Hi friends, it’s Courtney here to share my son Forrest’s finished nursery. A few months back I posted my mood board while I was still pregnant — now baby is here and the room is complete. I’m thrilled with how it turned out and excited to show you around.
Budget Friendly Nursery
The nursery vision: I wanted a calm neutral backdrop with pops of color, pattern, and texture through accessories. The space should feel restful yet playful and reflect our coastal Pacific Northwest surroundings with nods to sailboats, botanicals, and warm wood tones.
This wasn’t a high-budget room — we mixed a few new pieces with many hand-me-downs and thoughtful gifts.
The room strikes a balance between whimsical kids’ details and the calm, cozy style I love. It’s a happy, inviting place to spend time with Forrest.
You can watch a short VIDEO of this room below!
I like neutrals and muted tones, but I didn’t want the room to feel one-note. Starting with a neutral backdrop let me layer colorful books, toys, and lively accessories so the space feels both serene and fun.
Because we rent this townhouse, I kept the walls as a soft greige rather than painting. It provides a calm, simple backdrop that works well with the rest of the room.
The room holds so many meaningful items from the community that supported us as we prepared for Forrest. There are generous hand-me-downs, thoughtful gifts from family and friends, and surprises from online friends I connected with on Instagram.
A felt pennant with Forrest’s name and a painted woodland piece above the crib were gifts from an online friend. A fabric bunting and knitted booties arrived from another kind follower, and a felt dog came from a friend in Germany. Seeing these tokens around the room makes it feel extra special.
I may add a rug over the carpet later. While I don’t love carpet, it’s been practical for floor playtime and cozy moments on the floor.
For a renter-friendly solution we hung curtains with Command hooks on a lightweight curtain rod. This approach gives the look of hung curtains without permanent hardware.
A handmade quilt from a family friend features coastal touches that feel right at home here. I’ll treasure it for years to come.
The crib is the Sniglar from Ikea — simple, affordable, and made of solid beech wood. It converts to a toddler bed and fits the light wood tones I used throughout the room. We use a breathable mattress and a crib sheet set with trees and stripes.
After asking on Instagram, a follower kindly painted the woodland art above the crib. It’s the perfect whimsical centerpiece for the wall.
The dresser is Ikea Hemnes. We planned to use it as a changing station with a wipeable pad but currently use it mainly for storage, with an extra small dresser nearby for more organization.
Drawer organizers and Ikea Skubb boxes keep clothing neat and easy to find. I swapped the dresser’s original knobs for simple wood ones to better match the room’s aesthetic.
A botanical print that used to hang in my mom’s house found a new spot here. It sits in an affordable frame and brings a textured, timeless feel to the wall. An elephant basket from a local antique store adds character and storage.
A wooden bird touch lamp from a friend provides dimmable soft light for nighttime feedings. We also use another small touch lamp for convenience.
I fell in love with the built-in window bench when we toured the house. The colorful bunting across the window adds a joyful pop of color.
A hand-me-down Ikea Ektorp chair serves as a cozy spot for nursing and reading. I considered a glider but decided to start with what we already had. It’s comfortable and has worked well so far.
A simple DIY ribbon display with clear hooks and mini clothespins showcases cards and instant camera photos that capture moments as Forrest grows. It’s a sweet rotating gallery that adds personality to the room.
Command hooks are handy behind the door to display special outfits. Babies outgrow clothes so quickly; hanging favorites lets us enjoy them longer.
A small side table with a removable lid doubles as discreet storage for blankets or toys and keeps essentials close to the chair.
A sailboat art print evoked memories of a neighborhood where we once lived and started a collection of meaningful artwork for our home. The artist also included an original watercolor that I displayed in a shadowbox.
A white house-shaped shelf (an older find) holds books and decorative toys. It will be moved when Forrest starts crawling, but for now it’s a charming display that doubles as storage.
Many of the children’s books on the shelves are favorites from my own childhood — reading them to Forrest has been a nostalgic joy. A basket by the chair holds a rotating selection of books for our daily reading.
Thank you for joining our little nursery tour!
I’ll share a detailed roundup of baby registry picks soon — items we’ve used and loved in the first months with Forrest. If you’re preparing for a new baby or shopping for a new mom, that post may be helpful. Subscribe to the newsletter to be notified when it’s up.
You can follow me on Instagram for more of our home and daily life.
Not seeing something you’re curious about? Many items and additional sources were shared throughout the post and in the shop folder referenced in the original article.
More Posts by Courtney:
5 Clever Ways to Make a Small Space Cozy and Inviting (Courtney’s Apartment)
Courtney’s Apartment Tour (500 Square Feet!)
Courtney’s Small Apartment Bedroom
Courtney’s Seattle Studio Apartment Tour
How to Hang Curtains with Command Hooks (Renter Friendly Hack!)
See all posts from Courtney here.