches! this room is so sweet and you guys have pulled it together amazingly as always. we just got our cribs we ordered for twins coming in august! so our nursery is very much in that empty room-needs paint plus everything else stage, but can’t wait to get started on it! :)

    Reply

  16. Rachel says

    Hmmmm I am curious! What’s on the 4th wall of the nursery? One wall has the crib and bookcases, the other wall has the window and chair/ottoman, the third wall has the bike frames and changing table… what’s on wall #4? :) (It feels almost like a game show to me!)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We still want to hang some art or something there, but right now there’s the doorway on the left side as you face it and the end of the built-ins are on the right with about 4′ of space between the door and the built-ins. So we’re not sure what we’ll put there, but we’ll keep you posted!

      xo
      s

    • Evelina says

      I’m so glad someone asked that! I have been wondering that myself but never thought to actually ask lol. I’m excired for that wall!!! John-shelves?
      Also, I think the pictures of you two in the crib are my favourite of all time! The mobile is incredbs.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We don’t know if shelves right there next to the built-ins will be too much, so we’re still pondering. Will definitely share pics and deets if we figure something out though!

      xo
      s

    • sheila f says

      How about a growth chart on the 4th wall? Sherry coul design and paint something and add to it as the Barnacle grows.

  17. lauren says

    Looks great! Were you guys still planning to add sconces to the sides of the built-ins to flank the crib? I feel like I saw a photoshop rendering with those included… I love the idea, but maybe you guys ruled it out for practicality purposes…

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah, I think now we’re leaning towards just getting an overhead light on a dimmer and adding something fun like accordion sconces on that wall between the built-ins once the crib gets upgraded to a bed down the line. That way he’ll have reading lamps.

      xo
      s

  19. Alexis says

    This is great! I too was a pregnant lady in a crib, except I was hanging a collection of picture frames (I just can’t trust my husband to hang things straight).

    Reply

  21. jeannette says

    the rug and the chartreuse and the teal are just making my heart sing, i know the barnacle is dancing in anticipation. love to all.

    Reply

  22. Janelle @ Two Cups of Happy says

    It’s really coming along!! I love the idea of adding some colour between the built-ins. I know you already have some contenders, but I think a saturated/dark colour could look really nice – like navy or dark teal. PS – your baby is coming into a home with SO much love. I can tell :)

    Reply

    • Michelle M says

      Oooo I was thinking navy too! Then I dismissed it as too dark for baby. Then I saw you said it too and got excited – I think it would still pop the mobile (maybe even better than the current gray does…) and provide an accent. Hmmmm love this idea!

  25. Karyn says

    Barnacle’s nursery is looking so wonderful!! I love the colours you guys have chosen and may use this as inspiration for my baby boy’s nursery (I’m due mid-July).

    Quick question, where is the blanket on the edge of the crib from (please be somewhere that has retail in Canada, please be somewhere that has retail in Canada…)? I love the pop of navy (and I think red too?) in with the bright greens!

    Reply

    • Karyn says

      Nuts just looked them up online (www.bellatunno.com for anyone else who’s interested) and they don’t ship internationally :(.

    • Karyn says

      I think I’ll end up just picking up some fabric and pulling out my “Oh Brother” sewing machine to make my own or maybe I’ll pick up some yarn and knit or crochet one.

      Hmmmm… decisions, decisions…

    • Paula says

      Karyn, you can google around and find companies that will provide you with an American address, then onship to you. There’s a fee, not sure how much, but you can use them for anything which can’t be shipped internationally. I have a sister in the US who provides the same service to me, but lots of people I know Downunder use these services. Good luck.

    • Jess says

      USE RESHIP!

      I live in Canada and while I haven’t personally used it, a friend has countless times, and I’ve even split orders with her and things came pretty quickly!

      xo

  26. Lauren says

    A long mirror on the wall behind the crib also popped to mind. It would add interest without detracting from that ammaaaaaaaazing mobile. It would even reflect it, and really the only thing better than one manzanita mobile is TWO manzanita mobiles.

