How to design a garden-inspired nursery

It was quite the transformation. When Jackie Treitz moved in with her husband-to-be, Justin, this room was full of hockey posters and chunky wooden furniture. As soon as she found out she was expecting a girl, Jackie’s designer instinct kicked in. Having studied interior design, she knew exactly what she wanted: a whimsical yet peaceful retreat her daughter, Penelope, would still love as a discerning 10-year-old. “We wanted something special that would mature with her, not something we’d need to tweak in a year or two,” Jackie says. She started building collages on her computer, trying out different combinations. “I don’t like the notion of everything being matchy-matchy, so I played around with lots of texture, patterns and colours.” Jackie knew she wanted a statement wall and had her heart set on wallpaper (as the owner of the Paper Bakery, a custom stationery company, she’s passionate about prints). She found this eye-popping pattern online at Rifle Paper Co. “I loved the green and how bold it is. It’s sweet but not so soft.” At $190 US a roll, it was pricey, so she scrimped on other items. She found the dresser on Craigslist and bought the bookcase and crib severely marked down. Because the wallpaper has such star power, she kept the other elements in the room simple; the shag carpet, crib and glider are all shades of white. Eclectic details—the soft coral bedding, the framed photographs, the grey-and-white ottoman—pick up colours in the wallpaper and pull it all into a cohesive look. “I can’t tell you how much I love the room,” says Jackie. “It’s a sanctuary—it’s just so calm and serene.”

“Everyone told me not to buy a glider, but I love it and use it every day,” says Jackie. “I picked one that matched other furniture I had, so I could move it into the living room someday.”

Tip: Add design elements that can become play areas later on.

Jackie can’t wait until Penelope is old enough to play in here. TheCuckooClocks of BC makes similar tents. From $177, etsy.com

When Penelope wakes up, Jackie lifts her so she can touch the chandelier. “It puts the biggest smile on her face.” Dauphine Crystal, $399, rhbabyandchild.com

A light touch

This bold wallpaper pattern pairs well with Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. Isabelle Blue, $44 US per roll, grahambrown.com/ca

This soft striped sweater knit blanket picks up on the pinks and corals in the room. $58 US, serenaandlily.com

British Columbia artist Mariah Taschuk sells her sweet prints on Etsy. $14, 1840atelier at etsy.com

A version of this article appeared in our January 2016 issue with the headline “Room to grow,” pp. 70-5.

Baby stuff can get expensive. Check out this video on how to save money on baby gear:

Read more: Sweet and sophisticated nursery decor How to design a modern nursery Whimsical DIY-inspired nursery design