As soon as I walked into the back room, I knew it was what we were looking for (in terms of a nursery). I loved this room because of how bright it was. Like the dining room, the nursery has windows that wrap around the room. I knew this would be a place where Emet would spend a lot of time playing and exploring, so I wanted it to be very bright and cheery.

The problem with this room was that it was completely filthy! I mean disgusting! The walls were covered in dirt and discolored. In several places, it looked like someone had spilled liquid on the wall and left it there for several years. 😂 Also, there were only blinds in one window and the rest were open and very dirty.

We spent several days cleaning this room and preparing to paint. As with the other rooms in the house, we used Gravity on all of the walls and a semi-gloss white for the doors and trim. We also made sure that all of the windows had matching blinds to provide privacy and keep the room cool during the hot summer months.

We purchased Emet's crib from Ikea. It's the SNIGLAR line - which comes in a natural unfinished wood (and also happens to be one of the least expensive options they have). Win. It adjusts in 3 stages, so you can get a lot of use out of it. It has become one of Emet's favorite places to be for quiet and relaxation. Haha. 😊

Calvin made me these shelves out of some scrap wood we had. I have fond memories of being 9 months pregnant and watching Calvin build these for Emet's nursery. They worked perfectly for storing all of Emet's blankets, crib sheets, an d burp rags.

I've loved seeing his room fill up with gifts from dear loved ones. It makes spending time together with Emet in his room even more special.

One of the benefits of this room is its location. It's far enough away from the living room that it doesn't get a lot of noise, but it's close to the kitchen, so Emet can peek in while we are in the kitchen preparing meals and working.

We wanted to make Emet's nursery as functional as possible. We decided to use the top of his dressed as his changing table. We've been pleased with how easy it is to use, while not losing any space in the small room.

From early on, we knew we wanted to go with a "woodland" theme for his room. We wanted to introduce a theme that encouraged being outdoors and adventuring as early as possible. 😉

Because this is an older home, closet space is limited. To make storing clothes and seasonal items, we purchased these bins from Target.

What I like about using bins for storage is that they allow you to access things with out making a mess whenever you get things out.  We've tried the technique of simply stacking clothes, but over time, this gets messy and impractical - especially when you are in a hurry.

We knew that Emet's closet would be open most of the time, so we wanted it to feel bright, clean, and organized. These cute little storage bins really helped achieve the look we were going for while also serving their purpose.

This room has provided such a special place to spend time with Emet and watch him grow up. It has proven to be both functional and enjoyable to spend time in. It's always a welcomed challenge to look past the mess of a room when you first move in. But laying on the floor and playing with your little one in the finished product is what makes it all worth it.

What are some ways that have made your nursery more functional and enjoyable to be in?

|  Credits: Author and Photography - Jacintha Payne  |