Lauren Hufnagl

Lauren is a writer, DIYer, and Etsy addict living with her family in her tiny work-in-progress home in Pennsylvania. When not blogging, she can usually be found chasing around one very spirited little three-year-old and snuggling her new baby girl.
Big List of Tips for a Less-Stinky Home: How to Manage Pet Odors
Pets — we love them like family, but let’s face it: we could do without all of the smells that come along with them. From litter boxes to bad breath to just general pet odor, these animal funks can, unfortunately, become the one thing guests remember most about your home, no matter how well decorated it may be. Here are a few of my favorite tips on getting rid of pet smells, from the simple to the extreme.
Sep 23, 2022
10 Ways to (Stylishly) Childproof a Fireplace
It’s happened: my five-month-old has started rocking on her hands and knees and I’m well aware of the next logical step — crawling. It’s just about time to start baby-proofing the house. I’ve done it before so it shouldn’t be too difficult, but the one place that we were never able to stylishly address was the fireplace.
Jul 16, 2020
Travel-Inspired Nurseries & Kids Rooms
For some of us there’s no place like home, but for others wanderlust reigns supreme. Naturally the latter want to pass on their love of travel to their little ones, and what better place to start than where they’ll be spending much of their first few years of life – the nursery.
Mar 12, 2020
A Compendium of Clever, Creative Ways to Set Up a Shared Kids Room
I don’t know about you, but when I think of a shared kids’ bedroom, my mind immediately goes to two twin beds side by side, or maybe bunk beds. (Or if you’re as unlucky as my sister and I were, a shared full bed. We often daydreamed about building a wall right down the middle of the bed!) If you let yourself start to think outside of the box, there are so many creative solutions to a shared kids’ situation. Here are a few of my favorites from our archives: Short on space?
Mar 11, 2020
Better Together: The Power of Collections
When I was a kid, I had a huge keychain collection. Why on Earth I felt I needed so many keychains, or why I decided to start collecting them in the first place is absolutely beyond me, but nevertheless I loved that jingly ball of metal. I’m starting to find that my own daughter is beginning to gather collections of her own — shiny rocks, plastic princesses, and sticks, to name a few.
Mar 11, 2020
Color Blocking: Two-Tone Walls in Kids’ Rooms
If you’re like me and you’re torn between the look of a bright, white room and a fun, colorful space for your little one, you might be a perfect candidate for the two-tone trend. It’s the best of both worlds, and the only thing you need to make it happen is a good roll of painter’s tape (and, of course, paint!). Here are ten of my favorite two-tone spaces to jump-start your imagination: 1. Petit Sweet Nursery 2. Timothy’s Nursery 3. Ban.do Nursery 4.
Mar 11, 2020
Real Rooms, Real Style: 20 Kids’ Workspaces
In our neighborhood, it seems you can hear both the collective groans and cheers as the children in each home receive their teacher assignments for the upcoming school year. Whether or not your children snagged the teachers of their dreams, you can make heading back-to-school a positive experience. One way to build excitement for the upcoming school year is to create a special workspace just for them.
Mar 11, 2020
30 DIY Projects to Spruce Up Your Kid’s Room on a Budget
Sometimes I come across an adorable kid’s room on Pinterest and get the urge to spruce up my girls’ rooms a bit. Unfortunately money is tight these days and spending money on a new lamp or cute print is just not in the budget. That’s when I usually start getting creative and try to come up with projects that I can complete on the cheap.
Mar 11, 2020
25 DIY Makeovers for Outdated Furniture
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of rescuing an old piece of furniture. Whether that means bringing it back to its former glory, or giving it a funky new look, it’s often cheaper than buying a new piece and great for the environment. Plus you get a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture that’s bound to become a great conversation piece in your home. Here are 25 mini makeovers that you can try to save an outdated piece of furniture: ROW ONE 1.
