Nursery tours have got to be one of our favourite spaces to explore! And today, we’re excited to take a look around a sweet, storybook-inspired nursery that’s as calming as it is imaginative.
New parents, Steph and Josh created a whimsical woodland haven, complete with forest creatures, soft neutral tones and a DIY dresser that may just steal the show.
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When it came to their dream baby nursery, Steph knew she wanted something that would feel magical, meaningful and stand the test of time.
“We wanted a timeless storybook, woodland theme that revolved around animals and nature. Something that would spark curiosity and wonderment,” says Steph.
“Both of us have fond memories of childhood classics like Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh. We had a couple of gorgeous vintage Beatrix Potter and Winnie the Pooh books from when we were kids, and that’s what sparked the inspiration for the room.
“It was quite deliberate that we used more natural and gender-neutral tones and pieces throughout the nursery. We would like any future sibling to share the room, so keeping things gender-neutral made the most sense.
“As we were expecting a baby girl, we added a few sweet feminine details that complemented the storybook theme.”
Every detail of this nursery was thoughtfully considered, starting with the stunning wallpaper that brings the entire storybook concept to life.
“We chose the wallpaper first, as that tied the storybook/woodland theme together perfectly. It’s called ‘Huck & Finn’ from Wallblush. We had it shipped from the United States, and then had it professionally installed,” Steph explains.
“The wallpaper definitely anchored the style of the room. It almost feels like a whimsical scene from the Hundred Acre Wood in Winnie the Pooh.” Steph smiles.
The next step in creating this forest inspired nursery was curating pieces and colours that felt soft and nostalgic.
“Once we’d settled on the wallpaper, the rest of the room started to come together. We looked for good quality pieces that matched the more neutral tone, choosing natural wood where possible,” Steph explains.
“The cot and floating shelves are from Mocka. Our nursing chair is the Chelsea Glider from Il Tutto in the colour Eggshell. The side table is from Kmart and the bookcase is the OLI Library revolving bookcase from My Duckling.
“Then there are the small little details that really bring the entire space together. The adorable fox toy basket and Beatrix Potter Flopsy Bunny comforter are both from Pottery Barn. The cot sheets and floral cushion are from Fledge & Thread. We chose a baby bunny mobile from Lolabé, and the Winnie the Pooh sketch prints are from Etsy.”
We are suckers for a good DIY project, and even more so when it looks as good as this one.
“When it came to the dresser, we ended up going down the DIY route. We really loved the idea of a forest green feature piece as a contrast against the neutral style of everything else in the room. Preferably with some timeless brushed brass knobs or finishes,” Steph says.
“A lot of the store-bought options we liked seemed to be in the United States or, the ones we found in Australia had crazy price tags. So instead, we decided to tackle it ourselves.
“We purchased the solid wood HEMNES chest of drawers from IKEA and settled on Dulux Government Green for the paint colour. The drawer pulls are the Lane 24mm brass knurled knobs, purchased from Bunnings.
“We found a lot of useful tips and tricks on how to tackle our painting project on Reddit and Instagram.”
Warm, whimsical and wonderfully nostalgic, this forest inspired nursery proves that creating a gender-neutral space doesn’t mean compromising on charm. Thank you to so much to Steph and Josh for sharing this beautiful space with us. And huge congratulations to them too, having recently welcomed their sweet baby girl into the world!
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