Darling Small Space Nursery

If this room had a soundtrack I’m pretty sure it would be French, there would be a xylophone solo, and after hearing it you’d have a sudden urge to wear ballet flats and eat macarons.

A bit much?

Today’s post is proof that lots of square footage is not required for a gorgeous space. This room tour is such a special one because I got to lend a hand in the early stages as my dear friend Hannah pulled together all the pieces in this darling nursery for her baby girl Mazie.

By the way, this room is less than 100 square feet!

Hannah and I sat down in a nearly empty room during her second trimester and began dreaming up what this space could look like. I don’t think either one of us knew how darling it would turn out in the end.

I’m going to let the pictures do the talking for now, but at the end of the post I’ll share few of the details and the inspiration for the room, how decor coaching helped Hannah pull this room together, and some tips to for decorating a small space nursery.

Get ready for some design eye candy, friends…

JUMPING OFF POINT
A roll of fabric started it all. Years before baby Mazie was even a thought, Hannah found the vintage inspired circus themed fabric. She was instantly drawn to the whimsical mood and the color scheme.

Not only was Hannah not pregnant when she bought the fabric, she wasn’t even married yet!

But she knew if she ever did get married, she’d probably have a baby. And THIS fabric had to live in her one-day baby’s nursery.

She called it her “hope fabric”. I just love that, don’t you?

DESIGN SCHEME
The “hope fabric” became the crib bedding and set the tone for the whole the nursery. It also helped to solidify the color scheme. Hannah said she wanted her nursery to feel soft, classic, and tailored with just a bit of whimsy.

When we sat down to nail down the specific design elements, she had her fabric, hot air balloon mobile, and some artwork. Here’s what Hannah had to say about needing help in the process…

“Honestly the hardest part for me was staying focused…I love so many styles-modern, monochromatic, bold, neutral, vintage-I love it all! And with all the place for inspiration like Pinterest, Project Nursery and even the Decor Fix, it’s hard not to want ALL THE THINGS! Add a next-to-nothing budget on top of that, and it was a challenge.

After Heather and I talked, she helped me realize that I needed to add grey into the mix to bring depth and balance the warm tones already happening in the room. Also figuring out the floor plan was a biggie since we had to fit pieces into such a small room.”

One of the things I love about Hannah is how she’s all about the details. From the glass knobs to the little feather layered on the dresser, there’s so much to love.

ART HELPS TO REINFORCE THE MOOD
These prints are by one of my favorite illustrators, Emily Winfield Martin. Her Etsy shop, the Black Apple, is full of pieces that convey whimsical innocence with a slightly moody edge. Some pieces are even a bit dark and haunting. They are intriguing and gorgeous and make me feel sad and happy at the same time. I wish I had a gallery wall of just her stuff.

TIPS FOR DECORATING A SMALL SPACE NURSERY

1. FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS.
When it comes down to it, the only three things you really need in a nursery are the following…

A. Crib
B. Changing table
C. Glider/rocker

Everything else is just a bonus. Truly. Obviously you need a place for clothes, but a newborn’s clothes take up very little space and a well organized closet will have more than enough room. Having a dresser that doubles as a changing table is definitely the way to go.

2. USE VERTICAL SPACE.
Hannah had her dad build cabinets above her glider and changing table because she knew she needed the closed storage area, but wouldn’t be able to fit another piece of furniture in the room.

In Gemma’s nursery (also a small space), I hung wire baskets on the wall and added floating shelves above the dresser/changing table to give us lots of vertical storage space.

3. MAKE THE WALLS “WORK IT”.
If you have little space, then every inch needs to count. Hannah’s vertical stripes in Mazie’s nursery are like a superstar design element in this room. Other ways to utilize walls to give lots of style to a small space would be…

A. Use wall decals, wallpaper, or stencils to create a focal wall.
B. Create a large gallery wall to be a focal point.
C. Add architectural details to walls, like a faux board and batten.

It’s amazing what can happen in a small space nursery when you decorate with intention, right?

One more picture just because…sigh.

SOURCE LIST:
*Please note that many items used in this space were vintage or custom made. Any item not listed below falls into those two categories or is no longer available.

-Glider via Target
-Pink pintuck pillow via Urban Outfitters
-Crib via Walmart
-Gold ottoman (similar one found here)
-Hovering hot air balloon via BHLDN
-Girl and bear print & Girl on carousel prints via The Black Apple
-“I’ll Eat You Up…” print Lindsay Letters available at Hobby Lobby.
-“Cat’s Pajama’s” & “Bee’s Knees” postcards via The Black Apple

*Pictures taken by the oh-so-talented Meg White Photography.

Q: Are you or someone you know planning a nursery?
What’s been the biggest struggle for you?