I can’t help but smile as I write this… I’ve been dreaming about designing my very own nursery for so many years, in every house I’ve lived in for the past decade. This is finally where my baby comes home. It feels surreal, mixed with equal parts excitement and gratitude.
My dream nursery design has evolved over the years, and most recently has been influenced by our travels and the inspiration used to build our Heights House.
It’s not a very large room, measuring just over 10’x12′. We opted to divide the closet into two sections, creating an open nook perfectly sized for a changing table—best decision ever. I also ordered these custom 2’x7′ Chateau closet doors from Simpson Door Company.
That gives us one wall of closet/dresser space, one wall of windows, and two empty walls to work with.
I’ve been stockpiling inspiration on Pinterest and came up with this vision: a calming garden sanctuary mixed with classic French architecture, soft putty pink alongside creamy whites and golds, natural woven textures next to delicate flowers and bows, sprinkled with vintage details and charm.
It’s a whole lot of styles and character wrapped into one little room, which I’m dubbing French Country Forest…
When coming up with the design plan, there were a few things I immediately knew I wanted, and others I’ve gone back and forth on (and still haven’t figured out completely, to be honest!)
The very first thing I chose many months ago is what sparked the entire vision for the room—this forest wall mural from Rocky Mountain Decals:
Is this not what garden dreams are made of? It’s as if it was designed to float above a crib. This will be installed on the back wall where her crib will sit (eventually) and I’m over the moon excited to see how it looks in person.
Speaking of crib, that’s one item I haven’t found the perfect match for yet. Baby will sleep in our room in a bassinet for the first six months or so, and I’ve decided to take my time and shop around. In the meantime, I found this gorgeous macrame hanging bassinet (under $50!) that will likely just hold her toys for the time being. At that price, I couldn’t pass it up.
The chandelier is another decision I’m still debating on. I have it narrowed down to three options… this aged white candelabra style:
This elegant and slightly more modern gold style:
And this one which is simpler but almost 1/3 the price of the other two:
I’m completely torn! A gold finish is my preference but I do love the more traditional/aged look of the other two. #1 is so pretty but #3 is crazy inexpensive and I love a good bargain. Do you have a favorite?
Another design element I was sure about from the beginning was using a soft blush pink as the primary room color.
The winner was pretty clear—I found my match with Sherwin Williams Malted Milk. It’s subdued and elegant, the perfect shade of putty pink.
The trim, doors, window wall and left accent wall will all be painted Malted Milk (with everything else in SW Alabaster). The back wall of the open nook and inside of the closet will also have a stripe accent—you may have caught the process last weekend in my Instagram stories if you follow me there!
In the next nursery post I’ll share all about these DIY stripes and closet setup, stay tuned 🙂
Speaking of accent walls, molding will be a major feature in this room. I’ve partnered with Ekena Millwork once again and am excited to incorporate a variety of traditional moldings on the walls and ceiling:
If you’ve been following my work for the past year or two, you know that moldings and trim have become a staple in my designs—they’re what’s going to take the sophistication of this room to the next level. Just imagine the prettiest wainscoting details in blush pink… sigh.
I’ll make sure to do a separate blog post with all the DIY install details—apart from the mural (or maybe tied with?) I predict this will be my favorite feature of the room.
To soften the room, I’ll hang floor to ceiling off-white linen drapes. I haven’t ordered these yet, but am in the process of narrowing down swatches from Barn & Willow (I worked with them to design my reading nook roman shade which was top notch quality). A little inspiration…
To add softness and texture to the floors, I found this 8′ woven rug from Wayfair:
It’s perfectly neutral with an unique varied weave that should be great to hide stains and spills.
Next up: the glider! This was one of the more challenging items to find, as most (at least the ones I liked) are surprisingly expensive. I searched high and low to find something stylish and comfortable for under $500, and think I’ve exhausted every option on the internet (any fellow mamas-to-be want a blog post with all of my findings?)
In the end, I landed on this swivel glider for $399:
Right now they only have gray listed, but according to their website they’ll have more ivory back in stock soon (fingers crossed, as I’m waiting to purchase!) I chose this option not only for the price and style, but also the bonus storage ottoman that will be perfect for storing nursing supplies.
