It’s about time we featured some recent projects from our prolific, pregnant Twitter friend Jen Woodhouse, who recently moved from Nashville to the Richmond area. Since relocating to Virginia she’s been busily nesting and tackling a steady stream of home projects. We thought our readers would enjoy seeing a selection of her work and learning a bit about how she approached each piece. You can find more of Jen’s projects and tutorials on her blog, The House of Wood.
Jen wrote in to share a few highlights. One of her standout efforts was refinishing an old veneer dresser she found on Craigslist. Inspired by a similar project, she transformed the dresser into a beautiful and functional changing table and dresser for their baby, affectionately nicknamed Eggroll. The refinishing process involved stripping and prepping the surface, addressing veneer issues, and applying a durable finish so the piece would stand up to daily nursery use. The result is a customized, practical piece that fits perfectly into her nursery design.
Alongside the dresser, Jen also created a tufted upholstered headboard and paired it with cost-effective artwork she made for the wall above the bed. She describes the headboard build in a step-by-step tutorial, which covers framing, padding, fabric choice, and tufting technique—helpful details for anyone looking to make their own headboard on a budget. For the artwork, Jen kept things simple and creative: she used affordable materials and easy design tricks to produce pieces that look polished without a large price tag.
Another small, clever project she shared was a set of customized clothing dividers for organizing baby clothes. Jen bought blank clothing dividers from an online supply source for a modest price and designed a template to fit them. She then selected playful backgrounds and graphics, adjusted them in a simple photo editor, printed the designs onto full-sheet label paper, and adhered them to the dividers. The finished dividers make sorting tiny outfits both practical and charming—an ideal small project for anyone who enjoys a little extra organization in the nursery.
Overall, Jen’s projects highlight a few common threads: thoughtful planning, practical solutions, and a do-it-yourself spirit that produces attractive, functional results. Whether refinishing a dresser, building upholstery from scratch, creating original artwork, or designing organization tools, she balances creativity with smart techniques that others can replicate.
We’re grateful Jen shared these projects and the lessons she picked up along the way. They’re a great source of inspiration for expectant parents, new homeowners, or anyone who likes a hands-on approach to decorating. Her work shows that with some effort and imagination, budget-friendly DIY can yield professional-looking outcomes.
What do you think—do any of Jen’s projects stand out to you? Are you currently nesting, refinishing furniture, sewing or upholstering, or organizing a nursery? We’d love to hear about your favorite recent DIYs and any tips you’ve discovered that make these projects easier or more enjoyable.
Also, don’t miss our weekly BabyCenter post where we explore seasonal crafts and nursery ideas. This week’s feature includes a versatile craft that adapts easily to other rooms, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants a simple, stylish DIY that translates beyond the nursery. Check it out for a step-by-step guide and more photos showing how the project comes together.
Thanks again to Jen for letting us showcase her work—each project demonstrates creativity, resourcefulness, and a keen eye for detail. We can’t wait to see what she makes next, and we’re sure Eggroll will enjoy the cozy, thoughtfully assembled nursery when the time comes.