Mar 11, 2020
25 Inspiring Ideas: Repurposing Old Toys
So you’ve gone through the toys, sorted them, and chosen some to part with. Now what? You could donate them, do a toy swap, hide them away for a while, or trash them. But another fun idea I’ve come across recently is to repurpose those once-treasured toys. I’ve rounded up twenty-five inspiring ideas for repurposing your little one’s unwanted play things, from the practical to the outrageous and everything in between. 1. Build an island with Lego 2.
Mar 11, 2020
20 of the Most Beautiful Children’s Books in the World
Forward-facing book displays are being found in more and more children’s spaces. They not only entice little ones to pick up a book, but also help kids to visually find the books they want to read. And as a bonus, book displays can serve as functional artwork. Here are twenty beautiful books that are perfect to put on display… ROW ONE 1. Sleep Like a Tiger by by Mary Logue, Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski 2. Black Dog by Levi Pinfold 3. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans 4.
Mar 11, 2020
30 Ways to Add Color to Your Kid’s Room Without Painting the Walls
Renters rejoice! We know that you can sometimes feel left out of the color loop because you can’t bust out that paint brush and splash color all over your walls. But fear not – here are 30 fabulous ways to add color to your kids’ rooms (or most any room of the house) without painting the walls: ROW ONE 1. Hang some colorful curtains 2. Paint the bed 3. Use removable wall decals 4. Add colorful seating 5. Add colorful storage baskets ROW TWO 6. Create a colorful book display 7.
Mar 11, 2020
Ivy and Marlow’s Charming Vintage Haven
Name: Ivy and Marlow Location: London, United Kingdom Room Size: 13′ x 13′ feet The simple white color palette that forms the base of sisters Ivy and Marlow’s bedroom really highlights the stunning architectural details of this beautiful London home. Wooden accents and colorful textiles add warmth and charm to the space, while the clean-lined furniture and modern accessories keep the room feeling fresh.
Jan 7, 2020
15 Simple, Budget-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Kid’s Room for the New Year
I don’t know about you, but my kids’ bedrooms always seem to get overtaken by new toys, clothes, and books after the holidays are over. And if your house is anything like mine (read: tiny), you’re probably fresh out of nooks and crannies to stash them in. Luckily, there are some really creative people out there who have found innovative ways to organize their nurseries and kids’ rooms on a budget.
Dec 16, 2019
The Teal Pumpkin Project: Halloween Treats for Kids with Food Allergies
When my daughter was eight months old, she had dropped from the 90th to the 9th percentile for weight and was dangerously hovering on the borderline of failure to thrive. After hospitalizations and many, many tests, it was determined that she had a severe allergy to both dairy and soy, which, unfortunately, is in virtually everything. She was basically limited to eating whole foods.
Dec 4, 2019
For Every Budget: 20 Wooden Baby Gyms
image:998b30cab12307649d028c1427f4f4ab652417a5 w:540 s:"fit" class_name:"mt-image-center" show_pin_button:"true" show_image_credits:"true" We have a small home, so there is no place to hide the typical baby gear that tends to collect when you have a child. As a result, I’ve been on the hunt for beautiful but affordable baby products ever since I became pregnant with my first child.
Nov 20, 2019
Noah’s Graphic, Modern Abode
Name: Noah (2) Location: Sydney, Australia Room Size: 3.8m x 2.6m With three sons ages 2-12, Simone of Honey & Fizz is an expert at putting together little boys’ rooms. All three of her boys’ rooms are full of graphic patterns, color, and most importantly, fun. Her youngest son, Noah, calls this fantastic space home. Although he has some of his brother’s hand-me-down pieces, one certainly can’t say that his space isn’t special or unique to him.
Oct 31, 2019
Parker’s Cozy & Colorful Nursery
Name: Parker James Location: Olivebridge, New York Room Size: 14′ x 14′ Parker’s nursery combines all of the things that I love — the warmth of wood, clean, bright white walls, and colorful artwork, accents, and accessories. I love that his mom, Dana, was able to fill the space with toys and artwork that are fun and interesting for a small, developing mind, yet the space still feels comfortable for the adults who inhabit it as well.
