This bright, playful nursery that Dave and Carrie created for their daughter made us smile the moment we saw the first photo. The room is bold and whimsical, full of personal touches and handmade details, and it shows how thoughtful, budget-friendly design and DIY effort can combine to create a cozy woodland-inspired space for a new baby.
Dave and Carrie welcomed their first child, Everly Harper — affectionately nicknamed Ever. From the start they knew they wanted a nursery that felt unique and personal rather than the standard, cookie-cutter look. Inspired by a woodland-themed nursery they’d admired, they sketched out a plan that prioritized handmade elements and smart savings. Over the course of several months they tackled many projects themselves, turning a generic room into a layered, textured space filled with character.
They began with paint: the walls were finished with Behr Ultra Premium Plus Flat Enamel, color-matched to Sherwin-Williams Grizzle Gray. To create the woodland motif, they hand-painted birch trees using leftover trim paint, matched to Sherwin-Williams Extra White. Instead of replacing the existing half-hardwood, half-painted subfloor, they covered it with carpet tiles and added a soft white shag area rug on top for warmth and texture. The curtains and hardware came from Ikea, but when they couldn’t find yellow curtains they loved, they hand-painted yellow stripes (Behr Yellow Gold) on the fabric for a custom look.
The changing table started life as a vintage dresser found on Craigslist. Dave and Carrie sanded, stained, painted, and finished it with polyurethane, then added a removable Pottery Barn Kids changing pad frame so the dresser can transition into regular furniture as Ever grows. The crib was chosen new and simple to complement the handmade pieces in the room.
A large wall piece in the room is actually a printed vinyl birth announcement stretched onto a DIY frame built from leftover lumber — a clever and meaningful alternative to a traditional canvas. The birth-photo image was taken during a special portrait session that doubled as a five-year wedding anniversary shoot, when the couple discovered they were expecting. That session produced the photograph they used for the announcement, and the little Hunter boots in the photo became an early keepsake and decor item in the nursery.
Many of the smaller accessories were gathered over the months — a soft fox and mushroom figures from a big-box store, a fabric-wrapped decorative tree, and a practical diaper pail — each piece adding to the woodland feel without overwhelming the space. The Hunter boots now live on a shelf as a playful reminder of that surprise announcement day until Ever can wear them herself.
The couple says they drew inspiration from the design community and appreciated the encouragement to personalize every detail. Their mix of thrifted finds, DIY finishes, hand-painted accents, and carefully chosen new pieces resulted in a charming nursery that feels both curated and lived-in. Everly has a warm, imaginative room made with a lot of love and effort — a lovely first space for a little one.
Dave and Carrie have documented more views of their colorful woodland nursery in a photo album that showcases additional corners and details. They sent their thanks for the inspiration and the chance to share their room, and they hope Everly will always know how much love went into making it.