Going theme-overboard

I remember all the mommy blogs and pregnancy forums asking “What’s your nursery theme???” To which the answers seemed to be a chorus of Disney characters, types of vehicles, princess (aka all pink all ruffles), jungle/forest/under the sea complete with decals. It was not my scene. Not to say you can’t have a cohesive design statement. In our youngest son’s nursery, I did a loose “global” theme, and tried to incorporate maps/globes, animals from around the world, and prints and textiles that were from or inspired by a variety of cultures and locations.

Buying everything from a baby store

Furniture “sets” exist to make an easy buck off of people that are scared to make a misstep. Trust me when I say you absolutely do NOT need to buy everything matching, or even everything from a big box store or baby brand. That goes for the fancy brands too. Our crib was about $300, and it’s held up perfectly to 2 kids. Likewise, our glider was from Baby’s R Us, but was much more affordable than some of the upscale kid brands. Then we elevated the design with a vintage midcentury dresser (that doubles as a changing table while baby is still in diapers), a beautiful bookshelf from Crate & Kids, a side table from World Market, and a footstool from Article. An eclectic mix with a variety of price points.

Generic art

Perhaps one of my biggest pet peeves is overly cutesy art in nurseries that has very little personality. I much prefer vintage pieces. I hung a vintage world map over the changing table and a set of vintage original acrylic paintings of animals. Both of these were sourced online, but local vintage shops are also a great place to look for paintings, old movie posters, and textiles.

Skipping the blackout shades

Do your sleep-deprived self a favor and spring for some blackout shades or drapes. On a budget, the pull down blinds from the hardware store will work in a pinch, just soften that up with some simple curtain panels that work in your color scheme.

Not thinking ahead

Babies are cute and tiny, and while you’re in the thick of the newborn stage, it feels like they will be little and screaming and not sleeping FOREVER. But don’t blink, because before you know it, they are literally running circles around you, climbing over that crib rail, potty trained, and have a ton more stuff. The prepared nursery is adaptable, prioritizes storage, and isn’t so overly cutesy BABY that everything has to be redecorated for a toddler or preschooler. Use some furniture that has a bit of seriousness to it (like a MCM piece), and don’t spend a ton on a rug in a theme that only a newborn would love. By the time they are 5 or 6 they will have their own opinions and want to redo everything anyway, you might as well make it last until then.

Not prioritizing safety

Interior design gets a reputation for being all fluff and no substance, but really the job of a designer is to make homes that are livable and not just pretty. That is never as true as it is for nurseries, in particular when it comes to your baby’s safety. Follow safe-sleep guidelines, even if that means skipping the cute crib bedding set with the bumper and the pillows. Secure all furniture like dressers and shelving to the walls, and put cords for electronics and window treatments out of reach, or secured to the wall so baby can’t pull at it. It’s also popular to hang art over the crib, but in an earthquake-prone state, I advise against it unless you’re using some really secure hanging mechanism AND sticking everything in place with some museum putty. Even then, I usually recommend something lightweight over the crib, that baby can’t pull down. *Note, these photos were taken when my son was over 18 months and can sleep with a stuffed animal, but the pillow is not in his crib for sleeping.

Photos by Moch Snyder Photography for Maggie Stephens Interiors.