Create your own calming ocean inspired nursery

Dive headfirst into a calming nursery scheme of ocean blues and soothing hues for your little water baby.  

Art direction + Styling Vanessa Nouwens
Photography Wendy Fenwick

There is nothing as calming as the sound of the ocean. Water is so mesmerising and has such a gravitational pull, so it’s not surprising that sea-themed nursery designs are so popular. If you have a little one on the way and are stuck for a nursery theme, consider creating a tranquil, idyllic space by embracing a coastal under-the-sea theme.

In keeping with coastal style, we have used thin wooden battens which are approximately 5 cm in width and have nailed them to the wall, 40 cm apart. The wall and battens are painted in a stunning blue called Resene Bermuda Grey. Blue is one of the most popular colours used in bedrooms as it’s a calming colour which makes you relax (perfect for a nursery). The vertical design of the battens helps make the walls seem taller than they are, so great if you have a low ceiling height in the room.  

The hanging pendant lights and furniture are painted in several deep blues (Resene Cello and Resene Seachange) with white-wash stained floors and sandy, off-white neutrals mixed in to keep the space light, bright and playful.

In the cot we have used sea-themed bedding to mimic the calmness of the ocean while providing a cosy and inviting space for your baby to rest and dream.

The split-framed whale print, sea-themed toys, DIY whale coatrack and artwork all help tie the space together. If you like everything to co-ordinate, remember most items can be painted by simply using a Resene testpot or two. Plant pots, lamps, wooden crates, kid’s blocks and ladder are all painted to tie back to the colours at play in the room.

A stunning off-white bouclé style chair is the perfect addition to a nursery great for feeding and reading to your little one, and the shell shaped bouclé playmat is great for tummy time.  The muslin canopy nook is dreamy and playful and works well with the soft sheer curtains in the space. Have fun creating a haven where your little one can drift off to sleep to the sound of waves lapping the shore (just make sure you have the white noise machine on ocean sounds!).

WHALE COAT RACK

You can never have too much storage in a kid’s room, and this cute whale shaped one is great for displaying and hanging favourite outfits, bags, or wraps. To make this coat rack we got thin MDF board (0.5 cm thick) and drew a shape of a whale onto the board in pencil. Our whale is 62 cm in length and 20cm wide. For whale shape ideas look online. We then took a jigsaw and cut the whale shape out. We gave the edges a light sand with sandpaper and then painted the shape in Resene Seachange, two coats will give best coverage. We then took some dowel and cut them into 8 cm pieces and painted them in Resene Seachange. Finally, we added screws from the back and then twisted the dowel pieces onto the screws at the front.  

THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER ARTWORK

Store bought artwork can be expensive so why not customise a piece to tie with the colour scheme in your room? To make this artwork we got a A3 frame and removed the glass. We then painted the backing board in Resene Alabaster. We used three A4 sheets of cardboard and painted each of them in Resene Bermuda Grey, Resene Cello and Resene Seachange. We then cut out letters to make our saying and glued them onto the backing board and popped back in the frame. Simply, easy to make and so effective!

Floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash Interior Stain. Batten wall in Resene Bermuda Grey. Sideboard in Resene Cello. Bobble lamp in Resene Seachange. DIY Whale Coat rack in Resene Seachange. Kids wooden blocks in Resene Cello, Resene Bermuda Grey and Resene Alabaster. Hammer and Peg Toy in Resene Alabaster with Resene Bermuda Grey and Resene Cello. Plant pot with Palm in Resene Seachange. Wave stacking toy in Resene Cello, Resene Seachange, Resene Bermuda Grey and Resene Alabaster. DIY ‘The world is your oyster’ artwork in Resene Cello, Resene Seachange, Resene Bermuda Grey and background in Resene Alabaster, resene.co.nz/colorshops. Mini wooden whale on sideboard, $17.50 from littlewhimsy.co.nz; White baby shoes, $9, Striped Natural Basket, $25, both from kmart.co.nz; Whale bodysuit, $14.99, from H&M; Making Waves Banner, $44.50, from littlewhimsy.co.nz; Whale Wonders Blue Muslin (in basket) (2 pack), $54.99, from adairs.co.nz; Cotton Mesh Bag, $9.90, from bedbathandbeyond.co.nz. Blocks, peg toy and wave stacker, faux palm & round blue rug all stylist’s own.

Moroccan Dream White Novelty Canopy, $109.99, from adairs.co.nz; CamCam Baby Ball, Sea Garden, $76.50, CamCam Turtle Cushion, Latte, $72.95, from littlewhimsy.co.nz; Blue cushion cover (top) in canopy, $19.99, from H&M Home & Domani Toscana Dark Blue cushion (bottom), $35 from farmers.co.nz. Blocks and rug stylist’s own.

Top Image: Floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash Interior Stain. Batten wall in Resene Bermuda Grey. Bobble side table in Resene Seachange. Hanging Pendants in Resene Cello. Cot in Resene Alabaster, resene.co.nz/colorshops. Aspen cot $449.99 & Felix Teddy Occasional Chair in Cream, $549.99, mocka.co.nz; Nursery Boucle Shell Play Mat, $89.99, Whale Wonder Cot Quilt Set Small Pillow (on chair), $139.99 for set, Ocean Friends Cot Sheets (pack of 2), $89.99, Moroccan Dream White Novelty Canopy, $109.99, adairs.co.nz; Boucle ball cushion (in cot), $12, kmart.co.nz; Two Tone Blue Throw, $49.99, H&M Home; Jellycat Odyssey Octopus, $72.95,  littlewhimsy.co.nz; Split Whale Prints, $11.68, from etsy/ourlittlehomedesigns