Before and After: A Blah Bedroom Becomes a Bright Nursery With the Cutest Reading Nook

Nurseries can be great places for experimentation. Why not go big, bright, and bold? Sometimes, all it takes is an IKEA hack or two and some fresh paint to make a room whimsical and cozy for your kids.

Case in point? This nursery redo from Kelly Choi that took two rolls of wallpaper and a fresh coat of paint. She managed to turn a drab, boring guest bedroom into the perfect nursery for her daughter.

Kelly’s 1940s Cape Cod-style home comes with a unique roof shape that creates an odd layout in this particular room. The previous owners used the space as a guest bedroom, featuring an “overly neutral” color palette. The blah beige room lacked personality and needed some life put in it — literally and decoratively. 

With a baby on the way, Kelly decided to take advantage of the bedroom’s funky-shaped layout, A-frame nook and all. To get the project started, she used some pastel blue paint in the main space. 

Next came time to create the perfect reading nook. “I particularly wanted to create a reading nook that had some punch to it,” she says. The bold move here was the Rifle Paper Co. wallpaper. At $88 a roll (after a discount), the dark floral pattern makes for a bold statement — and serves as the perfect contrast to the lighter blue walls. The windows make for an abundance of natural light, which helps the room feel bright. 

To finish off the reading nook, Kelly put books on a built-in lofted shelf that’s hidden to the main part of the room. Throw in a crib, toys, rocking chair, and some knickknacks, and you have a complete nursery.

Kelly, who loves miscellaneousness, said the cohesive final product is the result of patience — and makes for the perfect whimsical space for her daughter. 

“I have a habit of going too eclectic with spaces,” Kelly says. “I’m proud of how I was able to keep everything cohesive.”

This post was originally published on Apartment Therapy. Read it there: Before and After: A Blah Bedroom Becomes a Bright Nursery with the Cutest Reading Nook