Nesting & Nursery 101: Charlotte’s Nursery

Ahh, nesting. It was one of my most favorite things about being pregnant. Creating Charlotte’s nursery was so much fun not just for me but for MJ as well. It was such a sweet and special time. The hubs and I have some of the best memories putting her room together and getting things ready for her arrival. I have pictures of him painting her walls and ironing her curtains, and I even have pictures of my huge 40-weeks-pregnant belly in front of her crib. Those moments will forever be in my heart. 

I had always envisioned the nursery for my baby to be a beautiful, peaceful room. And as soon as we found out that we were having a girl, my brain went into planning over-drive. Here are a few tips for nesting and creating a nursery. 

1) Pick a color scheme. 

When friends would ask me what I wanted my nursery theme to be, I didn’t have one. I’m not big on “themes” per se, so I picked a color scheme. I knew I didn’t want pink because it would find its way into our lives in many different ways. So I went with gray (my favorite home decor color), lavender (purple is one of my favorite colors), and shades of white (so classic). 

2) Take your time. 

I mentioned here that you would need to purchase your crib and nursery furniture early if the furniture is a special order. It was our experience that the delivery of the big pieces took several months. Be prepared to wait. However, you have almost 8 months (in most cases) to get your space ready for your little’s arrival. You don’t want to get the nursery done too early because then you’ll be twiddling your thumbs for the remainder of your pregnancy. The end of your pregnancy is brutal enough. You’ll want to keep yourself busy with last-minute details. Trust me, sister. 

3) Be practical.

Lately, with the gazillion nursery images on Pinterest (and other social media sites), a person could go just a tad bit crazy in creating the perfect nursery. Pick a budget and stick with it. You can find amazing bargains for little details and the big ticket items. Stay up-to-date with sales from your favorite stores by subscribing to their email list or by downloading their app. Also, consider buying furniture that will last forever. We went with pieces that would grow with Charlotte. Her crib can be converted into a toddler bed and a full-size bed, and her changing station can be turned into an entertainment center when she’s older. 

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Before I go into the details of Charlotte’s nursery, I want to explain just how special her nursery is to us. One of MJ’s dad’s final wishes was to take care of his unborn grandbaby’s nursery. MJ’s dad, my sweet, sweet father-in-law, lost his battle with cancer when I was almost 20-weeks pregnant, right before we found out I was having a girl. He had guessed we were having a girl, but that is a whole different story. Because he wanted his little grandbaby to have a very special room, we were able to create the perfect nursery with so much meaning, built with so much love. It’s our little piece of heaven on earth. Of course, a lot of our family and friends have also contributed to her nursery making it the most special space in our home. 

The inspiration.

When I first saw this picture from Pottery Barn Kids, I knew instantly that this was going to be what Charlotte’s nursery would look like.  The ruffles, lavender, owls (I have loved owls since college; they were my sorority’s symbol. Go Chi O!), and dainty details were perfect. Unfortunately, the bedding isn’t sold anymore at PBK, but they have some beautiful lavender options if you want something similar. 

The details. 

All of {these} pictures below are of pictures taken when I was pregnant and in nesting mode. 

Monogram by Southern Proper Monograms. 

This is the 3-Letter 18-Inch Monogram for $48, one of the better prices I found for this type of monogram.  It comes unpainted. We used spray paint to finish it. This monogram is one of my favorite details in her room.

Here’s a picture of her crib, monogram, and frame once everything was in place. Chapman even made an appearance. The frame is from Hobby Lobby; if you buy one, don’t forget to use the 40%-off coupon. 

Since Charlotte’s room is a tad on the smaller side, I wanted to open it up to appear larger. An easy way to do this was to take down her closet doors and use these curtains as “doors.” I also wanted easy access to her shelving inside the closet. It was a win-win. 

The details now.