Moving right along to the last section: the changing nook! Days of searching secondhand online paid off, and I snagged this vintage dresser that happened to be just the perfect size:
I’ll be coating it with Maison Blanche’s Printemps French lime paint, a light sage green (the same color used here in my apothecary nightstand makeover):
Sorry wood purists, not changing my mind! 😉 One of my favorite features is the original marble top, which will be easy to wipe clean and adds another layer of color and texture.
Speaking of texture… I couldn’t pass up this darling seagrass changing basket:
A little pricey for what it is, but it’s one of those details that won’t go unnoticed in the room.
On the wall behind the dresser, we’ll be DIYing a hidden storage shelf/caddy for all of our changing supplies—definitely one of our best a-ha moments! Looking forward to sharing a tutorial with you soon.
And on the wall above the dresser, I’m on the hunt for a pretty gold vintage mirror. This classic style with a bow is currently in the lead:
But I’m also considering this unique shape for under $100…
And I’ve still got my eye out for antique mirrors secondhand locally, so we’ll see what ends up there!
The last piece of the puzzle is a DIY flower mobile I’ll hang above the changing table to give baby something pretty to look at 6-8 times/day…
My own version will look a bit different, as I have a stash of florals in storage I’ll be pulling from as well as adding a few more. This is the fun, stress-free kind of DIY project I could do all day long 🙂
And there you have it, my dream nursery! There will be a few more details like artwork, hooks, hardware etc that will come together later and of course I’ll share all the sources during the final reveal. Hoping to get this room completed within the next month, and that means baby girl had better stay put until her due date (7 weeks to go, ahhh!)
Happy days ahead…
Susan Edwards says
Hi Jenna Sue,
I’ve been subscribed to your channel for years now and I always wait anxiously for a new post, plus I love to watch your YouTube uploads as well. Congratulations on your upcoming bundle of joy, I wish you both joy and happiness and sleep-filled nights . 🙂
As for the lighting choice, I would select Option #3. The room is on the small side and the size of the first light fixture looks too large for the space. I may be incorrect though, and it’s just a thought. I feel a bit odd giving you my opinion when I have admired your sense of style for so long, and often refer back to many of your older posts for inspiration and ideas.
As always, I look forward to seeing what else you dream up. Best of luck also with the rental, I hope things move quickly so you can finally rent it out and begin making back all you’ve invested.
Kind Regards,
Susan
Jenna Sue says
Thanks for sharing your opinion, Susan! The third chandelier is actually the largest (widest) but the room has tall ceilings so it should be fine. I just bought it yesterday! 🙂
Wendy says
What a beautiful room! I especially love the forest mural. The only thing that brings out the pediatric nurse in me is the hanging bassinet. It doesn’t look like it would pass the safety regulations for baby cribs and bassinets. Here is a link for Canadian regulations which are stronger than the U.S. standards. Also remember no bumper pads, pillows, soft toys in the baby’s bed. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/safe-sleep/cribs-cradles-bassinets.html
Mary says
I am so excited for you. This is going to be a dream nursery. Why, even I would be happy in it.
Shauna says
I’m going to agree with everyone’s comments- chandy #3 is the prettiest, just a bonus that it’s cheap.
Also going to offer some unsolicited and well meaning advice: to me, and granted I have a touch of OCD, the seagrass changing basket looks like a poop nightmare. I shudder to think of all the nooks and crannies that has for inevitable accidents and messes. Perhaps a solid box-style changing topper, and save the sea grass baskets for toys and storage?
Just my two cents. It’s all lovely, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come together. <3
Kathleen Bell says
Love it all !! Only tip is make sure the rug is knee friendly. You will be crawling around with the little one before you know it. Even reading a book to them in your chair, they want to crawl around the floor. 🙂 Well they are all different but it happens way too fast. Love #3 chandelier. Books, books and more books ! Best of luck
Jenna Sue says
Definitely! We will probably end up layering a small sheepskin rug too for play time 🙂
Catherine says
LOVE the design! I’m with everyone else on this one it seems – chandelier #3 is my favorite, and the price is a bonus!
I know you’ve already made up your mind, and the dresser will look gorgeous painted, but I loooove it the way it is. Brings a lot of warmth and a vintage quality to the room.
