Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Planning Our Little Boy’s Nursery

Yeaaaaaah, baby – it’s nursery time! Pun most definitely intended. The last time we shared a shot of this room (in this post) it was looking like this. Totally newborn ready, right?

Nursery Now

We started on Clara’s nursery in February and she was born in May, so it felt right to get moving in there now that it’s January (since the barnacle is due in April). We’ve had so many ideas swirling around in our brains for the last month after finding out we were having a boy, that waiting a hot second before running in there and going to town has been nice because the projects and ideas that we truly love have had a little time to float to the top.

We’re leaning towards using bold green along with graphic black & white (although we’re sure almost every color of the rainbow will end up in there in small doses) and we’d also love some natural elements (wood furniture, woven baskets, bamboo blinds, etc). As for the mustache doll, Clara picked one out for her brother at a craft sale we went to recently, so he’s just in there for fun, along with the same green alligator toy that Clara played with as a baby.

Nursery Ideas

The whole green accent color idea actually came from the bike prints that John framed in rustic homemade wood frames for our last house’s sunroom. Here’s a detail shot of those awesome rich-wood frames…

Bikes 11 After Frame Close

… and here’s my favorite shot from that post. For obvious reasons.

Bikes 12 Makeout

We think they’ll make for awesome large scale art in the nursery, and from there we can layer in things like a black and white striped bench, a neutral rug, bamboo blinds, built-ins to flank the crib that are spaced to accommodate a twin sized bed in between them (longwise) – or even a full-sized bed (widthwise) for when the barnacle is older and no longer chilling in a crib like a villain angel.

So our starting point for the room is definitely that bike art, but our first purchase for the room actually snuck up on us. We were in HomeGoods and saw this big 100% wool rug, and something about it just had us at hello.

Rug In Store

Even Clara was smitten.

Rug With Clara

Within five minutes we were checking out with it and stuffing it into the car. It’s an 8 x 10′ 100% wool Martha Stewart rug by Safavieh and it retails for $800 but it was marked down to $399. We liked that it was soft (not scratchy) and had a cool pattern on it that was somewhat subtle (so it won’t compete with other bolder patterns, like a thick black and white stripe on something, for example).

But the room was hardly rug ready, so we had some cleaning up to do when we got home with it. After we put all that stuff where it really should go (either in other closets/rooms/or the storage room) it looked a lot better – and we were able to take our traditional “us in the room before we start on it” photo.

Us In Room Final

We did one of them in Clara’s nursery before we started on that back in 2010 (apparently I automatically pop up onto my tip-toes whenever I’m in a picture next to tall John).

Nursery Paint Before Pic

And then we snapped this one when we were done, so we’re planning to do that in the nursery here as well. It was fun to compare how my bump changed after three months, and sort of hilarious that I “popped early” and just seemed to stay that big – well I grew a little more – in the last trimester).

Nursery Belly Pic2

Here’s the nursery now with the rug in it. It’s looking pretty big here since it’s shoved up against that side and back wall, but we think once we center it and load in the room it’ll hopefully be great.

Rug In Room

We’re loving everything from the tone-on-tone pattern to the nice wool feeling underfoot. Just ignore those unpainted walls and that half-constructed crib…

Crib Angle

Rug close up. Hubba hubba.

Rug Detail

So there’s still lots to do, but it’s progress! We’re sure our to-do list will continue to evolve as we go, but here’s a first-thought brain dump for ya:

  • clean out the room
  • paint the walls and ceiling
  • address the window (bamboo blinds + blackout curtains?)
  • get a rug
  • add built-ins to each end of the long wall so the crib (and a future bed) can nestle between them
  • add sconces to the sides of the built-ins
  • create some sort of slatted or trimmed out wall between the built-ins for interest?
  • get the ceiling wired for an overhead light fixture (none of the upstairs bedrooms have them)
  • find an armchair for all that late night nursing
  • redo the closet for little clothes (paint it, add a second hanging bar, cubby storage, etc)
  • maybe even paint the closet door a fun color like Clara’s?
  • add chunky crown molding
  • bring in a dresser/changing table (we’re 80% sure we’ll use the wooden hand-me-down from John’s dad that’s currently in our closet)
  • build custom shelves (since John did this for Clara, he’d like for this to be a tradition)
  • make a woodsy little cuckoo clock (since I made one for Clara, I’d like to make a charming little rustic one for the bun as well)
  • make a mobile
  • hang art (at least one or two prints will have a sea-faring reference, thanks to Clara’s baby boy nickname of “The Barnacle”)

We’re planning to document this nursery’s evolution exactly the same way that we did Clara’s: in real time as we go. We created hers over the course of three months and 17 posts (cleaning the room, painting the walls/ceiling, going shopping, crib hunting, adding curtains/blinds, getting a crib, painting & hanging a mirror, finding a chair, making a faux sheepskin, refinishing her dresser, adding drawer liners, organizing her closet, making a crib skirt, making a mobile, building nursery shelves, adding art, and sharing the full reveal when it was 100% bean-ready).

