Buddy Boy’s Bedroom Makeover
Buddy was our surprise baby! We didn’t find out the gender during the 8 week blood testing and held off through the anatomy scan. We got tempted into finding out with our little girl but truthfully, I knew he was a boy by intuition, instinct, or whatever you’d like to call it. I felt like I just didn’t need the confirmation. Honestly, I wasn’t even that surprised on the day he was born. It was still absolutely and purely magical though.
The room really fit him at first. He was a quiet, easy going little baby. Buddy just turned two and he’s definitely outgrown the whole feel of this space. He’s the spunkiest and goofiest little squirt. So, his sweet, innocent nursery room started to feel stark and sterile.
Before —
This image is pulled from our original house listing. We looked at this home because we could see how much potential it had. Each room was nearly empty as the house was occupied by only one individual.
Before moving in, we painted everything white. So his room - and every other room in the house - was plain white and as neutral as possible. The paint brightened the whole house up. Now, we’re working on going through and adding our personal touches.
Bedroom Plan & Sources —
Crib / green sofa / rug (out of stock online) / curtain rod / room darkening curtains / organic crib sheets / acrylic shelves / dino-nugget pillow / storage basket / mirror / frames
The ceiling & paint
Walls: Pure White by Sherwin Williams
Ceiling: Pewter Green by Sherwin Williams
I was hesitant about painting the ceiling green (hello commitment issues) but I’m so glad I did! Bringing the ceiling paint down the wall 6-7 inches was an absolute game changer. I started by strictly painting the ceiling but once I was done, it still didn’t feel finished.
Adding the trim and painting down really pulled everything together. We cut our own 1 in trim pieces out of scrap wood. If you’d rather pick some up at the store, I would go with a super simple shoe moulding.
Doors & Trim —
I didn’t want to mix and match colors so instead, I mixed and matched finishes. The ceiling is a satin paint (it’s just what I had on hand) so I grabbed a quarter of semi-gloss for his doors and trim.
Windows & Curtains
If you’re anything like me, nap time is coveted. No one or no thing better interrupt it (including the darn sun!). I searched HIGH and LOW for room darkening curtains that 1. worked and 2. were in budget. I’ve probably tried 5-6 different brands and types. I’ve found these to be the prettiest, softest, and most effective set.
Curtain rod - THIS is the only curtain rod I use. Truly. If I have a curtain rod in my house, it’s this one. I think it provides enough of a statement while still being sleek and minimal. It comes in black and gold and does NOT budge when you have to yank curtains open and closed. Plus, the price point is fantastic.
Room darkening curtains - THESE are my favorites. They have about 20+ color options, too.
NOTE: I have these curtains paired with a room darkening shade, too. This room is directly South facing and gets a crazy amount of sun during the day. Personally, I don’t think any curtains - blackout, room darkening, or not - really cut out the sun entirely. Pairing these with a cheap shade does wonders.
The crib
His crib - Pottery Barn’s Kendall Convertible - is a hand-me-down. We picked it up at an outlet around out house. We made a 2 day trip out of it when big sis was born. My mom gifted us the whole set. I went up to the outlet with her to pick everything out and then we all drove back with Zack the following day to pick it up. We’ve actively used it for 4+ years and it still looks BRAND new.
Favorite blankets - Kyte baby are simply the best. They’re the softest, most durable baby blankets our kids have ever had. They can’t fall asleep without them!
The dinosaur basket
This wicker dinosaur basket is definitely a crowd favorite. I saw it at HomeGoods one day and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I mentioned seeing it to my mom and she went back and gave it to him for his 2nd birthday. It’s out of stock online but there are some similar options at various price points.
The couch and reading area
I love this little side of his room! Lately, I often find buddy tucked away with a book.
I’ve never had a traditional nursery rocking chair for either one of my kids. Baby girl never actually had her own designated nursery; we always just used our bed for everything.
Instead of getting a single rocker for buddy, we wanted something that could fit the whole family. We spend a lot of time in our kids rooms - playing, reading, talking, cuddling - so we wanted a space for us, too. I decided to purchase THIS green sofa. I initially fell in love with the color, contrasting gold legs, and sleek design. I’ve come to love it for just how functional it is.
The sofa is very forgiving. There have been many nights Zack and I have tag teamed on-and-off sleeping on it. The kids jump and play all over it. The whole family is able to squeeze onto it. Needless to say, it gets a lot of use and it’s held up really well. I wouldn’t recommend it for a everyday family sofa but it’s truly perfect for accent seating.
It’s also easy to clean considering it has velvet fabric. We don’t allow food or drinks in the bedroom but no runny nose, drool spill has ever ruined it. I just spot treat it with my little green machine.
Amazon dino nugget pillow /Target faux fur grey pillow (with additional colors) / Anthropologie bouclé pillow
I firmly believe home is in the details and these pillows add so much personality.
The dresser
We used the IKEA 6-drawer, MALM dresser. I upgraded it as soon as we got it by adding some drawer pulls to it. It is a really great size and when we bought it, it was great value for it’s money. It has served it’s purpose but I really would never recommend IKEA furniture to anyone. I would, however, always recommend buying adult furniture for your nursery. I know it’s so tempting to buy all the mini, baby versions of everything but those babies aren’t babies long.
The main player in this area isn’t the dresser but the décor on it. I love the mix of black, gold, and green in all of these accent pieces.
Mirror - The one I ended up using in his room is an old Selene Wall Mirror from Urban Outfitters. I used to have it in our entry but took it down a few months ago. This Amazon mirror is similar at 1/3 of the price.
Lamps - I thrifted both of these. The big one is from a local shop, Old Mill Pond Village in Granby, CT. The little guy is from a random antique store we visited while in New Hampshire this past winter. They both have my favorite Edison-style bulb HERE.
Sound machine - The Hatch is the way to go! There is a reason for the hype. We were devastated when we forgot it on a trip once!
Pottery - picked these up at a local farmers market
Plant - peperomia hope
Buddy’s favorite things
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