Yes — nursery time has arrived! The last time we showed this room it was newborn-ready, but now with a new baby on the way we’ve started planning the next chapter for the space.
We began Clara’s nursery in February and she arrived in May, so with a new little one due in April it felt right to start now. After finding out we’re having a boy, we let ideas simmer for a few weeks so the concepts we truly liked would rise to the top.
Our direction leans toward bold green paired with graphic black and white, softened by natural textures like wood furniture, woven baskets, and bamboo blinds. We’re also bringing in sentimental pieces: a mustache doll Clara picked at a craft sale and the same green alligator toy she loved as a baby.
The green accent idea actually came from some bike prints we love, framed in rustic wood. Those prints will work great as large-scale art in the nursery and help set the color palette. From there we plan to layer in a black-and-white striped bench, a neutral rug, bamboo blinds, and built-ins flanking the crib that can later accommodate a twin or full bed as the child grows.
Our first actual purchase for the room was a big 8×10 wool rug we found at HomeGoods. It’s a Martha Stewart rug by Safavieh — soft, not scratchy, and patterned subtly so it won’t compete with other bolder patterns in the room. Even Clara loved it. We were excited to bring it home and get the room cleaned up and measured so we can center it and style the space properly.
We always take a “before” picture of the two of us in a room before we start any project, and we did the same here — it’s become a fun little tradition. We compared it to the photos we took during Clara’s nursery transformation and laughed about how quickly things change when a baby arrives.
With the rug in place the nursery already feels cozier, though there’s still a lot to do. The walls need paint, the crib is half-constructed, and the closet and lighting need attention. But it’s satisfying to see progress.
Here’s our current to-do list, organized and pared down to the essentials:
- Paint the walls and ceiling
- Install bamboo blinds and consider blackout curtains
- Add built-ins to each end of the long wall to frame the crib and accommodate a future bed
- Add wall sconces beside the built-ins
- Create a slatted or trimmed feature wall between the built-ins for visual interest
- Wire the ceiling for an overhead light fixture
- Find a comfortable armchair for nighttime nursing
- Redo the closet for baby clothes with a second hanging bar and cubby storage
- Possibly paint the closet door a playful color
- Install chunky crown molding
- Use a dresser as a changing table (we’ll likely use a wooden hand-me-down)
- Build custom shelves as a family tradition
- Create a small rustic cuckoo clock and a handmade mobile
- Hang art with at least a couple sea-faring references (in honor of the baby’s nickname “The Barnacle”)
We’ll document the nursery’s evolution in real time, just like we did with Clara’s room. That process included cleaning, painting, shopping, crib hunting, installing curtains and blinds, refinishing furniture, organizing the closet, making textiles and decor, and finally sharing the full reveal. This time around some steps will change — we don’t need a crib, for example, but we want built-ins — yet the cadence will likely be similar: regular updates over the next few months.
We expect to share one or two updates a week as the project moves forward, along with progress on other rooms and showhouse updates. Our loftier goals — built-ins, sconces, and chunky crown — may push us to the wire, but we aim to have everything wrapped up by mid-April.
It’s wild to think that in a few months our family will expand to five (including Burger!). Turning a former junk room into a welcoming bedroom for our littlest family member feels exciting and full of possibility. Are you working on a nursery too? Do you have a long to-do list and a permanent smile while you plan? We love hearing stories about how others create spaces for their children — the details and memories are always inspiring.