Design Board:The Mighty Jungle

Loyal Project Nursery reader Tammy requested some design inspiration geared toward a safari-jungle theme for her future cub. Tammy describes her style as “Transitional”: Contemporary meets traditional. She wants an eclectic feel with warm earthy tones. Mom has already selected baby’s bedding with a jungle theme and fun, plush fabrics. The walls are tan and baby’s furniture is a natural finish. And Oh yeah! She’s not finding out the sex of the baby!!!

Themes…hmmm…we admit, we have mixed emotions about themed rooms. It’s waaay too easy to go overboard. So then, how to create a fun, vibrant theme for your child’s room without going O.T.T.? We are roaring to share what we at Little Apple Design came up with…

Our picks:

1. Mom’s inspiration: Beautiful Wild Safari crib bedding and rich textures (including “Minky“) from Carousel Designs.

2. Something bright and jungle like: These Abaca Pendant Lights add a contemporary, earthy feel. Already have a ceiling fixture? Hang these in a cluster just above your rocker. While West Elm doesn’t necessary sell kid furniture, they are a great resource for cool kid design that your little one can grow into.

3. Such a popular pic from the Flickr Pool. What a great idea as an alternative to the common wooden wall letters above the crib. Collect nature from your backyard and bring it inside with homemade art.

4. Yes, another West Elm find but check out the amazing, subtle design of these Canterbury window panels close up. Natural Cream is a clean look and won’t clash with the crib bedding.

5. A 5-foot tall Giraffe by Melissa & Doug is what every child needs to complete their wild safari themed room. This would make an excellent baby gift (Hint, hint).

6. Monkey Tree Mobile found at Modern Tots adds some whimsy and imagination above the crib OR above the changing table.

7. Okay, so mom and dad want a comfy chair that reclines AND glides without spending a fortune. Go Dutailier at Wayfair. I know it’s sooo nursery but you’ll like it and if you have more kids you’ll get great use out of it. Take the lead from Becoming-Mom and throw a fluffy sheep skin over it to cozy it up and prevent fabric damage.

8. A shag rug is a must. How much fun will tummy time be in shag!

9. And our personal favorite! Wall decals by Elly Nelly found at Fawn & Forest. They don’t have to be clustered or take up the whole wall. Instead they can be used as a border across one wall or even better, spruce up a piece of furniture. Remember, they can be easily removed when your theme changes.