In the Nursery with Bethany Dyer

This is our interview series in which we bring you the nurseries and kid rooms of successful designers, entrepreneurs and moms. Through this series, our featured guests will divulge some of their design secrets and share stories of how their nurseries came to be.

Like it or not, sometimes life throws you a curve ball. Whether it comes in the form of something wonderful like a new addition to your family, something difficult or something unexpected like a move across the country, the challenge is to embrace change and make the most of it. And that’s exactly what Bethany Dyer—creator of the fashion and lifestyle blog Kiss Me Darling—decided to do when she and her husband packed up and moved their family from Utah to New Jersey.

Bethany is a stay-at-home mom who blogs about finding great pieces—like clothing, home decor and even toys—at great prices, and she put her expertise to work when she was designing a bedroom for her two boys, four-year-old Cayman and two-year-old Beckham. She’s a self-proclaimed sucker for bold, vibrant colors, and her little ones are always searching for their next great adventure, so she decided to combine the two into a space that they would all love. The end result is an adventure-themed shared boys room that would make any toddler jump for joy. Thanks for sharing, Bethany!

Tell us about your design process. Did you start with one central item or idea that served as your inspiration?
My best friend Kristen sent me a sign in the mail as a housewarming gift for the boys’ room. The sign reads, “I’ll Eat You Up I Love You So.” The quote is from Where the Wild Things Are, my boys’ favorite book and one I used to read to her kids all the time. It inspired me to make the theme of their room about adventure, which fits perfectly with their adventurous and playful personalities.

I’ll Eat You Up I Love You So Wall Art | Mint Triangle Pillow | Orange Polka Dot Pillow

What was the most important thing you wanted to achieve when creating this space?
We just moved to New Jersey from Utah, and my two boys were extremely homesick. I wanted to create a space that felt a little more like home and would give them something to be excited about. They both have very vibrant personalities and absolutely love the outdoors and exploring. I chose to use bright, playful colors and centered the room’s theme around adventure. Our favorite part about it is, of course, the teepee. Like I said before, my kids love the outdoors and especially camping, so they’re both thrilled to be able to go “camping” in their bedroom whenever they want.

What’s the first thing people notice when stepping foot into this room?
I would say the first things people notice are the teepee and world map sign. The colors of the room are playful but also complement each other well.

Gold Foil Art Prints

Teepee | Faux Sheepskin

Did you have any unexpected obstacles when creating this room? How did you overcome them or spin them to your advantage?
When I first started planning this room, it was supposed to be for my older son Cayman, and I was going to decorate a separate playroom as well. We moved to New Jersey unexpectedly, so that idea changed into a playroom and a shared boys room. Trying to decorate with two beds in a small space was challenging, but I’m happy with the way it turned out. The shape of the room worked to our advantage—I was able to position the beds so that it doesn’t look too cluttered, and there’s still space for a reading nook and teepee play area.

Curtains (similar) | Bedding | World Map Wall Art | Large Plush Giraffe | Area Rug

Book Shelves | Polka Dot Bean Bag | Fox Print | The World is Super Lucky to Have You Framed Art

Peter Pan Wall Art

Do you have any words of advice for other designers and parents?
Once you know for sure what kind of theme you want for a room, stick to it! If you find a piece you really like but it doesn’t go with the theme you have in mind, don’t get it. Try to find pieces the complement each other, and don’t stray from what you originally had in mind.

photography by Bethany Dyer