Before having Elle, one of the most exciting parts about preparing for a baby was designing her nursery. I have to say, it’s easy to get swept up in inspiration photos online, wanting to emulate the most perfect pastel room fit for your little one. However, you can easily get sticker shock or feel overwhelmed when diving deeper into what it takes to put together these seemingly perfect rooms.
Besides the decor, I also found it hard to compare the room I was turning into a nursery with the stunning spaces of the rooms on Pinterest. For instance, of course a certain nursery looked amazing- the room was large, full of bright windows with refinished floors or French architectural details. When you start with a blank canvas like that, the room is going to be gorgeous no matter what.
Creating Elle’s nursery was a true labor of love which combined rocking with what we’ve got, hunting down luxe-looking but affordable pieces, and incorporating vintage items with sentimental value to bring meaning to her space.
Some of the key items in Élodie’s nursery include a blush, velvet couch found second-hand from a clothing boutique that was moving, picture frames collected over the years and wall-frames from West Elm. Lucite shelves were purchased from the Container Store (much cheaper than Pottery Barn Kids) to house her growing library and add color to the walls. The lucite also matches nicely with her crib, a Pottery Barn Kids item (along with her glider). I then found cream blackout curtains and throw pillows at TJ Maxx for an amazing deal! One of my favorite items to find was her abstract blush painting which I got at Pier 1 Imports during their closing sale. I think it truly captures the essence of some of those abstract paintings you see on Instagram but make you gasp when you see the price. This one was just over $100 and truly makes the room. I also love the Ballard Designs frameless mirror I found on Facebook Marketplace which reflects the colors of the painting and adds light to the small room. The most special part of the nursery are all the little details that bring the room to life. Over her crib, we hung blankets and a garland from my own childhood nursery. Elle’s diaper cream and accessories are housed in crystal jars found from my favorite vintage shop in my hometown. The teddy sitting on the couch was given to Jason as a baby, although he got an upgraded ribbon for Elle.
Simply put, I spent quite a bit of time searching for the perfect items to create our nursery. From Facebook Marketplace, to TJ Maxx, I hunted for deals where possible to save for the big ticket items from Pottery Barn and Ballard. Whatever your budget or whatever your room looks like, there’s a way to capture your personal style on your own terms. I hope Elle loves her nursery, but most importantly I hope she knows how it was created with love!
