A Playful Blue and Yellow Boy’s Nursery Has Sweet Whimsical Details (Like a Huge Wavy Mirror!)
The best kids’ bedrooms are both playful yet totally functional. When I came across the nursery in Jessica Marak’s Los Angeles home, I loved the way Jessica and her husband designed the room for their son, Leo, showing that a nursery can meet both descriptors simultaneously.
“Our design inspiration for Leo’s room was to create a space that is both joyful and functional,” Jessica explains. “We wanted it to be a place where practicality meets playfulness, a room that would grow with him while keeping it lighthearted and full of energy.”
Jessica and her husband are both designers, and they worked together by sharing product links, crafting mood boards, and “planning out every detail in the room,” she says. “To kick things off, we started with the crib, which we knew would be a focal point in the room,” Jessica says. “After a lot of research, we decided on the Saint 4-in-1 Convertible Crib from Delta Children, as it’s both functional and stylish, with the flexibility to grow with Leo.” They also chose a Nanit Pro Baby Monitor ( a Cubby Nursery Award winner!) to watch Leo when he’s asleep, and the Keekaroo Peanut Changer (another Cubby Nursery Award winner!) to make changing diapers easier.
While those items make life a little easier for the parents and ensure Leo’s taken care of, there are some playful elements in the room, too. They chose West Elm’s super cute flower-shaped lamp and an Urban Outfitters wood squiggle mirror for some whimsy. (Unfortunately, the mirror is out of stock – similar here.) Additionally, the couple painted the room in Behr’s “Oceanic Climate” to complement the yellow accents. “This helped tie everything together and set the tone for the rest of the design, bringing in bright pops of color without overwhelming the space,” Jessica admits.
All of these design elements make it a fun and functional room to spend time in. It’s both a playroom (their son loves his train set and cars the most!) and a place to unwind and read a bedtime story. A pennant flag from Bob Baker’s Marionette Show and a painting and books gifted by his grandparents add a few sentimental touches.
“One of Leo’s favorite things to do is look out the big windows at the trees and nature in the backyard — he could spend ages watching the birds and squirrels,” Jessica says. “The room really has become a calming yet stimulating environment where he can explore, rest, and enjoy being in his own space.”
Product List
- Paint — Behr Oceanic Climate Paint
- Crib — Delta Children
- Shelf — Pottery Barn
- Rug — Revival Rugs
- Mirror — Urban Outfitters, out of stock. Similar mirror here.
- Mattress — Newton
- Curtains — Crate & Barrel
- Rocking Chair — Vintage
- Lamp — West Elm
- Playmat — Amazon
- Changer — Keekaroo
- Poster — Ferm Living
- Art — Amber Vittoria and John Marak
- Dresser — Urban Outfitters
- Sconce — Gantri
- Sconce — Gantri
- Baby Monitor — Nanit