Gender neutral modern nursery

Welcome to the reveal week for the One Room Challenge!

In case you missed it, here’s:

Week 1 (before and moodboards)

Week 2 (picture moulding)

Week 3 (paint color)

Week 4 (how to refinish ikea furniture+how to paint window muntins without tape)

Week 5 (rug)

Week 6 (drawer inserts)

Week 7 (how to install wallpaper on the ceiling)

I’ve been keeping it a secret.

That’s right; we are expecting! And this is a surprise NURSERY reveal! Who participates in an ORC during their first trimester? This girl LOL. The truth is, I wasn’t ready to announce my pregnancy when the ORC started, so I decided to just fib a little and say it was a playroom (kind of also true)/office. Did I have you fooled?

gender neutral modern nursery with aqua blue walls

Although I did have nausea, fatigue and all the fun stuff, I’m actually so glad I signed up. It really kept me out of my head during what can feel like such an uncertain time. Having something to focus on truly kept me feeling positive and hopeful. I kept it manageable by simplifying the design, sharing some DIYs that were already in here from our previous office reveal, and receiving some help from my husband - no one wants to see a pregnant, woman on a ladder, installing wallpaper to a ceiling (thanks babe).

Now let’s talk about the room.

The color I chose for the walls is Views from Clare paint. It’s a great medium toned blue that feels light, but still holds a lot of depth in the room. Although I appreciate the sophisticated, color-schemed nurseries that are having a moment right now, I wanted to select a color for this room that would act as a neutral for playful, spontaneous pops of color. God forbid I have to worry about coordinating toys to my room colors, right?! Every color looks so good against this Robins egg blue shade. I also painted the Ikea shelving unit the same color to make it feel more like a builtin.

This room is also functioning as a play room for my 6 year old. I’m doing this to make her feel more included since this is such a big change for her! Plus, I know it will keep her occupied when I’m in here tending to baby. The left side of the shelving unit I’ve filled with her toys and books, while the right side is mostly baby items.

gender neutral nursery in robins egg blue

I almost didn’t have a nursery. Like…really didn’t think I would need it. I don’t remember using it a whole lot with my first child. But that was 6 years ago, so my memory is hazy! Although I remember changing diapers all over the house, it is nice to have a designated spot to store diapers and cloths. With this room being so small though, there was just no room for a proper changing table. And really, I just hate spending money on something I will only use for 2 years. So, I am using the top of my Ikea Kallax with a contoured changing pad on top.

ikea kallax shelving unit as changing table and clothes storage

This is also serving as a “dresser” for clothes thanks to these Kallax drawer inserts (I refinished), and some soft rope baskets. This way I can keep the next size up in the baskets and only the clothes I need on hand in the drawers, within arms reach.

I will be using cloth diapers after the shock of the first couple months of postpartum is over, so wanted to find a way to store them because they are SOOO bulky compared to disposables. The X-insert (also from ikea) is going to be perfect.

Ikea kallax changing table station with diaper storage

The knobs were a fun hack that just required a bit of wood filler and paint to make work. Read the how-to here.

I was thrilled to collaborate with one of my favorite online sources for affordable art for this project! Artfully walls provides high quality prints of original artworks, supporting the artist themselves. Each print is matted and framed so it feels so luxe.

Mama Hug by Kate Gattey from Artfully Walls

Although we don’t use a crib much, I really wanted to have a bassinet for the early days that I could roll around from room to room. Nestig generously gifted me their convertible “Snow” crib in white and it’s just perfect for this small room. Even better, it converts to a crib, which I like having as an option to use for naps down the road. And, then finally, into a toddler bed. Love that!

The mobile is also from Nestig.

When I first laid eyes on this strawberry lamp from Straydog designs, I knew I had to have it. We don’t know if we are having a boy OR a girl but we all eat fruit so this feels like neutral territory to me, don’t you think? :) Actually, even if I knew the sex, our nursery would likely look something like this. I waited until our daughter was older to finally embrace the pink.

All of the amazing Straydog designs are handmade by artisans in Mexico who are paid a living wage, all while working from home with their families, at their own flexible schedule. This means the lead-time for their products takes a little longer (about 8-10 weeks), but it is so worth it!

It’s just so juicy…

Keep going 1 print by Jessica Poundstone from Artfully walls

Because babies spend so much time looking up, wanted to do something fun on the ceiling. I was thrilled to collaborate with Wallpaper Direct to feature Auguste by Coordonne in Aqua which matches the wall color to a T!

Read how we installed it here.

gender neutral nursery with wallpapered ceiling

Another item I didn’t have with my first child was a comfortable glider. Although I know I will be nursing anywhere and everywhere, I’m really looking forward to having a quite space to retreat with the baby. Enter the Kiwi glider from Babyletto! This thing is truly amazing! Like…we have all been fighting over who gets to sit in it LOL. It reclines, swivels and rocks. This is a piece of furniture I know we will use even beyond the nursery so it feels like a great investment piece. Oh, and did I mention the USB and charging imports on the inside of the arm rest? This is also where you will find the buttons to quietly extend and retract the reclining function. So good!

Kiwi glider from Babyletto and art by Jessica Poundstone from Artfully walls (Color Space 45: burgundy and hot pink)

I love kid-stuff but also can’t resist some grown-up moments in a nursery. It is, at least in the beginning, a room for parents, right?

I had some left over wallpaper from the ceiling so used that on the switch plate. Now I may never leave my switch plates naked again!

Flora Burnet Moth by Darrah Gooden from Artfully Walls

Fun fact: These wooden blocks are from my childhood. My mom has saved every baby toy we ever had and it’s been a trip to go through them all again with my little ones. My 6 year old still plays with these and they have continued to be her preference over almost any battery operated, plastic toy she has ever had!

No nursery would be complete without a soft rug! Thanks to Annie Selkes for providing the Montage Platinum woven wool rug. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and durability. We already spend so much time playing on the floor in here.

Montage Platinum Woven Wool rug from Annie Selke

I thrifted this green velvet romper and it almost feels too cute to store away. I can’t wait to see our sweet babe in this!

Kid spaces might be one of my favorite rooms to design for clients, and doing this one for our own family has given me all the feels. I’m definitely glad I decided to give up precious space in our small house for a nursery. It feels so special, and an exciting way to prepare for a new life. There is a reason we feel like nesting during pregnancy; setting up a space, even if it’s in your bedroom, or a closet is instinctive…almost ceremonial. And what’s in it is going to look different for each of us. My advice to new Moms is to keep it simple though! You will need so much less than you think you do. You will watch your babe grow out of clothes before your very eyes, just after they permanently staining them with something you didn’t know could come out of such a small body - That must-have item your best friend swears by, likely may not work for your kid, because they are all so different - The $16 Italian pacifier made from tree resin, might be replaced with a $2 pacifier from Walmart that you frantically sent your husband out to purchase at 2 AM. Simplify, keep it light, and if your friend offers you her hand-me-downs, take her up on it. Invest in pieces that will grow with your baby. Grab anything else you need, as it comes up, from your local consignment shop. Really, save your money! Use it to get a massage, take a vacation and most importantly get your physical and spiritual health as optimal as you can before this big life change. At the end of the day, babies just need love, and to be close to their mama. Anything else is just extra.

Thanks so much for your support and encouragement along the way!! It means so much.

Please be sure to check out the other guest participants here.

Photography by Graham Yelton