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A Neutral Baby Boy Nursery

As a first time mom, I had high hopes for this nursery. My husband loves design, so we planned everything together. We wanted to keep this room super simple, and I didn’t really want any type of “theme” — That’s not really our style! I knew from the beginning that I wanted lots of neutral colors and I wanted the room to be calming. I think we achieved that! I love going into Beckham’s nursery at night when it’s dark and turning the lamps on…I do it often, just becauseI love it! It is so peaceful! This nursery is everything I dreamed of for our first baby!

Arlo’s Modern Nature Inspired Nursery

When planning our son’s nursery, I wanted to create a bright and cheerful space that felt youthful and boyish. The initial inspiration came from a Mary Blair print we got at Disneyland, but after choosing his middle name, Wilder; the theme pivoted towards a natural woodland theme with animals and arrows.
We are renting so the decor decisions needed to be easily changeable. I created a bold statement wall behind the crib using removable decals. The nightstand and dresser were customized with wood knobs, to tie together the wood tones in the room. Teepees, arrows and woodland animals helped round out the theme, along with some of our favorite kid-like tchotchkes displayed on vintage steel shelves in the reading nook. My favorite items are the turkish blanket hanging on the crib and the custom bench cushion. To top it all off, we updated the lighting fixtures with vintage inspired shades from Schoolhouse Electric, and got a customized piece from Etsy above the changing table with Arlo’s name spelled out in rope.

Adventure Awaits/Arrow Themed Nursery

I’m so excited to share this room with Project Nursery readers because I rely on pictures from others to gain inspiration! I was originally inspired for the room by the crib bedding I had custom made, and the arrow / adventure theme materialized from there.
When designing rooms, I always start with a fabric I love, whether it be bedding or a rug, and go from there. Don’t be afraid to repurpose things you already have laying around. Sometimes they make the room! It doesn’t have to be expensive to create an awesome space. Also, buy things that may not “match.” If you go with what you like, you’ll love it in the end!
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Book/Glider Corner
The glider (Best Home Furnishings Beckner Swivel Glider) was “repurposed” from my daughter’s room, and I recovered an old ottoman I’ve had for years in a fun geometric, mustard yellow fabric to fit the color scheme of the room. The throw pillow on the chair was made to match the crib bedding, and the mint/white throw was a Marshall’s find!
The bookshelf wall was the perfect way to fill up the space in between the windows, though the Threshold Picture Ledges I used were a PAIN to install. Side eye directed at you, Target.
The ombre arrows above the bookshelves were a set of 3 unfinished wood arrows from Zulily that I painted with chalk paint I had on hand from other projects and hung – nothing fancy there!
The pelmet boxes over the windows were another super easy DIY project. I used the same tutorial as I did for the window treatments in our old house, and it worked out just as well this time! The fabric is called Fletching Arrows | Mint, Tan, Gold, Navy, and matches the crib skirt. Such a cheap and awesome alternative to curtains.
The rocking horse was handmade by my uncle for me when I was a baby! He gave it to Ellie, but she already has a rocking owl and this fit in perfectly with the room – so now it’s his!
The wall decor above the chair are all Hobby Lobby finds (Triple Arrow Framed Wall Decor | Navy Blue Cut-Out USA Wood Sign | “N” Bronze Letter), minus the print on the top right which I made in InDesign. (It’s hard to make out in the picture, but it says “AND SO THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.”)
Finally, the navy geometric rug was super cheap from RugsUSA and ties in the blue perfectly!
Dresser
The dresser! After refinishing our daughter’s dresser ourselves, I swore I’d never do that again. Luckily for me, I found the dresser on a local Facebook yard sale group for $250. It was painted black, but she offered to paint it navy for an extra $25. Um, SOLD. When I picked it up, the original wood knobs were painted silver, so I repainted them gold and replaced the top 3 with Gold Metal Arrow Handles from Hobby Lobby. I absolutely love this detail!
The mirror was another awesome find. The $699 Restoration Hardware version originally caught my eye, and since I obviously wasn’t trying to drop that amount of cash on a mirror for a baby’s room, I was on a mission to find something cheaper – and that I did, at Kirkland’s! Their Metal Rope Wall Mirror looks exactly the same, except I got it for a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the RH version.
The growth ruler was an Etsy find, and was the perfect thing to fill this space.
The mini globe, picture frame, and wooden crates were all HomeGoods finds. The wooden crate on top of the dresser fits diapers and wipes perfectly!
I’ve had the etched-wood plaques for YEARS. They were orphans after our move but happened to fit perfectly here in the baby’s room!
Mirror
Another small, but favorite detail of mine: the arrow wall hook! An awesome (and cheap) Amazon find, and a cool way to tie in the theme. I love how it’s the “other” end of the arrow, too.
Crib/Bedding
Here’s the crib (another “repurposed” item) with the bedding, which was custom made by Etsy seller Sprout Crib Couture. Her adorable designs caught my eye and are what sparked my vision for the entire room!
Blanket Holder
I was racking my brain trying to come up with an idea to hold blankets other than a ladder (which I used in my daughter’s room and in our living room), and this 3-Tier Basket Rack from Hobby Lobby was just the thing. A friend used a similar one in her son’s nursery and I loved the look! The blankets were Marshall’s finds, and the sheepskin is from New Zealand and was given to me/my mom by my grandma when I was a baby! I love that I was able to use so many cool hand-me-downs in this room.
Side Table
Ah, another favorite! World Market’s Antique Brass Arrow lamp and mix & match navy striped lamp shade is another perfect addition to the room! The Wood Plank Drum Table was snagged at World Market, too, for an unbelievable price and I love how it ties in the other wood elements.
Wooden Arrows
Last, but not least, the mobile and the DIY wooden arrows! The arrows were made following this easy tutorial. My uncle works in construction and was able to get the wood for free (and cut it, too). Then I painted with a dark blue chalk paint and covered with a mint chalk paint to achieve the “distressed” look.
Mobile
The mobile was one of the first things I purchased for the room, right after the bedding. It’s so fun and I love how it twirls in the draft from the vent above the crib! This was handmade from Etsy seller True Love and Paper, and I highly recommend her work (thought it looks like she’s taking a short break at the moment).
Paint
And because I am always searching Google images for paint colors, I should note that I used Behr Almond Wisp in this room and absolutely love it. It’s a lovely tan, with a slight hint of gray. Super versatile and I would consider using this throughout my entire house if I hadn’t used it here!