A Literary Nursery

Happy three day weekend to all my teacher friends out there!  I'm excited to have Sean home tomorrow to spend some time together.  I hope you are enjoying your well deserved break with some tea and a good book.  Although I know a lot of times that book ends up being your lesson plan book.  Oh the joys of never ending planning! 

For those that don't know me, my husband and I recently welcomed our first daughter into this world in December. 

Isn't she adorable?!  Not going to lie - being a parent is one of the hardest things we've ever done.  And she isn't even able to talk back yet!  This past month has been a whirlwind and we are finally starting to settle into a bit of a routine.  Since I have time I want to share with you all the nursery we set up.

When deciding what to do for the nursery I wanted a few things.  First, I wanted decorations that could grow with her.  My childhood room is still pink and I know my parents would love to change that!  So we kept the color and I went for decorations that would have meaning both now and in the future.  Second, it needed to be inexpensive.  With me going on maternity leave for a year I didn't want to blow a bunch of savings on this room.  Lastly, I wanted some of the decorations to have purpose.  I wanted them to inspire her as she grew up and us as we figured out this new life.

I had always loved the idea of a literary nursery inspired by childhood favorites.  As a librarian books hold a special place in my heart.  They give us a way to explore the world and who we are without ever leaving the house.  I did not, however, love the children's book nursery ideas I found on Pinterest.  So many were based on a single book or too childish to grow with her.  I didn't want to be painting over a big Giving Tree when she turned 13 years old...

In the end I decided to draw inspiration from multiple children's books.  I chose decorations that I could make easily (and cheaply) and could be removed as she got older.  We kept the original color of the walls and I used book quotes and pages to create the decorations.  In the end I absolutely LOVE how it turned out.

I used some old copies of books to create some items in the room.  I chose a Harry Potter book because it was Sean's favorite growing up and a Nancy Drew book because it was mine.  Those books were used for the rack above the changing table, the "A" and book page flowers in the reading area, and the key mobile in the corner of the room.  That mobile was inspired by the flying key room in one of the Harry Potter books.  I wasn't sure when I started but it worked out in the end better than I expected.

When I chose book quotes I wanted words that would reflect the person Sean and I hope she will become.  Words that would both inspire her and guide us as we try to be an example.  Creating the quotes and artwork myself was way cheaper than buying something on Etsy, and I got the frames at a thrift store and Michael's before painting them white.

We also chose some Bible verses and I used those make these three frames by the rocking chair.  I put the actual verse in the back and made the text transparent so it was very light. 

And of course I had to make a little reading area!  She won't use it for several years, as my husband pointed out, but I'm hoping it will become one of her favorite spots.

I've saved the best for last!  Not book related at all but such a special addition.  I saw beautiful pictures of large name cutouts and sent a photo to my dad saying he should make them as a side business.  They are SO expensive!  Being the amazing Dad/Papa Z that he is, he offered to make one.  My family was planning on coming out at Thanksgiving so I didn't expect to get it put up until after the baby was born but he surprised me and shipped it to my baby shower with Sean's family.  I absolutely adore it! 

It's a beautiful room and I love it every time I walk in.  The decorations are simple, unique, and exactly what I imagined when I dreamed of our little girl's nursery.  Hopefully our little girl will love her room (and books!) as she grows up.