Ideas to inspire: Playroom with daybed storage

Today's inspiration room is a combination playroom and guest room designed by Diane at The Perfectly Imperfect Life.

I've always loved the look of daybeds.  And in a playroom or guest room, where the sleeping area does double duty, they make even more sense.  The little perch shown here would make a perfect sunny spot on which to curl up and read or play games.

This particular daybed also caught my eye, as I love the idea of the extra storage underneath.  The baskets she uses are a fun and colorful way to store toys or art supplies, and low enough that little ones can help pick up.  Getting your kids to actually help pick up their toys... well, that one I don't have any tips for.

The finishing touch on this room is the art wall Diane created using her little ones' creations.  This is a great way to showcase your little Picasso's favorite works, and you can easily swap them out as new masterpieces are brought home from school.  The key to making this wall work is to use similarly colored or styled frames to give the wall a cohesive look.

If you want to see more pictures from the inspiration room, as well as some step-by-step photos of how she created it, hop on over to Diane's blog.

Happy Friday!

Ideas to inspire: A pink and brown modern nursery

In case you've missed it, pink and brown seem to be the "new black" when it comes to decorating baby girl nurseries.  I see it popping up everywhere.

Today's inspiration nursery is a nice illustration of how to do it really well.

Late at night, when I should be sleeping, I sometimes hop around on different parenting blogs.  One I really like is Harper's Happenings, written by a mom named Mandy.  If you haven't checked it out, there are some touching and entertaining reads on there.  And even though the Type-A in me secretly wants to go through and capitalize all of her sentences, I find myself drawn back pretty regularly to her blog.

Anyway, Mandy has some pictures of little Harper's nursery posted on her blog, with some great inspiration ideas.

The pink and brown color combination helps set the stage.  It's feminine and classic, but the taupe on the walls adds a modern, contemporary look that keeps it from being too frilly.

I also like the tree wall decal that adorns one of the corners.  She's hung a little birdcage hook from one of the tree branches, which really completes the look.

My favorite thing, though, is probably the paper lanterns hanging in the corner above the crib.  I imagine most babies would be fascinated by them.  Perhaps they would help them drift off to sleep and dream of giant pink gumballs.  I've written before about using found objects in unexpected places for effect, and this is a great example of that.

If you'd like to see more, you can read the full post as told through Mandy's eyes here.

Ideas to inspire: Modern nursery on a budget

I found this nursery today while dinking around on the internet, and was struck by the colors and bold design. It's modern, crisp and clean, yet it has classic elements like the beadboarding and crib that really anchor the room. I also love the fact that this room has feminine elements, but doesn't scream "girly."

Best part of all: the entire room makeover, including flooring, furniture and decor was done for less than $900. Just proves that good design, some creativity, and a little DIY savvy can stretch a long way.

To view the entire room, plus before and after pictures, click here.

Ooh la la! French-inspired ideas for the nursery

I love Paris in the springtime... or any other time of the year, for that matter.  While French-inspired clothing and decorating are popular now, there's also something timeless and terribly romantic about French decor.  If you're interested in going francophone with your nursery, here are some theme ideas to get the creative juices flowing:

Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince)

This classic French children's book is a great way to tie a literary element into your child's room. 

• Aim for the stars.  Star or moon print bedding, bumpers or curtains ties in nicely with the theme and can easily be found in a wide range of colors to fit any nursery's scheme. 
• Accessories make the difference!  There are a plethora of sites that offer Le Petit Prince toys, room accessories, and bedding.  Sites like eBay can also be a source for finding those hidden gems.
• Add accents in unexpected places.  These drawer pulls would add the perfect finishing touch to any changing table.
• In this cute inspiration room, the walls were painted with a mural of selected scenes and pictures
• A mural not in your budget?  Consider handpainted artwork featuring the Little Prince.
• If you like this idea, you might also consider incorporating other French childhood friends into your decor, like Babar the elephant.  Madeline is a great choice for little girls.

Shabby Chic, French Style

The room pictured here is so timeless and classic, but is kept fresh and modern by the use of more contemporary colors.  Click here to see more about this featured room.

Some additional ideas for getting that "French flea market" look:

• A lot of cribs and toddler beds come in a distressed or tea-stained finish nowadays.  It can add an antique elegance to your baby's room.
• Experiment with fabric of different patterns and textures.  Mix and match coordinated florals, stripes, plaids and toile patterns to create a unique look.
• A wispy canopy or crown, as shown here, can make a dramatic statement.  You can easily make your own with inexpensive tulle or netting.  Or, for a more tailored look, make a pleated canopy using coordinated fabric of your choice.
• Crystal accents add an instant old world charm.  In the inspiration room above, a crystal chandelier was used.  If you're lucky, you can find a bargain chandelier at estate sales or on websites like Craig's List.  You can achieve a similar effect with crystal accents.  Old crystal buttons, drawer pulls or beaded crystal trim around a lampshade or window treatment can create the perfect finishing touch.
• Give old everyday objects (or, as the French might say, "objet trouvé") a new lease on life in an unexpected place - your nursery.  Keep an eye out for treasures such as globes, finials, flowers, birdcages and the like at garage sales and second hand stores.  Antique frames for black and white or sepia toned prints would be a great way to add vintage character to your room, and have the added bonus of being hung high enough to stay out of the reach of little hands.

Oodles of Poodles

• This inspiration room is beautifully decorated, and should give you some great ideas for getting started. 
• Experiment with bold colors and patterns.  The contrasting light pink and black in the inspiration room are what give it its "wow" effect.  Aqua blue or a light yellow would also create a striking combination.  Bold patterns like stripes or polka dots complete the look.  
• Vinyl wall art, such as the ones shown here, can be an easy and inexpensive way to add Parisian charm to your room.

Details, details, details

Not wanting to go french in the whole room?  Small touches can add that special je ne sais quoi to your nursery.  

• Use wooden letters, boards, or vinyl decals to spell out French words, such as "Bonjour" or "Bonne nuit"
• Fleur-de-lis can add a regal touch to your nursery.  Try it in a border, or painted over a door or window.
• French-inspired canvas paintings from Bobo's Room can be customized in your choice of subject, colors and words to match almost any decor.