When I found out I was having a little boy, I had no idea what to do for his nursery. My whole house is full of neutral and brown tones; I wanted his bedroom to be the exception.  And that’s where I started. So, if you need a little inspiration for creating a nursery on a budget, then this is the place to be.

Start with the feeling, not the shopping list

It’s easy to go online or walk into a store and buy everything you want for your baby boy’s nursery. But if you want to build intentionally, you wouldn’t want to do that because those things will most likely be replaced in a couple of months once you find what you really wanted in the first place.

Have you ever heard the saying ‘good things take time ‘? Keep that in mind as you create your little one’s nursery. Think about the atmosphere that you want for the room. Do you want it warm or cool? Soft textures? Natural materials? What type of lighting do you want? Do you have a theme in mind? What colors do you gravitate to naturally?

It was important to me that my son have a colorful and playful room. Designing it for him definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. But I love a challenge. I wanted cool colors; I wanted it to be peaceful and playful.

Choosing the Color Palette

Blue

The colors I chose to create a cozy boy’s nursery are different shades of blue. I painted part of the wall and the ceiling a light blue, and got curtains that were a few shades darker. Ended up painting the floating shelves that came in a natural wood color light blue. I used the same paint that I used on the wall. I bought wall art in a similar shade of blue that blended with the rest of the room. And I was so excited to watch it come together. Once the room was complete, I bought a beautiful blue vase for his bedroom since I love to keep flowers in my house.

Natural Wood

Natural wood tones were also a constant color in my baby boy’s nursery. I chose that because we already have darker wood-toned decor and furniture throughout our home, and I wanted my boy’s room to be completely different from the rest of the house. I painted the top of the dresser to look more like natural wood; my baby’s crib, closet, and storage unit have hints of the same color. It all blends in naturally, and that’s exactly what I was hoping for when I designed the room.

White

I’m not sure how I ended up liking and picking this color. Maybe it was the beautiful contrast I saw between the blue and white walls as I was painting, so I thought it might look even better with white furniture. I painted his dresser and crib white, and it looked better than I expected. I also added beautiful bronze handles, and the furniture had a hint of natural wood, which tied it all together.

Creating a cozy nursery from scratch: The pieces that made the biggest difference

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There are a few pieces that tied the room together and made it feel softer and beautiful:

• The rug – it’s playful and ties the room together beautifully. It has small squares of white and neutral tones. It looks like a rug that was designed with kids specifically in mind.
• Soft Blue Blanket – Soft, cozy, and a great fit for the nursery.
• Rocking chair – A great addition to the room; it’s neutral and adds to the room’s coziness. I wanted somewhere comfortable to sit because I could already picture late-night feedings, and moments I could just stare at him.
• Storage unit – Beautiful natural wood with blue-and-white storage baskets.
• Soft lighting – Sconces that change color have been a game-changer, making the room feel cozy and elevated. I personally prefer warm lighting over bright overhead light.

I linked everything I could from my son’s nursery; you’ll find it here.

Adding personal touches

This was my favorite part about decorating my boy’s nursery: adding a personal touch.

• Family photos – I added a few family pictures to make the room feel personal; my baby’s ultrasound photos are in there, pictures of his dad and me when we were kids, our maternity photos, and so much more. Now that my son is born, I’m planning to add a lot more of his pictures throughout the room.
• Books – I probably bought 4 books in total myself, and the rest were gifts from family and friends. Someone will always gift you books, so wait until after your baby shower or after your baby is born before you start buying a ton. Keep space in mind, and keep in mind what the baby will like over time. Reading him the same book for a couple of months is okay.
• Stuffed animals – There’s going to be one or two your baby ends up liking once he starts being aware, so choose well haha.
• A meaningful blanket – My baby has the most beautiful light blue blanket that will grow with him. I just imagine him dragging it with him when he’s ready to take a nap. It’s also going to be one of those sentimental things that I put away when he’s older and give to him when he has his own children one day.
• A piece passed down from family – My mother-in-law gave us my husband’s rocking horse from when he was a baby, and now it belongs to my son. I’m sure it means a whole lot to my husband to have in our son’s nursery.

Adding your own personal touch is what really ties the room together. Use your imagination, get excited, and decorate the room so it feels like it’s meant for your favorite little human, because it really is.

Before I chose paint colors and figured out where everything would go, I was just trying to make it through the first trimester. There was so much excitement, but also a lot of exhaustion and figuring things out as I went. If you’re in that stage right now, you might want to read my First Trimester Survival Guide before diving into all things nursery.

My biggest tip for creating a boy’s Nursery

Don’t focus on creating the perfect nursery. Focus on creating a room that feels comfortable and welcoming to you. You don’t need expensive furniture or a perfectly coordinated theme. Do what you can, and I guarantee it’s more than enough. Remember: don’t buy everything at once; the pieces that matter most to you will find you naturally.

When I walk into my son’s nursery, I feel so proud of what his dad and I created. It took us a couple of months to complete, but it was worth it. When I change my son’s diaper, rock him to sleep, or play with him in the morning as the sun shines brightly through the window, I feel grateful that I was able to put this together for him. It’s perfect for him. I hope you can create something similar for your little boy too.