Aug 29, 2019
Maxwell’s Mix of Old & New
Name: Maxwell Location: Austin, Texas Room Size: 200 square feet My favorite nurseries include a mix of old and new, handmade pieces and family heirlooms. Baby Maxwell’s nursery is a perfect example. With a trendy triangle accent wall, a classic Jenny Lind crib, vintage dresser/changing table, and loads of DIY projects throughout the space, the space feels like it was put together over time rather than lifted from a showroom floor. How would you describe the look and feel of this room?
May 18, 2019
Ruby’s Gem of a Room
Name: Ruby (2)Location: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, AustraliaRoom Size: 10′ x 12′, 120 sq ft How to make a minimalist nursery still feel fun and inviting? Add color, texture, and a dash of whimsy. That’s exactly what Ruby’s mom, Danielle, did when she designed this space. The clean and simple design lends itself to easy changes as Ruby grows, while the hand woven hemp rug, crocheted pouf, colorful accessories, and wood floors add warmth and character to the space.
May 5, 2019
Olivia Ellen’s Copenhagen Charmer
Name: Olivia Ellen (3)Location: Copenhagen, DenmarkRoom Size: 107 sq ft When your mother is a professional stylist you know you’re going to end up with an amazing room. Rikke Graff Juel designed this space for her daughter, Olivia Ellen, in much the same Scandinavian style as the rest of her home – white walls, plenty of vintage wood pieces combined with fresh modern colors and accessories.
May 5, 2019
Paint Color Portfolio: Light Gray Nurseries
Gray may not be the first color one thinks of for a nursery, but more and more parents are choosing it for their little ones. Gray’s versatility allows for serious creativity in furniture and decor choices – it coordinates with virtually ever other color. Not to mention that its soothing nature is perfect for a sleeping space. But it can be tricky when it comes time to choose the perfect shade.
May 5, 2019
Before & After: Baby E’s Nursery
When Brooke and Luke found out they were expecting a baby boy, they decided to turn their office into a nursery. The problem was, it felt like more of a “man room” than a little guy’s nursery with its dark, knotty pine walls. So Brooke and Luke decided to roll up their sleeves and work a little magic with primer and paint. It was a lot of work, but the end result is stunning:For more photos and details, check out Brooke’s blog, Life in Bridgetown.Thanks, Brooke!
May 5, 2019
Baby G’s Elegant Gender Neutral Nursery
Name: Baby GLocation: United States When I began planning our baby’s nursery, I knew I wanted a clean, elegant look. My husband and I decided not to find out the gender of our baby before he was born, so we tried to keep everything gender-neutral. The theme of this nursery was inspired by the handmade linen cloud mobile I discovered from an Etsy shop. I wanted a cloud themed nursery, but not to the extent of painting them on the walls.
May 5, 2019
Pippi’s Whimsical Wonderland
Name: Pippi Location: NSW Australia Room Size: 172 sq. feet When I came across the space that Emily had created for her daughter, Pippi, I was instantly smitten by the playful patterns and vibrant colors. Her goal was to create a fun and flamboyant space for her toddler, and I’d say she hit the nail on the head. The room exudes the playfulness and joy of childhood. Read on to learn more about this whimsical wonderland: How would you describe the look and feel of this room?
May 5, 2019
Elke’s Sweet As Honey Space
Name: Elke Location: NSW AustraliaRoom Size: 10×10 square feet After sharing her older daughter Pippi’s space a few months ago, I waited with baited breath to see what amazing space Emily of The Beetleshack was going to come up with for her new baby, and she didn’t disappoint. Inspired by Rebekka Seale’s stamped bumblebee walls, Emily set about getting a similar look with removable wall stickers, and it made the space.
May 5, 2019
Sienna’s Graphic Girly Nursery
Name: Sienna Location: Los Angeles, CA Room Size: 13’x12′ The first time I laid eyes on Sienna’s nursery, I was blown away. Jen Campbell, editor of Green Wedding Shoes, wanted a girly nursery that was still modern and fresh. To achieve the look she paired bold, graphic designs with a soft color palette and added a dash of sparkle. The result is a stunning space for her new baby girl. How would you describe the look and feel of this room?