    That photo of John also warranted a coffee-in-the-nose snort laugh!

    Reply

  27. Kate says

    Well… you’ve officially sold me on that crib!

    We’re expecting our first baby in July and have already been eyeing that exact crib because I love all the different features, how it looks in your house and the price is awesome.

    But seeing two grown adults in that thing… clearly its well made! Sold. : )

    Love your nursery. Looks awesome! Also, side note – did you know not only is this the ‘Year of the Horse’ but this year the specific color is ‘green’ and the element is ‘wood’?! Looks like that room is perfect for him! I’m having a girl, but have also been unconsciously attracted to lots of green and wood elements for her. Too funny!

    Reply

  28. leah says

    Looks great! I recently made a mobile for our little guy who arrived in January. I used patterned scrap book paper and cut them out in circles too…so easy and our 4 year old could help too!

    Hope that morning sickness goes away soon!

    Reply

  30. Nicole says

    You have probably answered this before, but where are those curtains from? I’ve been slow to reading the blog….with all the snow i’ve been shoveling the past few weeks. How long are the curtains too! I just love the color and how it really does bring life to the room! LOOVE LOOVE LOOVE

    Reply

  31. Heather says

    Hey!

    Just wondering if you were going to make those curtains “blackout” strength? Any concerns about the barnacle not being able to sleep once the sun is up?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We have light-blocking faux wood blinds on all of the upstairs windows, so we typically just close those instead of the curtains. Although I might add some blackout panels to the back of these panels like we did in Clara’s room if this guy ends up loving total darkness like her. Will keep you posted!

      xo
      s

  33. Jennifer R. says

    I have to say, when you made the curtains I just didn’t “get” it. They looked really out of place to me. Now with the mobile everything feels so much more balanced. I love the varying shades of fun green!

    The mobile looks awesome!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks so much Jennifer! I think that’s one of the biggest challenges of just sharing projects as we go, since sometimes folks are like “what is happening in there?” when we’re only on project four out of twelve, and we’re trying to wink and say “we have a plan I promise” but it’s hard to wink via the internet, and even harder to crack open our brains and share the whole vision at that strange half-baked mid-point, so we just cross our fingers and hope it comes together at some point!

      xo
      s

  35. Lil says

    Just wanted to pop in and say I love the the little mans room! It has so much character, but you can see how easy it would be to change it up with different colors, etc. Nicely done. I’m curious to see the wallpaper idea…it looks so nice as it is.

    Reply

  36. Jenna says

    So cute! I hear you on the morning sickness. I was SOOO sick. It was terrible(I lost 30 lbs while pregnant though! Bonus!). But, I just wanted to mention that I ended up having to get my gallbladder removed after my pregnancy (and believe me, I would rather have a baby every day than another gallbladder attack!) Just mentioning it because it may be something that is causing your issues with morning sickness too.

    Reply

    • Michelle M says

      Ooof. Well, if baby-having is less painful than gallbladder attack “omg I’m dying” pain… that’s great! I survived gallbladder attacks for 2 years because doctors thought I was too young to have gallbladder issues. The WORST pain. Once I ended up vomitting from pain alone. Thanks for making me less scared to someday have a baby!

    • Meaghan says

      Oh man! I second that. I had my gall bladder out today. Gall bladder attacks were worse than having a baby. And my little one weighed over 10 pounds when she was born! Baby over gall bladder any day.

  37. Katie says

    I love it! But in all honesty…my first thought was, “wow..a crib will hold an adult’s weight?”

    You look beautiful, Sherry! I know you can’t wait to meet Barnicle…baby boys are awesome! (Says this mom of a 10-month old boy.)

    Reply

  42. Katie B says

    Looks fantastic! The mobile seems to draw all the rooms greens together somehow!!

    So approximately how many times a day do you find yourself wandering in this room.. Thinking about that little boy!?! I remember doing this so much as I got closer and my rooms weren’t near as beautiful as this! Just felt good to feel ready for them!