Clara Grid

So while we expect that many of the steps that we take will change this time (we don’t need a crib, but we want to add built-ins), it’s safe to assume that over the course of the next three months, we’ll probably share one or two updates a week as we go (along with progress in other rooms, showhouse updates, etc). We have a few loftier goals for this space (like built-ins, sconces, and chunky crown) so it might be down to the wire, but no matter what we hope to be done by mid April.

Oh man, it’s pretty crazy to think that in a few short months we’ll be a family of five (Burger counts!) with a former junk-room-turned-functional-bedroom for our littlest family member. I’m all grinny and hyper over here. Is anyone else working on a nursery? Do you have a big ol’ to-do list and a permasmile on your face? Or do you have memories of creating a bedroom for your little one that you’d like to share? I can’t get enough of that stuff.

Comments

  1. Ashley says

    Ahh, I can’t wait to see how this comes out! I’m 13 weeks along with our first baby, and I’m patiently (ahem…or not…) waiting to find out what we’ll be having so I can finally jump into putting a nursery together. So exciting! And can I just say, I had never been to a Home Goods until last year and oh my gosh. I’m in love! It’s my happy place. :)

    Reply

  2. Meredith says

    Where did you purchase the bike print from? I apologize if you’ve already answered this for someone else :-)

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      If you click through to that post there are more details, but those prints were actually on display at The Gap and we begged for them when they were done with them!

      xo
      s

    • YoungHouseLove says

      You’re so sweet Sarah! I think it’s more like “we go to stores ten million times and only blog when we find something cool, so our 5% success rate is pretty average” – haha!

      xo
      s

  4. Gabi says

    Not sure if you’ve got something in mind but i have a 4 year old and 7 week old (both boys) and recently bought the ikea strandmon chair as a feeding chair for the nursery and LOVE it!

    http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90251659/

    so comfy and if i wiggl to the side i can reast my weary head on those wings in nighttime feeds. It’s good for reading stories in too so will get used a lot as the boys grow up i hope. Congrats- 4 year gap is the bees knees!

    Reply

  5. Erin says

    I’m so excited for you two! I have two young boys myself, one three and the other 6 months, and decorating their rooms has been so much fun. I just know I’m going to fall in love with anything that you guys create for your little one. Heck, I already adore that rug…it’s been awhile since I’ve been to HomeGoods…hmmm…may need to go this weekend!

    Reply

  6. Beth says

    We’ll be working on our first nursery in a few months for baby #1! We won’t find out until April if it’s a boy or a girl, but I am so excited to follow along with you in your nursery transformation!

    Reply

  8. Angela says

    I love it! That rug is amazing, such great texture! I’m loving following your progress. After reading your project list, I think I’ll take a nap.

    Reply

  10. Sally says

    I love, love, love the rug, and the plans you have for the nursery. You guys are great at adding such personal touches to a room to make it so special:) I can’t wait to see the finished product!

    Reply

  11. Rachael says

    With 30 days till our second pops out, we are almost done with his nursery!! Last step…. two new windows to replace the old beach house originals that dont even open! Get to work :) because for some reason the second pregnancy goes by in a flash! Now…. what to name him is the next step! Yikes!!!

    Reply

  12. Deepika says

    I read your blog everyday but this is my first comment.
    The color scheme reminded me of the safari nursery episode of Sarah 101.

    Reply

  14. Ingrid says

    I am also due at the end of April and I use a lot of the posts from Clara’s nursery as inspiration for what to do in our nursery, since this is our first baby. We didn’t find out if we were having a boy or a girl though (I want the surprise!) and that makes decorating somewhat challenging. I LOVE color – but I don’t want to make things overtly feminine or masculine, although I do find that blue isn’t just for boys anymore and pink and purple aren’t only for girls.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah, we did blue and green for Clara’s nursery and are leaning towards a bolder green with wood tones and black & white for this one, which seems like it could be for a boy or a girl as well! Yellow or orange work too as total either-gender colors I think! All the best with everything, Ingrid!

