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…
janice e says
You better get a new chair for the room because that is very uncomfortable looking. And you have to be kidding, cloth diapers. What planet are you from.
Molly says
Your nursery is BEYOND amazing! I’m 35 and I want it for my own bedroom. I love how it’s one-of-a-kind, and it has such wonderful features…I am drooling over that light fixture!!!
Angie says
Love, Love, Love the room! It is so refreshing to see something that is so cute that didn’t just jump out of a baby catalog! Of course I would expect nothing less from you guys! Keep up the good work-I can’t wait to see the baby pics!
Briony says
I really love this nursery because of the aqua touches. Everything has a function, but is also pleasing to the eye. Thanks for sharing in your comments where the dirty diapers will go. I wondered that after reading the post.
Also I hope someday you read The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch to your little girl. The princess rescues the prince!
YoungHouseLove says
Briony- Thanks so much for the book recommendation. It sounds like a great read. We’ll have to grab it!
Janice E- The chair is actually super comfy (just click the chair hunting link on the bottom of the post for more details) and as for cloth diapering we’re actually really excited to give it a go. Many of our friends and family members have had a great experience with them and we’ll save thousands of dollars so it feels right up our alley.
Melanie Beth- We tear inspiration images from magazines and read tons of blogs so I bet those things influence our aesthetic. We also just know what we both love at this point (capiz, blue and green, natural baskets, dark wood furnishings mixed with painted pieces) so that helps to make certain purchases a no brainer since some
items just feel “so us.” Hope it helps!
Katie- We actually have seen curtains hung high and wide on windows with plantation shutters so we say go for it! You can google around for images to further convince yourself though, that’s always an easy way to picture something in your home. Good luck!
xo,
s
portlandsun says
very sweet room. well done!
Amanda says
You are just the cutest darn pregnant girl, Sherry! I’ve loved reading the posts and seeing this room come together, and I can’t wait to see the finishing touch – Baby P!
*~*~* Congratulations!! *~*~*
Michele says
Wow!
Edie says
I absolutely adore your precious nursery! I’m 12 weeks pregnant and beginning to brainstorm what we might do in our guest room. Some major closet work needs to be done (esp since my husband uses it has his closet) in addition to painting and figuring out what furniture we need. My mom recently suggested we repaint a wicker dresser we have in our basement “guest suite” (as she calls it) to use as the changing table and for storage. I immediately thought of y’all when she made the suggestion – I got tickled thinking you would definitely approve!
Congrats!
Kate says
I love it :)
We found out yesterday we will welcome a boy is September, so excited to start the decorating process finally…such inspiration here!
P.S. I hear that Kitchen + Bath Makeovers is coming to shoot your bath. I am the designer for that and tried my hardest to come and art direct, no dice. Hope they get in and out before Baby P arrives ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kate,
Yeah we’re really looking forward to it. Bummer that we can’t meet you though! I’ll be two weeks away from my due date then so it should be exciting…
xo,
s
anne says
Absolutely adorable! Everything is just perfect. I love how everything was done with so much creativity. I’m sure your little girl will love her cheerful little space.
JoDi says
The whole thing looks amazing, and the budget is even more amazing! Congrats!
Toni @ Hemp & High Heels says
Y’all did a fabulous job!! Baby P is going to love her room!
Holly says
AWESOME! The entire room is just awesome! I love how it has the ability to be a “big girl” room as well as the nursery. I love all the colors, it looks so cheerful! Oh yes, I love the before and after picture with the two of you in it as well :)
Jackie Hintz says
very nice job………..enjoy your sleep now, after a month goes by and baby arrives, your lives will never be the same. Your little one will turn your world upside down and that’s all well and fine. . . cause it’s all good.
1. Baby shoes are cute to look at but not practical, they fall off more than stay on.
You look great, the room looks great………….best wishes to you……
Denise says
this is the coolest nursery i have ever seen! i love the color scheme so much! i love that you went with something other than pink for a little girl! so excited for you all!
