Some of the most loved spaces and source requests in our home are the kids’ nurseries, which brings me so much joy because I poured my heart into creating them. I’m so glad you love them as much as we do. Though the whole design process is fun, the details like shelf styling are always my favorite part because you can really personalize to make them unique, and the options are endless.
For those of you designing nurseries, and maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed on where to start – I’m sharing my top 5 tips for creating nursery #shelfies you will love!
1. Mix pretty & practical .
Incorporate both pretty items like greenery and art with practical items like baby necessities and toys. Use unique and unexpected containers to store every day items like pacifiers. For example, I used a glass food storage container, but baskets are also a good option if you want to conceal an item or reduce clutter.
2. Shop small for unique handmade items.
I love supporting small businesses and finding unique handcrafted items on Etsy – especially for kid’s rooms. I found the cutest little wooden toys on Etsy to style on both Kennedy and Noah’s shelves. For neutral and wood-tone loving people like me, thrift shops and antique stores are other great places to find old wooden toys and decor. They always add so much character and sweetness 🙂
3. Layers and levels!
Shelf styling requires a lot of trial and error and moving / replacing objects until it feels just right. Try out different placements and adjust the various heights to create balance. I like to start with my larger anchor pieces, and fill in with the smaller objects to create layers.
4. Add art or meaningful photos.
Choose items that coordinate with the overall nursery theme or that have sentimental value. For example, I incorporated Sadie’s puppy picture in Noah’s golden retriever nursery, and Kennedy’s framed birth announcement in hers. Framed sonograms, soundwave art of babies heartbeat, pictures of family or mama maternity photos are always sweet options too.
5. Freshen up with plants or flowers.
I think faux or fresh plants/flowers instantly make a room feel more pleasant, fresh and airy. Draping or trailing plants are a good options when styled on a top shelf, while smaller plants are good choices for styling on top of books or in a small vignette.
Here are some of the items I used to style my kids nursery shelves for inspiration, but I encourage you to look on Etsy too – there are so many treasures to be found ! 🙂
Happy Shelf Styling!
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