May 4, 2019
Soothing Neutrals vs. Stimulating Color: What’s the Right Choice for a Nursery?
My second baby is now four months old and I’ve transitioned her from the co-sleeper in our bedroom to the crib in her nursery. But other than sleep – at night and for naps, she actually doesn’t spend much of her time there. More often than not she’s in the main part of our house with my toddler and me, watching us play and interact, eat our meals, and go about our day.
May 4, 2019
Reed’s Soft, Starry Space
Name: Reed Location: Boston, MA Room Size: 10′ x 12′ When I found out that my friend Dina was pregnant with her second baby, I knew it was going to be a showstopper of a nursery. You see, Dina is a DIY maven with an amazing eye. Although the nursery looks like a million bucks, she managed to put her DIY touch on nearly everything – from the curtains to the artwork to the showstopper ceiling.
May 4, 2019
Before & After: A Baby Room Grows Up
Erin of DIY on the Cheap needed a new sleeping solution for her two boys – her youngest was sleeping in the nursery, while her older son was in the guest bedroom. She decided to create a shared “big boy room” for both and hit it out of the ballpark! Erin made the headboards (you can find the tutorial here), toddler bed and pillows herself as well as updated/upcycled a ton of other pieces in the space. See more about the transformation on Erin’s blog, DIY on the Cheap.
May 4, 2019
Before & After: Lucy’s White to Wow! Bedroom
Dana of MADE wanted to spice up her daughter Lucy’s boring bedroom. Living in the suburbs in a “cookie cutter” home, the space was seriously lacking in character and personality. With paint, accessories, and a lot of creativity, this room went from white to wow! I love that Dana didn’t make any big purchases (furniture, an area rug, or curtains) to totally transform the space. The biggest changes were a very creative coat of paint and a few fun DIY projects.
May 4, 2019
Ruby’s Happily Eclectic Nursery
Name: Ruby Marlowe Location: Highland Park/Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California Room Size: 12’ x 11’ So often you see a space and can instantly give it a label – modern, Mid-Century, Scandinavian, vintage, glam – you get the picture. But the minute I saw little Ruby’s room, I thought, now that’s something different.
May 4, 2019
Vivi and Brigette’s Home Away from Home
Name: Vivi & Brigette Location: South Georgia Room Size: 12′ x 13′ Lay Baby Lay is a wonderful place to find nursery and kids’ inspiration, so I was beyond excited to hear that the website’s editor Joni was designing a shared space for her girls at her family’s farmhouse. Joni is a master at mixing styles to create a cohesive look. This space is a mix of vintage, modern, and classic pieces, while the accessories and wall panels give it a whimsical, campy feel.
May 4, 2019
Lula’s Baby Bunnyland
Name: Lula Location: Mission District in San Francisco, California Room Size: 9′ x 11′ When your mother is a French illustrator and paper artist, you know you’re going to have a truly special room! Mom Chloé Fleury has created a modern space for her daughter Lula that is equally warm and whimsical.
May 4, 2019
Finn’s DIY Domain
Name: Finn Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado When we moved cross-country for the third time, we knew that Finn HAD to have some serious attention paid to his own space. The poor guy has watched us remodel bathrooms, a kitchen and his sister’s room; but he was never the star of the show. My husband wanted to theme the dickens out of Finn’s room, but I was pretty stringent on sticking with something that could easily grow and evolve with the little guy.
May 4, 2019
Olive’s Creatively Colorful Abode
Name: Olive Sydney Location: Florence, Alabama Room Size: 12′ x15′ I’m often conflicted when it comes to children’s spaces in that I love the clean, bright aesthetic of a white space, but I’m also partial to bold color. So when I came across this room from parents Tera and Wes of Armosa Studios, I was thrilled to find the best of both worlds. How would you describe the look and feel of this room? The look of the room is bright and happy.
May 4, 2019