      xo
      s

  15. Chris says

    Love your blog! The nursery making looks like so much fun!! Your talk of bamboo blinds made me think of a question. Someone once told me that if you put blinds on windows, they should all “match” from the outside of the house, on the same side of the house. For instance, on the side of your house facing the street, if you use bamboo blinds on one window that faces the street, then you should not use a different kind of blind (like white wood slat blinds or something) on any of the other windows facing the street. That kinda makes sense, but at the same time can make things a bit boring from the inside. Would be curious to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks!!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Totally makes sense! We installed slatted wood blinds on each window of our house on the second floor when we moved in for light control and privacy, so I think we’d leave those all in place and might just add a woven bamboo shade (outside mounted) over the blind in that room (there’s just one window) which I hope wouldn’t be very visible from the street since it’s behind it from the outside.

      xo
      s

  16. Jess @One English Teacher says

    I can’t wait to see how these colors come together; I think they are spectacular and love how they can easily grow with the barnacle. Oh, the promise of bold graphic effects…I’m looking forward to seeing follow up posts.

    Reply

  20. kelly bunster says

    what are your thoughts on rugs over carpet? we’re moving into a home with carpet upstairs and wondering if I should put rugs in the bedrooms or if that’s overkill. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

    Reply

  22. Susan Fay says

    LOVE the rug! I have a question about your beautiful hardwood floors (which make any rug in your home look good). Were they in the house when you guys bought it? If not did you re-finish them? It seems like both your current and 2nd house had beautiful floors (don’t remember the 1st one). I just love the dark warm color of your wood floors…makes everything pop and shine. I have pre-finished light wood floors throughout which I don’t like so I am in total wood-floor-envy mode!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thank Susan! We laid all of those hardwood floors upstairs ourselves (there was carpeting throughout the second floor). It was a BEAR of a project (more on that here) but we were so glad to do it right before we moved in (I think we finished about 24 hours before moving day, haha).

      xo
      s

  24. Sarah says

    Would you ever paint the walls one color, the ceiling another and then the closet door a completely different color or is that way too crazy? Looking forward to seeing what y’all do!

    Reply

  25. tara e says

    I’m so excited to follow along!! I love watching you guys transform spaces :) White, black, charcoal, and pops of green was the color scheme I wanted to use if we had a boy. Instead I got to use corals, golds, and white so I’ll just envy your nursery from afar :)

    Reply

  26. Stacy Nelson says

    Could you tell me the interior dimensions of your crib? I’ve searched far and wide for a crib that has storage and on which all the sides are the same height (I’m notorious for running into stationary objects, and all the cribs with pointy corners make me cringe because I know I would be one giant bruise), and yours is the only one I’ve found that is also all wood and non-toxic. Sold! Problem is, we already have a mattress, which is organic and was rather expensive (were given a hand me down crib, but decided I wanted a new one because the other has drop sides), so I want to make sure our mattress will fit in the crib. Did you guys have the problems with bolts sticking out like some of the reviews have said? Thanks much, and can’t wait to see how the nursery turns out!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We never had any issues with bolts or anything, and our mattress is organic as well (Savvy Baby by Savvy Rest) but it slips right in. I’d measure it for ya, but it’s currently not even assembled :)

      xo
      s

  27. Lora says

    I adore the rug! Any chance there was more info on the tag in addition to Safavieh / Martha Stewart? It would look great in our bedroom / nursery combo. Thanks!

    Reply

  28. Joseph says

    That’s funny, we were just at Home Goods on Sunday and I commented on the size of that monstrous brown/tan rug behind Clara. Where would you put something that huge?! (not to mention ugly)

    You guys must have beat us there because I don’t remember seeing your rug. It’s very cool.

    Reply

  29. Kelly says

    We’re due in May and we just started demo for our entire 2nd floor (master, bath, and nursery). I would love to see tips on which aspects Sherry is able to help with. So far I’ve just worked on wallpaper removal and painting while hubby did the heavy lifting.

    Reply

  31. BrookeEllen says

    You may want to check out LucyDarlingPrints on Etsy. They have some super sweet cactus prints that might be cool with your black/white/green color scheme. Pretty much all of their prints are adorable.

    Reply

  33. Sarah C. says

    The nearest Homegoods is 40 miles away, and it makes my heart hurt how much I miss having one close! I am emerald green with envy over that rug. If we had been in the store at the same time, I would have insisted we arm wrestle over its ownership. Loooooove it!

    Reply

  35. Amanda says

    I LOVE your inspiration and that rug is absolutely perfect! Can’t wait to watch your nursery evolve! We’ve only got one or two very minor things left on the to-do list for ours, and then I can officially call it finished – with three weeks to spare!

