The Leo
I love the timeless, collected feeling of this nursery design. The primary goal was to create a space that felt like it could be lifted from a Nancy Meyers set - filled with classic lines, heritage quality, and subtle pattern play. Importantly, it also needed to be able to grow with baby through childhood and not feel overly “baby-ish”. Click through the images above to see the transformation from mood board to rendering.
Usually, for me, the jumping off piece for a room design will be the rug, art, fabric or heirloom furniture - but for this design the inspiration was actually the chair and ottoman. I love the classic-yet-updated form, masculine tonal stripe and generous scale. It has a welcoming feel - like you could sink into it and spend hours cozied up (which, honestly is exact function of a nursery glider). I also love that it could be moved to the living room or primary bedroom someday when little one grows and decides he wants a desk instead of a glider.
The patterned rug was also an early decision, since it immediately set that slightly heritage tone I was after, grounding the space while still keeping it soft and approachable. Vertical paneling followed naturally - it adds just enough architectural interest to the walls without competing with the furnishings or artwork, and it’s one of those details that quietly elevates a nursery.
From there, the furniture choices fell into place. I love pairing darker woods with black in a nursery because it adds depth and contrast while still feeling classic. The black crib brings structure to the room, while the warm wood dresser adds richness and a sense of permanence.
The wall decor is where the personality really starts to show. Nurseries shine when they have sentimental, meaningful touches - collected nostalgia, hand-me-downs and antiques all help tell a story and lift rooms out of a mass-produced catalog and into real life. Vintage-inspired sports pieces, like the wooden tennis racket and pennant, felt like the right way to introduce character without leaning into novelty; they hint at tradition and shared interests, but still leave plenty of room for the space to evolve as the child grows.
Throughout the room, storage was layered in thoughtfully, blending woven baskets and wire bins so the space feels practical but still collected. In the end, this nursery is less about any single statement and more about how all the elements work together to create a space that feels comfortable, intentional, and timeless.
If you’re drawn to layered, thoughtful spaces and want guidance through every step of the design process, my virtual nursery design services may be a great fit. You can learn more here:
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