I’m expecting my first baby in December, so it’s fun to follow along with you as you get ready for yours. I absolutely love your nursery design! My nursery is really just a sitting room off my master bedroom, so the design is integrated into my bedroom’s decor. I put up the Judarn mural from Anthropologie: https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/judarn-mural?color=090&size=ALL&inventoryCountry=US&countryCode=US&mrkgcl=694&mrkgadid=3339968594&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=Google&utm_content=Wall_Decor_-_Priority_And_Sale_Breakouts&utm_term=665572223006_product_type_house_%26_home_product_type_wall_decor_custom_label_2&adtype=pla&product_id=36290021&utm_campaign=US_-_Shopping_-_Home_-_Desktop_and_Tablet&adpos=1o1&creative=348087453508&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKCAjw6vvoBRBtEiwAZq-T1cKgssbilMPFUXC0kgG5sqEsiT-_qgNmAgDy64747d9C6DNWlqrKahoCSZcQAvD_BwE
and I plan to put a gold metal crib in front of it. What kind of crib are you envisioning for your space?
I haven’t settled on a glider yet but I’d love to benefit from your research, so I’m submitting a request for a blog post with the ones you considered!
Jenna Sue says
What a gorgeous mural, I haven’t seen that one before! Your nursery is going to be amazing. A gold metal crib will be perfect with it too. I’m thinking I’ll do the same to contrast against the white. The search begins!
Aryn says
Light #3 – so pretty!
Andi says
Looks really beautiful, it will be made with so much care and love -like always in your case.
All of the chandeliers are really nice, but I also vote on the 3rd one. The 2nd one is a bit too spectacular for my taste for a nursery. I also like the first one, but has more bulbs than the 3rd one and it’s more expensive. (You might choose the first one? : )
I thought you would have a small lamp on the dresser for the late/early hours. It’s funny, another day when I was searching for new handmade lampshades on Etsy (there are so many beautiful ones everywhere) I thought of you when I saw this one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/236587199/drum-table-or-pendant-lampshade-in?ref=shop_home_active_12
Then you and your nursery stayed in my mind. I love rabbits, birds, botanical themes, so I checked everything and like 2 hours later I ended up already at the hardware section of Etsy with foxes, rabbits, hedgehog, butterflies etc.
(In my time there wasn’t anything like that. I’m from Europe and I grew up in the countryside and because of his job my father took me a lot to the fields and forests. It’s also a nice memory that before sleeping he used to tell me his own improvised tales about the hidden animals in my grandmother’s garden from the time when he was a child. Clearly my best memories of my childhood.)
…It’s incredible for me how you can keep working so hard every day on your projects. I’m really glad that you and Lucas are so happy and improving in a supersonical
speed with your houses.
I wish you the very best!!!
Jenna Sue says
What a pretty lamp shade, thanks for sharing! Love the bedtime stories with your dad, so special! <3 We probably will end up needing a small second light source of some kind... still trying to figure that one out 🙂
Pamela says
I’m with everyone else, chandelier #3 painted gold maybe! I can’t wait to see this nursery, it’s going to be gorgeous!
Holly Allen says
wow! this nursery is just dreamy!! what a lucky little girl!!
my vote is for the inexpensive chandy—that way you can splurge on the glider (the #1 item where i think you should spend $$). you are going to sit in it many times a day every day for at least the first year, maybe two. comfort and quality are key. and then if/when you have a second, you’ll already have a much-loved rocker full of wonderful memories and stories to pass down.
Jenna Sue says
Seems like we have a fairly unanimous decision on the chandelier – #3 it is!
Shellie Kepley says
I know all you white fabric fans won’t listen….but if you are breastfeeding there are 2 sides of the coin to the deal. The upside of breast is everything (premixed, premeasured, “free” except eating well which you should anyway, makes you sit down multiple times a day, oxytocin which helps you chill and go back to sleep easily, much less stinky poop). The flipside there is 1 downside….mustard colored poops that stain stuff pretty easily. I predict a mustard poop hits that chair and or footstool in the first week. Babies have a magical way of projectile pooping out any gap in their diapers! Anyway, it’s up to you. But you cray if you buy white.
Jenna Sue says
Good to know, thanks for the warning Shellie! 🙂
Wendy says
What a beautiful nursery design! Love the idea of using a vintage dresser, did you find it on etsy?
Jenna Sue says
Nope, I buy all of my antique furniture locally!
Nadine says
This is lovely design. Gorgeous mural. The soft colors make it so soothing. Biggest bang for the buck are the dresser and the macrame bassinet (great finds). My vote is for the 3rd light (you can keep as is or paint it gold or off white. So happy for y’all. Can’t wait to it completed along with your baby girl.
Jenna Sue says
<3 <3