Nursery Inspiration: Starry Night

The look

Clean white slate with pops of nautical blues

The inspiration

I wanted to create a soothing, gender-neutral space, so I chose a restrained color palette of aqua, teal and grays—shades that lend themselves to a classic sky theme. I opted for accessories and textiles in those hues and white furniture with birch details to add softness. To mix things up (and not just use stars everywhere), I introduced more subtle geometric shapes with a Vidstrup rug, Prism Pendant lighting fixture, striped clothes hamper and patterned throw pillows. Those pieces create a modern and posh feel, and will be great transitional objects in the future as baby grows into a toddler and even a teen. Where I did incorporate stars, I made sure they were clean and consistent with the serene sky colors.

The focal point

All eyes go to the Patterned Star Wall decal on the crib wall, which is simple and sophisticated yet still playful. The decals are easy to peel and stick—and can be repositioned without damaging the wall paint. The Morning Zoo Star Mobile completes the geometric picture.

4 Takeaway Tips

1. Placement is key. To create a focal point, add the star decals to the largest wall in the room and position the crib against it. Place the star mobile above the top of crib, off to one side. Angle the tepee in a corner and the lounger in the other corner. The rug should unite all the elements and be centered at the crib toward the middle of the space.
2. For a modern look, opt for neutrals in most of the larger pieces of furniture. Furniture with retro, angled legs, like the bookcase, crib and dresser, offers balance and consistency.
3. Don’t be afraid to mix and match prints. Just stay true to your color palette and mind the scale of the patterns. For example, the only item with a larger scale is the rug with the trapezoids. And even then, the geometry of the rug echoes other shapes in the room, like the triangles in the bedding and pillows. I incorporated yet more shapes like drops and moons into the bedding because they’re small and relevant to the sky theme.
4. Give it personality! Add whimsical touches to the space in the form of fun bedding and accessories, like the happy-faced cloud pillow, child-friendly artwork and bold lighting design. Don’t be afraid to use edgier, more sophisticated light fixtures; unlike bedding, it can last a long time and be reused in another space later on.

The splurge

Furniture that you can use as baby grows are definitely worth the extra investment. A convertible crib becomes a toddler bed, and a changing table with storage becomes a dresser when the diapers are done. Since you’ll be spending so many hours in the room, a lounge chair is splurge-worthy too, especially if you love the design.

Have fun with the décor, and be sure to incorporate items that will not only be functional but that will make you want to spend quality time with baby in his space. The tepee is a great example!

Shop the look

1. Crib: Babyletto scoot 3-in-1 convertible crib white/washed natural, $399-$499, Target; Crib mattress: Safety 1st Heavenly Dreams White Crib Mattress, $52.99, Amazon

2. Dresser: Babyletto Scoot 3-Drawer Changer Dresser, White/Washed Natural, $399, Amazon; Changing pad: Simmons Contour Changing Pad, $39, Land of Nod

3. Wall decal: Patterened Stars Wall Decal, $34.99, Etsy

4. Mobile: The Morning Zoo Star Mobile, $59, Etsy

5. Frames: Gallery Perfect Wall Kit 5-Piece (Natural), $33.49, Target

6. Picture ledge: Ribba Picture Ledge, $14.99, IKEA

7. String lights: Xhilaration Paper Star String Lights, $14.99, Target

8. Chair: Open Arms Swivel Lounge (gunmetal), $999, LandofNod

9. Pillow: Monochrome Decorative Pillow, $36 Etsy

10. Pillow: Reach for the Stars Pillow with insert, $29.75 Etsy

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