Okay guys, it’s go-time: I’m having a baby in just over 2 weeks, and the nursery is officially ready to welcome a boy! It seems surreal that we’re so close, but we’re also so excited about his arrival that I’d honestly be thrilled if I went into labor today. I can’t wait to meet this new little guy who I’m destined to fall madly, deeply in love with. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was thinking of just putting a crib in our upstairs guest room and calling it a day. But the closer I got to my due date, the more I began to want to create a special haven for our new bundle, so I called in the design team at RH Baby & Child to help me bring my vision to life. We may have lost our guest room, but I couldn’t be happier to have a serene hideaway for rocking and nursing our new babe once he’s arrived. In case you missed it, check out the updates we made to turn Phoebe’s nursery into a “big girl” room… now click through these slides to see how Baby H’s nursery came together!
*photos by Molly Winters
I love this quiet corner of the nursery that’s made for rocking, nursing and reading. One thing I learned from Phoebe’s babyhood is that a good glider is a must-have item, and I love the clean modern lines of this slipcovered shelter swivel glider. In the early days, it’s a place where I know I’ll be spending a lot of time, so a little reading light and side table for perching a book and drink will be welcome companions.
nursery design tip #1: Add one monogrammed element to personalize the space before baby arrives. Here this “H” pillow was the perfect subtle touch (there are tons of different monogramming options available.) Any guesses as to what his name will be?!
I wanted a crib that was clean-lined enough to feel boyish, but had some interesting design details so as not to feel too stark, and this calais spindle crib was the one of my dreams. We hung this seagrass market pendant overhead to bring an earthy element and give a warm glow to this tucked-in alcove of the room.
nursery design tip #2: Look for nursery furniture that’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified. This means products meet stringent chemical emissions standards, resulting in reduced chemical exposure for you and improved indoor air quality. RH Baby & Child offers the largest selection of GREENGUARD Gold Certified residential children’s furniture in the world.
Although this changing table felt feminine when it was in Phoebe’s baby nursery, I was surprised how easily it adapted to a boy’s space here. This particular style isn’t carried anymore, but there are tons of gorgeous new dressers and changing tables here.
*nursery design tip #3: When choosing larger pieces for the nursery, make the most of your investment by looking for items with enough versatility to be used for many years: either that can grow with your kids as they get older, or that can be adapted for use in future siblings’ nurseries. (See how we transitioned Phoebe’s crib and her bookshelf for her new “big girl room.”)
Remember when I fell in love with these felt animal heads on my trip to the RH Baby & Child Gallery? Instead of covering an entire wall in them, I embraced a more minimalist look by mounting just one adorable elephant over the changing table, and a rhino head on the wall opposite the doorframe for symmetry.
I still get a little weak in the knees every time I walk in the nursery and lay eyes on this Victorian Roll Arm Upholstered Daybed. I’m obsessed with its classic lines and tufted linen, especially when topped with more modern, bohemian elements like mismatched kilim pillows and an exotic faux fur throw.
The daybed is surprisingly perfect for a kids’ space because of how roomy and low-slung it is. Not only can I crash here for middle-of-the-night nursing sessions, but Phoebe (and Baby H, when he’s a little older) can easily climb up onto it for bedtime stories and cuddles. This braided wool pouf can be moved around the room and does triple duty as a side table, extra seat or place to prop feet.
*nursery design tip #4: Since the main furniture items (crib, changing table, and glider) are all designed specifically for the nursery, consider adding one statement “grown-up” piece that will add a major dose of style to the space and that can be used in other rooms of the house for years to come.
An oversized wool felt giraffe adds a whimsical touch to a corner of the room (much to Phoebe’s dismay, he’s not actually made to be ridden on by a 30+ pound child.) I moved one of our fiddle leaf fig trees from downstairs into the room for a pop of green and to increase oxygen levels in the space.
Don’t you just want to cuddle these playful baby lions all day long? The only challenge with the baby animal portraits was narrowing down which ones to get, since every single one is so completely irresistible. Since we’ll be doing lots of nighttime reading and lounging on the daybed, we mounted one of these cool vintage sewing sconces on each side.
*nursery design tip #5: Rather than mounting a bright overhead light in the room, consider using smaller ambient lighting (lamps, sconces, and shaded chandeliers) to cast a warm glow in the places where you need it. This type of lighting feels cozy and calm — which is always a welcome vibe in those early infant days!
I had so much fun mixing and matching different bedding swatches to come up with this combo for the bumper, crib skirt, sheets, blanket, and pillow — we stuck to a neutral palette of grey, taupe, and white, but added character with lots of different textures and some fun pattern.
*nursery design tip #6: For a classic look that can be easily swapped out and updated, choose a bumper, pillowcases, and bed skirt in solid neutrals (these are the washed organic linen) then pair them with a fitted sheet in a cool print that you love, like this ikat. It ties into the subtly exotic, jungle-y vibe we have going on in the rest of the space.
