One of the most hotly-anticipated events in the DIY and home decor blogosphere is the One Room Challenge, hosted by Calling it Home. The challenge invites bloggers to make over a room in just six weeks, chronicling their progress through weekly posts. I participated in the ORC in the fall, when we made over our master bathroom, and I am thrilled to be tackling our nursery for the spring edition!
I’ll be honest: up until about ten days ago, I wasn’t going to participate. Besides being six months pregnant (no big deal), I’m headed into a busy time of year at school, and I really felt like there was no way the nursery would come together in six weeks.
Well, thanks to the encouragement of some of my blogging friends, and after an exhausting but productive trip to Ikea, I feel like I have enough to be going on with. I’m sure we’ll be adding to and tweaking the nursery right up until the moment that our baby girl arrives in July, but we’ve already made enough progress that I feel we’ll have the majority done during the weeks of the challenge.
So, without further ado… And with great glee and nerdy excitement… I give you our nursery makeover plans!
From top left to right: Ikea | Chapters | Urban Outfitters | Vintage Fresh Shop (sold out) | Ikea | Zone Maison (sold out) | UncommonGoods | Ikea | La Fuente Imports | InkistPrints | Ikea | MMPaper Co.
Oh yes. We are going there. I finally get to channel my obsession with love of Harry Potter into a room’s decor. HP was such a formative part of my childhood, so I’m really looking forward to sharing my love for the story with our little girl. (As an aside, I am still rather miffed that my Hogwarts letter is SO delayed. I blame the owl department of Canada Post.)
This is the room as it was about three weeks ago:
This was just after we cleared out the guest room furniture before Erick and my dad refinished the main-story floors. You can see the absolutely *delightful* black stains from where the previous owner’s dog did its business on the rug… Truly charming.
After a week of sanding and re-staining, the stain is a lot lighter, but short of completely replacing our flooring (and who has the $$ for that?), there’s not much else we can do.
We will be putting down an area rug anyway, so that stained area will be hidden.
That back wall will be our focal wall, and the crib will stand against it. I cannot wait to share our full plans for that wall with you! It is going to be so gorgeous.
Three of the walls are getting painted Snowfall White by Benjamin Moore, including this one. Our dresser/changing surface will be placed against this wall, along with some fabulous art.
One of the great things about this room is that it gets plenty of light. Our street is nice and quiet, too, so baby shouldn’t be disturbed by the sounds from the street.
The closet is going to be en exercise in careful organization. It is teeny-tiny!
That pic was taken just after refinishing the floors, so we had removed the shelves to have space to maneuver the sander. I’m not entirely sure what to do about storage. I may end up hanging dresses and finer pieces of clothing in here, and putting simple things like onesies and leggings in the dresser. I’ve got my eye on some lovely blue storage boxes from Ikea for out-of-season clothing or accessories, as well as blankets or toys.
I’m also really looking forward to accessorizing this space. I have partnerships with both UncommonGoods (who you’ll remember from my science-inspired nursery post) and I Love Print in the works, and I cannot wait to show you what they are contributing to the space!
I’m pleased to say that we’ve already made great progress in the room. This pic was taken after the first coat of primer, but we’ve actually already crossed a few items off our to-do list:
Nursery To-Do List
Prep the room (including filling holes and an old cable outlet)Prime the roomPaint three walls “Snowfall White”- Paint the focal wall (half done!)
- Decorate the focal wall
- Paint the ceiling?
- Paint the closet
- Paint the trim and doors
Shop for a crib and mattressShop for an area rugBuy or make curtains (bought them)- Prep and sand the dresser
- Paint the dresser
- Hardware for the dresser?
- Repaint the rocking chair
- Throws and pillows for the rocking chair (started!)
- Artwork (started!)
- Side table?
- Bookcase?
- Accessories (started!)
- Organize the closet
- And about a million things I have forgotten due to baby brain
Yikes, that list is long! Better stop blogging and start decorating. In the meantime, you can always stop by my Pinterest page and check out more of my HP nursery inspiration.