    Reply

  36. Tyra says

    So excited for this process to begin! I started reading right before house number 2, so while I have read back I’m excited to watch a nursery happen real time. Also, sherry you look beautiful and I can’t get over how differently you are carrying. Must be true what they saw about boys vs. girls and carrying in different places….or maybe it’s just the camera angle?
    Either way! Beautiful!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw thanks Tyra! This bump has always felt a little higher (doc says he’s a long boy, haha!) and I also think it could be the angle since I was 100% to the side in the older shots and in this one I wasn’t quite in profile.

      xo
      s

  38. Andrea says

    Hi! I am a new follower and am loving your site!!!

    Quick question: How do you guys get rugs like this to lay flat on your hardwood floors? I have tried rug tape and several different kinds of rug pads without success. The minute someone walks on it – it bunches, slides, etc. (The lab puppy doesn’t help the situation much either. Haha.)

    Thanks!!!

    Reply

  39. Jac says

    Oh wow, just yesterday I was thinking of ‘toddler room’ ideas for my son and black & white with green was the first that came to mind! I will be interested to see what you guys do! Looking forward to it!

    Reply

  40. Jeff says

    Love the ideas you guys have. Gotta update the House Tour page now! It still says “IF” in regards to the barnacle.

    Off topic, Whats your attic like? it must be a pretty decent size even if its just for storage. It looks like there’s a window up there above the garage roof?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yeah, have to update that tour page! As for the attic, it’s awesome! There’s a window and a huge peaked ceiling. One of our friends who went up there was like “um, this needs to be finished someday” but we’re not sure we need all that space. It’s a really cool room though. Will have to shoot pics sometime!

      xo
      s

  41. Heather says

    Hi Sherry!

    Love the Kelly green and the “sea faring” idea! We did purple owls for our daughters nursery. I got a glider from craigslist that I reupholstered with cream color canvas and a homemade pillow with purple owls on the fabric! DIY is fun! Have fun playing in your nursery!

    Reply

  42. Tracie J. says

    Love the new rug and ideas for the new nursery. I can’t wait to see what else you have planned.

    I had the pleasure of designing and decorating my son’s nursery from a hospital bed. I was on hospital bed rest from 22 weeks until 35. So my family really stepped up and brought my ideas to life. I used pictures from the web and ordered most things online. I even used some curtain ideas from your blog. My husband and family followed ideas really well and when I finally came home with the baby, my vision was realized. To put my stamp on it, I made some pictures, again using YHL tips, so I could feel like I physically contributed.

    Thanks for all you share with us. You don’t know how much you bless others.

    Reply

  43. .ivy says

    First off, you guys know 100% more about putting a room together than I do, I’m sure! BUT my proudest home design decision was buying cordless blackout blinds for our bedrooms. They’re safe for small people (I have three kids), and come in a ton of colors. Ours are a neutral tone so they just sort of disappear, but you can definitely choose colors to make them stand out. Ours are similar to these: http://blindsanddrapery.com/window-treatments/window-shades/cellular/513.cfm — and that website is amazing. We’ve had the cordless mechanism die in a couple of our blinds, and they’ll take them back (free) and repair them (free). xoxo. Happy nesting!

    Reply

  44. Meg says

    I’m so grateful for you guys–you’re pioneering a parallel life a month ahead of us! We moved into a floral wallpapered, floral carpeted Victorian house that we are DIYing a few weeks after you guys moved into the new abode. We are also a month behind you pregnant with bambino #2. Ahhh! Nurseries are so fun, and we’re going to brave two babes in one room since they’re 18 months apart. Loving Baby P’s vivacious green and earthy textures. Thanks for being willing to put it all out there for those of us who are attempting DIY projects right along with you.

    Reply

  45. Anna says

    It’s my first time on your site and yesterday I left work early to run to home goods to get that rug! It was exactly what I was looking for and such a good deal. Thanks and I will definitely be back!

    Reply

  48. Leah says

    Love, Love, Love it!! We also went with a black/white/green theme for our little dude’s room (well, it was for his big boy room). I saw the black & white version of this tapestry on the Day Book blog’s IG feed (http://instagram.com/sydneyliann#) and just had to have it: http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=24471682

    Considering your love of maps, I thought you might like it, too. Can’t wait to see how the room evolves! Happy Decorating!

    Reply

  49. Kim says

    Confession:

    I have been looking for a rug for our office and after reading this post, had a serious case of rug envy. After some looking around at other stores/online, I found myself at Home Goods today, spotted this rug, laughed to myself, and then brought it home with me.

    Thanks for the inspiration! Can’t wait to see how the nursery turns out :)

    – Kim, the rug stalker

    Reply

  50. Julia says

    Hi, do you have any thoughts on the specific color of green paint yet that you might use on the door? I read through all the comments and was shocked that nobody asked this yet :) I have a 10 month old boy and need to get his nursery painted asap! I’m thinking gray walls with bold green door!

    Reply

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