    Reply

  43. Toni from says

    You guys are adorable, but please don’t stand on anything off the ground for awhile. You kind of made my heart leap up in my throat for a minute. That being said, I know you were careful and Jon was probably right there the entire time.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It actually is the same crib but we added wood slats to ours under the mattress before Clara was born in order for our Angelcare monitor to work. It needed “a rigid wood surface” underneath it, so it couldn’t be placed on the springs, so we used long thick slats of wood to create that base. I can share a picture if you’d like to see it :)

      Update: just ran upstairs and snapped a pic, so here ya go (the slat on the back says “Clara’s crib” since we labeled them when we moved).

      xo
      s

    • K says

      Im sorry. Wood slats? Did you guys install wood slats when I was sleeping because I thought they were wire when you posted pics of the crib skirt…. Maybe Im dreaming though. So nitpicky, I know.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, we added wood slats since our Angelcare monitor required them. It had to sit on “a solid wood surface” (couldn’t be placed on that metal spring thing) so we just added wide wood boards that run end to end. You see the wire base thing in the photos of the crib skirts (both the one we made for Clara and the bun) because we removed the mattress and the wood slats so I could access the wire thing under it for the velcro. Then the wood slats drop right in over that and the mattress sits on that. I can share a picture if you guys would like :)

      Update: just ran upstairs and snapped a pic for you guys, so here ya go (the slat on the back says “Clara’s crib” since we labeled them when we moved).

      xo
      s

  45. Christina S says

    Loving the blue and green in the room. What a fun pairing and not going down the usual route of pastels! Get with your bestie Bower on that back wall- both her boys rooms have such interesting walls in their rooms! So excited for you and her and your baby boys!

    Reply

  46. Emily Williams says

    Love the mobile!! His room has come together so nicely! I may have missed this, but did you guys decide against doing sconce lighting on the sides of the built-ins?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yeah, I think now we’re leaning towards just getting an overhead light on a dimmer and adding something fun like accordion sconces on that wall between the built-ins once the crib gets upgraded to a bed down the line. That way he’ll have reading lamps.

      xo
      s

  47. Allison says

    We registered for a colorful, origami-ish mobile, but now I’m thinking I should make this a personal project. We are finishing up a very eclectic nursery that has no theme except things we love and COLOR! The ladies I work with just can’t understand why I don’t have a “theme”!

    I’m sorry you’re still sick; truly, I understand. I’m at 27 weeks with a girl, and it just won’t pass. The kicking and dancing do help, though!

    Reply

    • Lindsay says

      Hah – Allison, we have the same nursery theme. Things we love and COLORS!! Don’t let the ladies you work with convince you that’s not an acceptable theme! :)

      And I’m with you on the sickness too, unfortunately, at 32 weeks. Just when I can go a whole day without taking my prescription medicine, the next day turns out awful. bleh. I’m looking forward to having this little girl for so many reasons it’s not even funny, but some days I must admit that “no more sickness” tops the list.

    • Amanda says

      Have you guys tried going dairy free? I suffered through 2 pregnancies before I figured out that dairy products were causing me to get sick.

  48. Elizabeth says

    LOVE how the mobile ties it together. He will love looking at all the colors. We are looking for a chair that is not enormous and footstool as well and I love your idea with the small “footstool” – where did the chair come from? I bet with your creativity you found it in a 2nd hand store. If not, I’d love to hear where.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      It was from Joss & Main a while back! It used to live in the corner of our kitchen, but then when we moved it was sitting in the office not really being used.

      xo
      s

  49. Crystal says

    Love it! You are doing so much better than I am at the being ready for baby thing right now! Combining two kids stuff into one room is quite the experience!

    Reply

  50. Gabrielle says

    If the wall paper turns out to be to busy you could try a single wide horizontal stripe. Something like this, but I’d image a bit wider: http://manolohome.com/2010/12/02/does-the-single-stripe-really-work/

    OR you could do a wall of monochromatic stripes just behind the crib with one stripe thats your accent color like green or blue-green kinda like this: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/163888873914233770/

    Whatever you go with I know it will look wonderful in the space. :-)

    Reply

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