CSM says
Great room! I just bought an aqua capiz chandelier from a wholesaler I found on the web. Can you describe how you hung the chandy from the ceiling, and what wattage of bulbs you’re using? I am a bit afraid of burning the shell with too high a wattage — if such a thing is possible… Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey CSM,
Our capiz chandelier said that it could take up to 60 watts so that’s what we stick to- just to be safe. And as for how we hung it, it came with a lighting kit and a ceiling canopy so we just attached connecting the black wire to the black wire and the red one to the red one using an overhead fixture box. Just google around for a light installation tutorial if you have any issues, but it’s pretty straightforward. Good luck!
xo,
s
patti says
Aww…I just love it! The room is perfect. I think your little beanette is going to be so happy there. :)
It’s seems like new babies are all around – my niece is due in about 2 weeks and another friend is also due in about 3 weeks.
All the best to you both and your new little bundle!
Wintry Mix says
Thanks for your reply about the chair. If it has arm support like you say then I’m sure it’s awesome for nursing! I was wondering more about having some rocking motion for when Baby P is older and you’re trying to get her to sleep, but goodness knows every baby is different, so that might not be her thing anyway.
The more I look at this room the more I like it! My hubby and I are moving into our first house next month, and I think a chandelier like this one might be perfect in our new office, which I’m trying to make more whimsical and lively than offices usually are. Thanks again for all the decor inspiration (and your unfailing graciousness to commenters is equally inspiring, by the way).
Laura says
It couldn’t be more beautiful!
AshleyGee says
It looks so good! I love that it’s so colorful, but not overwhelming. Love it!
Roberta says
Too cute!
Sarah @ Dream In Domestic says
Incredible! This is now my favorite room in your house! The colors are so happy and fun. The fact that you did all of this with a very tight budget makes it even more amazing. I can’t wait to see the baby who the space was designed for!
beabee says
I. Love. This. Room. I wasn’t too sure about the paint colors at first, but you really and truly pulled it all together. Being able to follow along on the progress with you in ‘real time’ was a really interesting experience. Thanks for sharing your lives with us!
Alyssa says
Beautiful! It looks like such a calm and relaxing space…perfect for a little one! I especially love the aqua ceiling and closet storage. Best of luck to you and your growing family. Enjoy!
Katie G says
I LOVE it! I am pregnant as well and I need to convince my husband to let me copy your nursery if we have a girl!!
Candy from Candied Fabrics says
Ooh, what a fabulous room! You’r little beannette will be surrounded by her parents love, and every time you’re in there you’ll appreciate all the time you spent making it look so lovely! Enjoy your last month as a two-some!
Kara says
precious! I love it all! especially, I have to say, the closet! there really is nothing cuter than baby clothes! ;)
Jamie says
What a beautiful nursery! Your little girl is going to love it. We are redoing our 4 year old daughter’s room and have already taken some cues from your nursery. She liked the aquamarine blue. Oh, and as far as wether clothes or shoes are cuter… little girl dresses are the cutest :) Too bad my daughter is such a tomboy.
Kim@ NewlyWoodwards says
This looks amazing. I especially love the frames on the wall. It’s so chic but still appropriate for a baby’s room. And, I love the baby photos of you two. How clever. Thanks for sharing.
L.Duncan says
You guys are the BOMB!!!! Can’t wait to “meet” baby P!
LauraJane says
Yay, Baby P’s room is lovely. You must both be so proud (and relieved) to be all done! You look amazing Sherry- all gorgeous-y and belly. :)
Catherine says
um, LOVE!!!! I am so bookmarking this page for future reference (hopefully just a couple of years). I already look at my furniture and think, hmm, how can I use this in another way? :)
Thanks for being inspiring! Looking forward to pictures of Baby P enjoying her room.
Nan says
Your nursery decorating reminds me of what a pleasure it was to decorate my daughter’s nursery 20 years ago. There is something so magical about building a beautiful nest for the sweet little stranger that will change your life forever. I still smile when I think of it…
Congrats and good luck! Enjoy it all — it goes by so fast.
Destiny D. says
You are ready, so cute and the room is amazing! Baby love and laughter to you!
Kelli says
Guys, it looks great! You’ve inspired me to make my own no-sew curtains. My hometown has a huge fabric store where you can get great deals…cute fabric for $2.99 a yard and stuff like that. You’ve done a fabulous job!!!
http://photocraftbook.wordpress.com/
Heather says
It looks fabulous!!! Congrats, again! Can’t wait to see Baby P!!
Ashley says
How did you keep the layout of the art wall the same when you painted? I assume you removed the nails (and maybe filled in the holes?) in that process. Did you have a smart method for not having to recreate the detailed measurements that hanging lots of frames together requires?
