From Big To Small: Baby Girl Nursery Design Staples You Need Immediately

One of the most exciting things about welcoming a new baby, (outside of adding a precious member to your family!) is designing the nursery. When you see the finished product, the room that your sweet newborn will call his/her own, it makes their arrival so much more real!

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Nursery design can be tough – I mean, have you seen all of the cute stuff out there these days? But I think there’s a simple formula to designing a beautiful room for your little one. START BIG. Finish small.

Starting REALLY BIG PICTURE, when thinking of our new baby’s nursery design, I knew I wanted to have a shiplap wall (using this tutorial, super easy!), regardless if we were having a boy or girl.  I also knew I wanted to paint it gray because I thought it would be a nice contrast against the white crib.

*I get asked quite a bit what color the gray shiplap wall is; it’s Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray!*

As soon as we found out we were having a girl, we went to Lowe’s to pick out a paint color. I choose my traditional complementing grays and whites while my sweet Aubrey picked out an array of bright colors. She even picked out this soft pink color that she said is “the best pink ever!”

I did not want pink walls at all, but she insisted that I get a sample of it for her.  To avoid a meltdown over a $3.95 sample, I purchased it. When we got home, we decided to give it a try. The second we painted a pink heart on the wall, I knew this was the perfect color for our nursery.  With that little pink heart, the theme of soft blush pink, gray, and white was born!

Once the theme was decided, the shiplap was finished, and the walls were painted, I stepped back and started my thought process and putting my nursery design plan in place.  Any time I am designing anything, I have to start big and work down to the smaller design elements.

Here’s how I do it.

Lay out your space first.  I have 4 Big Items that have to establish their position in the room before I can start to add in all of the little touches that take if from a bedroom to a sweet nursery.  (Don’t forget to check out Kaitlin’s piece on nursery essentials for further inspiration!)

The 4 Key Pieces Are:

1.) Crib – Our crib is the same one we had for Aubrey.  I went with a very classic look that I knew would be able to work for multiple kids and would stay in style for numerous years. A crib can be an investment so I suggest getting a convertible crib that will grow with your baby.

2.) Changing Table – This does not have to be a designated “changing table.”  I love the look of just setting a changing pad on a dresser or chest of drawers.  This is a smart move because once your child grows out of it, you don’t have to purchase more furniture, rework your layout, or spend more money.

3.) Rocker – In most cases, a glider or rocker is the most challenging piece to make work in a room.  I moved ours around at least 5 times before I found the right fit.  It’s important to find a place where the rocker doesn’t look too cramped and has enough room to rock back and forth without putting a hole in the wall.

4.) Chandelier – This is one of my most favorite things to shop for!  The chandelier, to me, takes the room to another level and adds so much personality and style! I am obsessed with the one I found for Caroline’s room because it is super feminine but also has that rustic farmhouse style that I love!

Once these pieces found their permanent home, I start building on my vision and letting things fall into place.  Next, add the other elements that help you create a perfect space. Design around those big key pieces to create a dreamy space for your little one.

6 Perfect Design Details:

1.) Crib Sheet – So this is where I got the inspiration for my entire look.  There is so much personality in a crib sheet whether is it a fun bold pattern, a solid color, or a classic soft floral.  I splurged on mine from Caden Lane (shhhh dont tell Drew) and I’m so glad I did. I am obsessed with the pattern and colors because it matched the vision I had in my mind.

2.) Lamp – This may not be as important to some people but I love having a lamp in the nursery.  When we start our bedtime routine I like to have the overhead light off and the lamp on so that it is a softer light and is one of my signals for bedtime.

3.) Mobile – A mobile is not a necessity but they are so fun and cute and something that would only be used in a nursery.  I searched everywhere for the perfect piece of art to dangle above my sweet baby but could not bring myself to spend $50 on it.  So I decided to create my own; you’ll be so surprised how inexpensive and easy it was to create.

4.) Focal artwork above crib – Aubrey’s room was the traditional monogram, so I had to do something different for Caroline. My friend created this sign for me and I could not love it more!  It ties in with my rustic look but by adding the same floral pieces from the mobile to the sign, it softens it up!

5.) Rug – I had no idea I needed one until I visited Kaitlin and saw the one in Maddie’s room!  With a crib not taking up as much space as a bed, the rug really brings the entire space together and doesn’t leave so much open area.  The rug also allows you to add additional colors and textures to your space.

6.) Fun little details to bring the entire look together! Look for special ways to add to your nursery design. For example, I knew I had to use this old window pane from Drew’s Grandma’s house.  I found a dream catcher for $5.99 and added a little bit of the leftover floral from the mobile and sign to tie the entire look together.

If you love the space as much as I do, I’ve included the links to everything I bought.  I love that I was able to create a nursery that does not look “babyish” but is a space that my sweet Caroline will be able to grow up with!  It looks like she really loves it, doesn’t it?

What are some of your nursery design must-haves that help pull your vision together?