After months of work, I’m excited to share our finished baby girl woodland nursery, filled with playful DIY touches and cozy details.
Big moment here: the nursery is finally complete, even though Baby G is already 7.5 months old. A little background — I posted this vision board about ten months ago, and it guided the entire room. Having that starting point made the process so much easier and kept the project focused.
If you’re wondering what a real-life room makeover looks like, this is it. Unlike TV reveals that happen in an hour, real renovations take time—especially when you’re juggling everyday life and a small budget. I stayed pretty focused on finishing this one, but it still unfolded at a realistic pace.
Here’s the original vision board that inspired the whole scheme.
A quick tip: start a redesign with a vision board. When I have a visual reference, I move forward with confidence. Without it, I get distracted and lose direction. When I felt stuck, I returned to the board and kept going.
Some elements match the inspiration exactly—many of the prints and artwork are the same pieces I used. The furniture, however, was inspiration-only; instead of buying new pieces, I refinished the crib and dresser I already owned, painting them a soft gray to save money and keep a cohesive look.
I changed my mind several times on fabrics—small confession: I’m indecisive when it comes to textiles—but I’m happy with the selections I eventually chose. See the sources at the end if you want details.
Now for the details. The nursery curtains came from Target and I added pink pom-pom trim for a sweet touch. To keep the room dark during naps, I often drape a navy blanket over the window lining.
I refinished the dresser and crib using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint with clear and dark wax, creating a custom gray color (I shared the recipe in separate posts). The pink knobs on the dresser are from Hobby Lobby and add a playful contrast to the gray finish.
Several pieces are DIY: the custom lampshade and the plush deer head were made by hand. The deer head was one of the first ideas I wanted in the room; instead of buying one, I followed a pattern and tutorial to make it. The antlers are real—from a buck my husband hunted early in our marriage—which makes the piece personal and meaningful to our family.
A small wall basket holds items I need within reach but out of baby’s reach: a toy for diaper changes, essential oils, coconut oil, hair bows, and burp cloths. I used metal washers to attach it securely to the wall.
The lamb mobile above the crib was a hand-me-down and is perfect for the earliest months, keeping baby entertained during awake time.
I made the wooden arrows above the crib after my preferred Etsy options sold out. They were inexpensive to build, and I shared a tutorial on how to make them. The chevron arrows and the bookshelf ledges are also DIY projects that helped shape that whole wall.
The prints above the crib were the initial inspiration and set the room’s color palette. I loved these whimsical creatures from the moment I saw them and they became the anchor for the entire design.
There’s no such thing as too many stuffed animals—my four-year-old is the household expert on that. Plush friends add warmth and a sense of play to the room.
The gallery wall is one of my favorite vignettes. The moss-and-flower initial came together nicely, and the “be brave” print is a recurring sentiment in our house. I’m tempted to add a DIY “be brave” piece to my older daughter’s room as well.
Two pillows in the room were sewn by my friend Emily from fabric I picked out; I adore the turquoise monogram. The pink crocheted blanket on the chair was a gift from my grandmother after my first daughter was born—she made two identical blankets so each girl would have one. My grandmother passed away two years ago and never met Baby G, so that blanket feels especially meaningful.
A final note: finish the nursery well before your due date if possible. I underestimated the time and energy it takes during the final months of pregnancy, and once the baby arrived it was hard to find time for projects. Give yourself extra margin and you’ll thank yourself later.
One project I ultimately set aside was a painted drop-cloth rug. It didn’t lay well over carpet and kept bunching, so I decided it wasn’t the right solution here. It would likely work better on hardwood with a rug pad, but a traditional rug will have to wait until it’s in the budget.
If you’d like a walkthrough, there’s a Periscope video on YouTube where I show the room and chat through the details—comments are from the Periscope stream, so they may appear out of context on the video hosting site.
Sources:
Fabrics: pink swiss cross, wee wander woods – petal, wee wander meandering – petal
Gray and white basket – Target
Rocker/recliner – Tryp Best Chair
Lamb mobile – Pottery Barn Kids (discontinued; similar available)
Creature prints above crib – Lay Baby Lay (Deer and Armadillo)
Be Brave print – CharmAndGumption Etsy shop
Moss & flower initial – DIY tutorial
Hexagon shelf – Hobby Lobby
I’ll Eat You Up canvas – Hobby Lobby
Pink nightstand – DIY tutorial
Arrows – DIY tutorial
Bookshelf ledges – DIY tutorial
Curtains with pom-pom trim – DIY tutorial
Crib and dresser makeovers – crib and dresser posts
More Posts You Will Love:
- DIY Bookshelf Ledges for the Nursery
- DIY Decorative Arrows
- Beautiful Room Decor Ideas for Girls