When my daughter was born we were living in a tiny apartment in Washington, DC. I spent hours researching how to raise a baby in a small space, how to be minimalistic with kids, and what items you really need (as compared to the many things that are often recommended). It was nice to have an excuse to only own the basics and we didn’t feel that our house was overrun by all of the baby stuff when she arrived. I learned that there is a lot you can live without and fewer things often mean less anxiety- at least for me.
We had recently moved out to the suburbs when our son came along. Since we would be re-using all of the white nursery furniture for baby boy I wanted to find a theme that was more neutral. I loved the idea of a jungle animal theme but still wanted to keep it simple. I am more drawn to bold colors and adored the bright bedding that Crate & Kids offered. At the end of the day, it was a little loud for our (my husband’s) taste and we reverted back to the safety of grays and browns. I was able to add in some yellow and green accents which worked well with the other neutrals.
I finally had a chance to take some pictures of Elliot’s nursery. All of the furniture came from Pottery Barn, as well as the bedding and giraffe blanket. I had seen some adorable baby animal prints on Etsy and choose these, which were easy to print and frame myself. One of my favorite things about this room is the sign hanging over his bed, which says, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you always.” This verse from Joshua 1:9 is something I pray for both of my children and I love the daily reminder when I walk into his room each day.
Let’s be honest- this is what the room looked like when he was a baby. Now that he’s older and walking, the books are usually in a pile at the bottom of the bookcase, the closet doors are never closed, and the animal prints on the wall are often a little crooked (because who wants to lay down to get your diaper changed when you can stand). And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Happy Planning,
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