Coming up Rosie

When Natalie Hurst of Salt Lake City, Utah, found out that her fourth baby would be her first daughter, she was thrilled—not just about the baby herself but also with the prospect of designing a space for little Rosie in their home. An interior designer by trade, Hurst says, “I knew I wanted a room that felt feminine and fresh. After three boys, I couldn’t wait to create a girly nursery, but I didn’t want the space to feel too frilly or dated.” She found her color palette, decided on a style and set to work building a budget-friendly dream dwelling. (Spoiler alert: She nailed it!) Here, she shares a few tips for designing a stylish yet serviceable baby room.

The hue deal
The pretty floral print on the curtain fabric set the tone for the rest of the room. “I pulled the greens and pinks from the fabric and added some pretty gold accents with white anchor pieces,” says Hurst. She had her eye on the fabric long before baby Rosie was in the picture. “I remember running across it before I was even expecting and thinking, Someone needs to use this in a little girl’s room!”

The perfect balance
“I hoped for Rosie’s nursery to feel light and airy, but I also used more saturated colors to create depth and warmth.”

Getting hands-on
“I’m not usually much of a DIYer, but knowing we were temporary renters and sticking to small budget, I had to get creative. The shelves are from IKEA, and I spray painted the metal brackets gold. I replaced the worn hardware on the dresser with more modern gold pulls. I knew I wanted the look of a Lucite and brass curtain rod but had to find a budget- friendly option, so I ordered an acrylic rod from a plastics factory in Texas super cheap. Then I found shower curtain rod hardware from Home Depot to cap the ends.”

Creating a vision
“When creating a nursery, think of things you’d love to share with the baby and things you’d love to do with her in the space. I used art and accessories with some of my favorite colors that highlighted things that are important to me and that I hope become important to my daughter— like a love of reading, flowers, travel, family and creating beautiful things.”

Staying within budget
“I found the dresser on Craigslist for $250 and loved the white and natural wood right away. The gold Moroccan pouf was another Craigslist find. I also found really nicely priced art on Etsy and Society6. And maybe my favorite: The fabulous gold baskets were a steal (like $20!) at H&M Home.”

Seeking rest
“My essentials for a nursery include a glider that is big enough and comfortable enough to fall asleep in (and possibly spend most of the night in) and a pouf or ottoman to put your feet up on. Also, the pouf can double as extra seating for siblings. Nursing takes a long time!”

Something old, something new
“I mixed new things with vintage finds and family heirlooms, so the space still felt comfortable and familiar.”

A space beyond baby years
“I chose pieces and accessories that could grow with Rosie and be used over and over as she gets older.”