Would you ever consider basing a room’s decor on a book? I’d love to hear your comments or suggestions for our makeover!
See you back here next week, same time, same place. Have a magical week!
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Spring 2016 One Room Challenge | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
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Fall 2015 One Room Challenge | Reveal
i love this design inspiration! excited to follow along!
Thanks, Ashley!
You had me at Harry Potter. Can’t wait!
Yay!
Oh the gold feather curtain tie backs are insanely cool!
Oooh aren’t they just??!!
This is amazing!! I love Harry Potter! Lol. Can’t wait to see how it turns out. Don’t stress too much, we’re ALL in over our heads! Lol
Thank you!
Sometimes I wish I was more of a “themed” room person… that would definitely make choosing décor elements easier! People always ask what our nursery theme is (so they can buy appropriate things) and probably think I’m crazy for keeping it bland. Good luck 🙂
I’m not always a theme decor person, but I’m really going for it with this one! Hope your nursery turns out beautifully!
So excited for you Sarah and can’t wait to see how this turns out! I love all of your ideas so far!
Thank you so much!
I am very much interested in this project. My daughter is a HP fan and she wants to change her room decor. Will check every week 🙂
Thanks, Monda! I appreciate the vote of confidence!
Such an awesome theme! I love all of the ideas in your design board. This is going to be fun to follow along with!
Thank you so much, Sarah!
Your theme is so cool! I would never have thought of that color scheme with a Harry Potter but it works magically!
Well it definitely fits because my husband and I would both probably be in Ravenclaw… 🙂
Your Harry Potter theme is too cute! I can’t wait to see your final room. I’m also doing a new Nursery for the ORC.
Thank you, Katy! Can’t wait to see yours, too.
OMG, this is going to be so exciting! I love the theme and can’t wait to see the outcome!
Thank you, April!
This is SO perfect for you!!! I don’t know if you remember me telling you that I hadn’t read Harry Potter, but I’m please to let you know that I have actually started the first book, and my daughter has passed me up and is on book 3. This sounds like one amazing nursery. I can’t wait to see what you do with it!!!
Yesssss! I’m so glad you are reading them! Another convert is born…
Sarah, what a fun theme idea for a nursery! I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Thank you, Carrie. We’re pretty excited!
I LOVEEEE that you are doing a Harry Potter nursery!! I cannot wait to see how it turns out!
Thanks, Amanda!
Love the mood board, it shows that the nursery will be absolutely pretty. I love harry potter, my kids were obsessed with him.Good luck and have nice weekend! Heading to Charleston for a break!
Maria
Have a wonderful weekend, Maria!
I might be more excited for your room makeover than my own! I’ve always been a “book nerd” and a HP fan – your nursery design is right up my alley! I can’t wait to see what you have in store for your space – the details in your plans are perfect!
Oh, I’m sure yours is going to be wonderful! Thanks so much for your kind words.
how fun! love the hint of sophistication and all the navy and stars! good luck! it’s going to be great!
Thank you, Lianna!
Oh wow! I can’t wait to see how this turns out. Love the inspo board 🙂
Thanks, Amy!
Don’t you hate when you uncover something and it’s disgusting—-well waiting breathlessly on the finish…great project, Sandi
Oh yeah, it was definitely an unpleasant surprise…
This is going to be GOOD! I love Harry Potter!
Thanks, Jess!
Sweet! I’m such an HP fan, too.
Thanks, Michele.
Awe!! I love HP, and of course, your design for this space. It really gives a nod to it without going overboard. So perfect for your little one!
Thanks so much, Iris!
This is amazing!! I love all of the ideas in your design board.
Thanks, Merryjo! I appreciate your kind words.
So fun! That light is insanely awesome!
Thank you, Samantha!
Such a fun idea for a nursery Sarah! Our family loves the Harry Potter books and movies and I can’t wait to follow along:)
Thanks so much, Tara!
I am so glad you shared this at The Creative Circle link up! This is seriously so fun. I, too, loved Harry Potter growing up.
Thanks, Corinna!