You may recall where we left off with the nursery makeover: the walls painted a cheerful pear and the ceiling a soft aqua.
Next came a full-day shopping blitz. We set out determined to find five specific items by evening:
- A fun, patterned pendant or a sweet chandelier
- A plush 5′ x 8′ 100% wool rug with no rubber backing or synthetics to keep VOCs low
- Fabric for three curtain panels (two for the window and one to replace the nursery closet door)
- A simple, clean-lined curtain rod for the new panels
- A colorful mirror to hang across from the window and help reflect light
It was an ambitious list, but by the end of the day we had everything. It took nearly seven hours, visits to several stores, and a seriously full back seat, but we returned home triumphant.
We approached this room much like other rooms in our house: sometimes we plan with a mood board and other times we let the pieces reveal themselves. A mood board usually starts with one favorite item — often a rug, pillow, or hardware detail — and grows from there. When we take a looser approach, we still tend to find a single source of inspiration during shopping that sets the direction. For this nursery we didn’t bring a mood board, just paint swatches to guide decisions. Tip: always bring paint chips when shopping so you can compare colors in person.
The first stop was a local fabric outlet in Richmond. A bold floral print initially caught our eye because it echoed the pear wall and aqua ceiling, but we were looking for something that felt modern yet a bit more traditional and lived-in.
Then we found a textile that felt like love at first sight: a slightly deeper aqua ground with a charming, modern-traditional print. Holding the paint swatches up to it confirmed it was exactly what we wanted. Even better, the fabric turned out to be an indoor/outdoor textile from a reputable maker — soft to the touch but fade, dirt, and water resistant — an excellent choice for a little girl’s room. The price was reasonable for a quality designer-like fabric, and after figuring out yardage we decided it was worth the splurge to make three panels that would be real focal points.
We also scored a clean-lined oil-rubbed bronze curtain rod with rings on clearance, which felt perfectly posh and kept our curtain budget in check. We’ve since made the panels and they transformed the room — they were worth every stitch.
Next up: lighting, rugs, and a mirror. We stopped at a local lighting and decor outlet and found an aqua capiz chandelier — exactly the playful, textured light fixture we wanted. It was longer than our bedroom fixture and felt like a related, more playful sibling, which we loved. Even better, it was marked down to a great price.
While there we also checked the rug selection. We were determined to find a 100% wool rug without rubber backing. After sifting through patterned options so our new drapes could remain the star, we found a plush, hand-knotted powder blue 5′ x 8′ wool rug marked down from a much higher price to a budget-friendly sale. It wasn’t an exact match to the ceiling aqua, but that turned out to be a good thing: the subtle gray undertone hides dirt better and adds layered interest while still complementing the room.
For a mirror we hit our usual discount-stop trio and scored a large, detailed 30″ solid wood mirror at a price that felt like a steal. It’s currently black but we plan to paint it a color that will suit the nursery’s palette — not white, for a bit of surprise.
By the time we got home the car was full and everyone — including our dog — was relieved. Most of the finds came from local shops, which reminded us to check neighborhood specialty stores and local boutiques when hunting for unique pieces. Big-box stores also played a role: our curtain rod and mirror were both great finds from mainstream retailers, so a balanced approach pays off.
All told, the day proved that with a clear mission and a willingness to look around, it’s possible to assemble a thoughtful room in a single productive outing. Next up: furniture, artwork, and storage solutions to finish the nursery.
What about you — do you have favorite local stores or big-box bargains you love? Share your best finds and the stories behind them; there’s nothing like the thrill of scoring the right piece at the right price.
Psst — if you want to follow the full nursery journey from the start, check out our first post about clearing the room and our painting update on the walls and ceiling.