I love sharing these adorable nurseries and the inspiration behind them with you guys each month! It’s so interesting learning what sparks my clients creativity. I can definitely see how the adorable animal baskets got Tara started on the Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery theme for her baby girl!
Sometimes themes can get out of hand and keeping it simple is always a good option. I think Tara did a fabulous job of including the animals without making it over the top!
Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery
What inspired your nursery design?
Short answer: animal shaped wicker baskets from pottery barn. Long answer: there was a popular wallpaper with bunnies and deer on it that was circulating. I adored the fairytale style. I never purchased it because one roll was $500 but the theme stuck.
Did you have a particular budget in mind for your Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery?
Around $3000, but a few things were gifted to us from our registry, like our recliner
On which items did you splurge vs. save?
Splurged on Pottery Barn dresser/changing table. Would have splurged on the matching crib, but Covid delayed the production for a year. So ultimately saved on an almost identical crib by Davinci. Saved on the furry rug, found it on Etsy! Also saved on the flower hoops on her walls. I made those for about $30 with Michael’s craft store supplies.
Did you experience any challenges with your nursery design?
Yes, paint color was a struggle. As I mentioned earlier, wallpaper was my first choice but everything was so so expensive. For paint the pinks were too pepto-bismol and too overwhelming on big walls. Tried and off-white but in her room the lighting made it look like a dingy yellow, yuck! Finally found the nice Barren Plain color from Benjamin Moore. What a headache! Her room is almost a complete square, but her door bumps out and makes the proportions off. I had to move things around for the flow to make sense. Especially when I realized light from the window was leaking through into her crib in the original orientation I had it.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery?
I was happy to make it look so polished but the small little personal items and decor make it special.
Any final tips or advice?
Less is more. I see some nurseries that have décor and more. But I wasn’t sure what would really ring true for my baby before I knew her personality. I left a lot of things out and have them stored in her closet. If she grows into it, great, if not, it’s not cluttered which is great. Don’t fret too much about windows. I did and it was a waste because ultimately I became obsessed with how dark can I make this room? Blackout curtains rule my life now.
Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery Shopping List
Mirror: Target
Rug: Etsy
Crib: Davinci
Dresser: Pottery Barn
Baskets: Pottery Barn – Hedgehog, Fox, Owl
Recliner: Davinci
Curtains: West Elm
Hi there and thank you for stopping by! I’m Melissa, owner of Melissa Arlena Photography, a Miami FL newborn photographer specializing in young and growing families in South Florida. I hope you enjoyed this Woodland Forest Creatures Nursery feature I shared today and if you are interested in talking with me more about a lifestyle newborn session, let’s connect. Not quite ready, but know you want to keep me in your back pocket? No problem! Follow me on Instagram and let’s be friends!
Melissa Arlena is an award winning lifestyle newborn photographer in Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia who has earned her Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in maternity, newborn and family photography. Her natural and simple work has been featured in magazines and online blogs worldwide. She has been named Best Maternity and Newborn Photographer in Richmond and Charlottesville, VA in 2023.