Also, are you willing to reveal the source for the fabulous green pillow in the chair?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ashley,
We actually didn’t remove the nails or fill those holes, we just painted right over the nails so they were still there when we wanted to rehang the pics. And we remembered to snap a digital picture of the photos before taking them down so we could reference that when it came time to hang them back up. As for the pillow on the chair, it’s from TJ Maxx (and included in our big price breakdown). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jess says
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful nursery!! And, I just have to tell you that you will absolutely LOVE the We-Go bottle that you are holding. I used them with my little guy and they were awesome! Good luck :)
NK says
The final picture with you two standing in the completed room is my fave. The amount love you both have for Baby P is evident already.
I’m taking inspiration from the mirror, hamper basket and the shelves and hope to find places in my place for these ideas.
Great work
Meredith says
Love what you’ve done with the nursery!! It’s so gorgeous, totally ready for your little girl:) I’m due this summer and totally stumped with our gender neutral nursery. So far we have kelly green colored walls, white trim, and…that’s it. I’m lost! Hopefully,if I keep looking at your pics, I’ll be inspired!!
Kim says
Glad to hear it about the chair!
Best, Kim (the chair skeptic)
Emily says
I love the colors and everything else!! This room actually makes me want to contemplate starting a family! And Sherry, you are just an adorable pregnant lady!!
TP says
I’ve been a lurker on this site for a minute and you guys definitely helped inspire my own home office makeover. Well, more like a massive clean up since it had become the depository of everything I didn’t want in other rooms in the house, not to mention every paper, magazine, bill, piece of mail, etc….you get the picture. But I digress. I don’t even know you guys (even though I have family in Richmond) but I’m totally excited about the beanette! I love the blog, you guys really seem to live a great life and it’s enjoyable to follow along. Congrats on everything from your marriage to your lovely home to your baby!
Corinne says
I am addicted to your blog! The nursery is beautiful, truly perfect and inspirational. I recently purchased a capiz chandelier for the room that my two daughters (2 and 4) share. Did you guys post how you hung and wired the chandelier for the baby’s room?
YoungHouseLove says
We just hung and wired it like any other light fixture in our house. We already had a fixture box in the ceiling and the chandelier came with a light kit and a canopy so it was as simple as connecting a few wires and screwing on the canopy and it was good to go. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sara says
I have nursery envy! It is perfect!
Michelle says
I love your blog, you both are truly inspiring. I can spend hours on your blog. The nursey looks great. Congratulations on the new addition to your family. I’m sure you’ve gotten some great advise but here’s my two cents.
1. When the baby starts sleeping, hightail yourself to bed right away.
2 Cleaning… what cleaning??? Not until the waking up every 2-3 hrs stops.
3. There will be times when friends and family will trample over you to get to the baby (trust me folks can be vicious when a sweet smelling little bundle of joy moves in)and sometimes you’ll happy they’re around so you can hop into the shower.
I wish you a safe and speedy delivery (my first child Dream yup that’s her name took around 13 hrs and my son Storm yup that’s his name was around 2 hrs and trust me the 2 hours was way better. lol) and of course a healthy baby.
Michelle says
Sorry, but Beanette is going to have to find another dwelling ’cause I’m moving in. =P Y’all have made the room absolutely GORGEOUS! It is very light, airy, cheerful, and soothing. Baby P is gonna love it! =)
mary b says
john and sherry i am SO ecstatic for you two, i ADORE the room. im not going to lie – when you first announced the colors of the room i was a little hesitant like john but WOW ill be the first to admit i was wrong. also i thought you said you got the mirror from marshals not tj max? either way not important i have just been trying to find something similar. congratulations and i truly hope when you bring your sure to be beautiful child to the world that you take LOTS of pictures for all us to see! im giddy with anticipation. thanks for being a highlight of my day for almost a year now!
Mary B
Natalie says
Love the room. Just wondering…is it actually common to receive gifts before the baby is born? I’m in Australia and in my experience all the gifts are sent afterwards. Maybe it is an American thing.
Can’t wait to read about your post-baby adventures. I’m sure you’ll be full of useful tips for us all.
Jo says
Super cute! After you take the Beanette out of the moses basket are you guys planning on getting a crib set, you know, the king=d that have the cushiony bumpers?