Lil Boys and Stripes Nursery

by Shakeya Lee
(Kinston, NC, USA)

I was inspired by a coach wristlet I had. I tweaked the colors of the stripes and decided to use white between the bold colors. I loved the idea of a Navy & White room because I wanted to create a space that would grow with him. I did not choose to use characters instead I went with a color scheme theme.


What brand and color of paint did you use?

I used Olympic and Valspar because of the low VOC's and brilliant color.


If you added stripes, polka dots or other paint effects, tell us how you did it.]

First I painted the lower part of the wall navy and then the upper wall white...

next I measured and marked the walls where I wanted the stripes...

I used the green turtle painters tape and a laser leveler to create the stripes and filled in the areas not marked by tape with paint...

waited for the wall to dry and peeled off the tape.

After that I painted the crown molding and chair railing and hired someone to put up the crown molding while my parents helped me install the chair railing. I also used to have a "popcorn" ceiling that I did not want in the nursery so I removed it with a scraper and a water bottle, sanded and replastered it and painted it gray to match the furniture.


What brand of crib did you buy? Where from?

I got my convertible 4-in-1 crib and dresser from a couple off of craig's list. It is by Simmons and is solid wood and was originally stained cherry wood in color.

I wanted gray furniture so I painted it gray and spray painted the feet and knobs a silver metallic.

I bought my changer off of craigslist also and painted it to match the crib and dresser.


What brand of nursery furniture did you choose? Where did you buy it?

I purchased the bookshelf from K-mart and added feet to it by spray painting some old candle holders and turning them upside down to mimic the look of the feet on the crib and dresser. I got the swivel rocker recliner by best chairs from a local furniture store.


What nursery bedding set did you use? Where did you buy it?

I only have a fitted sheet I bought at

Wal-mart and a blanket my little sister crocheted for me.


Tell us about your window treatments, nursery lighting, rugs, wall decor and accessories. Where did you buy them - were any handmade?

I made the curtains using some plain curtains I had, cutting off the bottoms to make stripes and hemming tape to "sew" everything together.

I bought some inexpensive mirror frames, painted them the same colors as the walls and stamped baby footprints using some blue paint and the sides of my fists and my fingertip to make toes.

I refurbished an old ceiling fan my neighbor was throwing out by spray painting it silver and painting the underside of the blades white. I added new globes and a ceiling medallion to make it pop on the ceiling.

I purchased some peel and stick ABC's that went with my color scheme and decorated the white wall where the closet and bedroom door are and painted wooden letters that spell out my son's name to hang over the window opposite the closet. I purchased a toy hammock to hang in the corner above his dresser.


How did you store all your baby goodies? In baskets, on shelves?

I used baskets and shelves.


How long did it take you? Was it easy, fun, difficult? What was your favorite part?

I started when I was 3 months pregnant and finished by the time I was 8 months. The hardest part was the ceiling and figuring the measurements for the stripes...all in all I loved the process and the outcome!


Did you do the entire nursery on your own or did someone help you? Who? What did they do?

I did 90% of the work. I hired someone to install the crown molding and my parents helped me put up the chair railing. One of my best friends put up the ceiling fan for me and helped put the tape on the walls for the stripes.


What do you love most about your little one's finished baby room?

I love that it was a labor of love...that I created a beautiful space that is going to grow with him and that he can manipulate to his liking as he gets older without having to change paint or buy new furniture...its colorful and will hopefully inspire him to greatness in whatever path he takes in life!

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