Creating a nursery for your first child is an unforgettable experience. Every detail of that space is meticulously considered with your child’s safety and comfort in mind. You imagine the people they will grow into in this bedroom. And we love the opportunity to help you build these nurseries! So, when blogger Ayana Lage reached out to us to collaborate on her first baby’s nursery, we were so excited!

Despite a September 1st due date, Ayana hopes for an August baby and is excited for the arrival of her little girl. She and her husband started preparing the nursery space since the start of her second trimester, but she says she’s been daydreaming about her child’s nursery before she was even pregnant. Get inspired by Ayana’s nursery journey and discover what you can make for your new arrival.

Cradling Home for Her Baby

 Ayana and her husband chose to transform a spare room in their home once dedicated to office work and music recording into a nursery. When brainstorming with our Interior Design Team, they decided on a warm, dusky color palette for the space. Ayana envisioned a comfortable space for her baby to acclimate to the world in, and for her to adjust to motherhood.

“It was super important to me that the space be calming and inviting, especially since I’ll be spending a lot of time in the nursery for late night feeds,” Ayana said. “I didn’t want it to feel too sterile, so I’m really happy with the playful touches that balance out the neutral vibes.”

The room comes to life with the blush-toned rainbow accent wall. This detail adds visual interest and draws the eyes directly to the crib. Ayana went with a durable crib mattress that will also keep her daughter cozy during naptime. To complete the look, she added adorable animal artwork and a large area rug.

New Arrivals and New Moms

As Ayana enters her last trimester and looks forward to meeting her daughter, she’s excited about getting to know her child as she gets older.

“My husband and I are complete opposites — I’m the life of the party, he’s an introvert — so we can’t wait to see what she’s like,” Ayana said.

While Ayana navigates her pregnancy and the steps needed to prepare her home for her baby, she offers advice for expectant mothers.

 “My best tip for pregnancy is to remember that it’s normal to have mixed feelings about it,” she said. Most days, I really like being pregnant, but some days, it’s overwhelming, physically and emotionally. I wish I’d known that this is totally normal and doesn’t mean you’re going to be a bad mom.”

And to moms navigating their nurseries, Ayana believes that there is no right way to prepare for your child’s arrival. When building their first bedroom, practice patience and understand that the result will be worth it.

“It’s okay to take your time! I’m very much Type A and wanted everything to be done the right way, but I had to pace myself and realize that it’s okay for it to be a process,” she said. “Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was my nursery.”

A Nursery to Grow In

When Ayana thinks of home, she said she thinks of comfort in being herself. Which is why she worked to create a nursery that’s welcoming and comfortable. As a child, her parents gave her complete creative freedom to decorate her own room. She filled the space with bright pinks and posters of boy bands. She hopes to give her child the same freedom when she’s older.

Looking to the future, Ayana wanted her baby’s nursery to continuously grow and evolve with the passing of time. The large area rug in the room will cushion her daughter as she learns to crawl. And the changing table feature of the dresser can easily be removed when it’s no longer needed.

“I know that we won’t live in our current home forever,” she said. “But my hope is that it’ll transition into a toddler’s room for her and maybe even one day be shared with a second sibling.”

Like many expecting moms, Ayana has taken on the challenge of creating the perfect nursery for her baby. Going forward, we hope to help other parents through this exciting experience. We also invite you to share your journey with us! Use #MyAshleyHome on Instagram. You might even see your swaddle-worthy space on our feed. For more nursery inspiration, browse our Pinterest boards!