Designing a Dreamy Nursery: Turning a Tiny Room into a Timeless Space
Designing a nursery is always a special project, but when the room is small and needs to serve as both a calming retreat for a baby and a practical space that grows with them, the challenge becomes even more exciting. Recently, I had the pleasure of transforming a petite room into a serene and beautiful nursery for a baby girl. The goal? To create a calming yet characterful space that would remain functional and stylish through her toddler years and beyond.
A thoughtful palette inspired by wallpaper
The design began with a stunning hand-drawn wallpaper by Mini Béau. The soft pink background, accented by elegant grey-green swans, became the cornerstone of the nursery’s design. This wallpaper inspired a harmonious colour palette of dusky pink and green—perfect for creating a soothing and sophisticated vibe.
Because the room was small, we decided to wallpaper and panel just one feature wall to avoid overwhelming the space. For the panelling, we chose Farrow & Ball’s Gray Green, which brought depth and a subtle elegance to the design. The remaining walls were painted in COAT’s Kimchee Fan, a light pink that complemented the wallpaper beautifully while keeping the room airy and bright.
Maximizing style in a small space
When designing small rooms, every choice needs to be intentional. To create the right balance between practicality and beauty, we focused on furniture and accessories that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
A contemporary rocking chair became the perfect addition for those precious moments of feeding and bedtime stories. Its modern design kept the room from feeling cluttered while the boucle upholstery offered a cosy spot for cuddles. To add some texture and interest, we added a luxurious velvet ruffle-edge cushion from Graham and Green, which also tied in the dusky pink hues of the wallpaper.
The cot, positioned against the feature wall, was dressed with a beautiful canopy from Mabel and Fox, lending the space a whimsical, storybook feel. Not only did this add visual height to the room, but it also created a cosy cocoon for the baby.
Finishing touches for a special atmosphere
No nursery is complete without thoughtful details to make it feel special. A feather lampshade from Umage was the perfect finishing touch, echoing the swan motif from the wallpaper while adding a touch of softness and playfulness to the ceiling.
To keep the space functional, we incorporated a pretty chest of drawers, wall-mounted shelves, hooks and rattan baskets to ensure toys and essentials could be easily organised without taking up too much valuable floor space.
A timeless space
The result is a nursery that feels both magical and timeless. The calming combination of soft pinks and greens creates a peaceful atmosphere for a newborn while being versatile enough to evolve as she grows. Whether it’s the swan-inspired wallpaper or the whimsical canopy, every detail was chosen to ensure this small room is big on beauty, calmness and style.
This project was a wonderful reminder of how even the tiniest spaces can become something extraordinary with a thoughtful design approach. Whether you’re working with a nursery, a child’s bedroom, or any small room in your home, focus on a cohesive colour palette, multifunctional furniture, and just the right amount of detail to create a space that’s as practical as it is beautiful.