Nursery Tour: Max’s Magical Room

Name: Katie and son, Max
Location: Southwest Ohio

When we stumbled upon photos of Max’s magical room, we couldn’t believe how well every single part of the room was being used. The room is a perfect example of getting the most out of your space. Max’s mom Katie tells us, “…the biggest thing with a small room is organization. Everything has a place in his room, from the bugs to the blocks.” Clearly, Katie is a whiz at creating a fun space for Max to play, explore and dream in.

Katie’s main idea behind the room was to make sure it would grow and keep up with Max. She tells us:
“Like most four year olds, he wears many hats: train conductor, interpretive dancer, painter, chef…I knew a theme wouldn’t do and just really wanted the room to be a fraction of how happy and joyful he is.”

The focal point of the room is the great, large chalk board paint wall. According to Katie, it only took one quart of Rust-Oleum’s Specialty Chalk Board to paint the wall top to bottom. She adds, “It’s a kid’s dream to get to draw on the wall.” The chalk board is echoed throughout the room as seen in the red chalk board storage boxes which she found at Target and a chalk board pot.

Katie also shows us that you don’t need a big budget to create a great space that looks luxurious. You can find items that won’t blow your budget and you can create your own treasures as well. Many of the things in Max’s room were made by Katie including the great paintings. By painting over various old canvases and going with Max’s suggestions, Katie made some unique artwork for his room. Max also helped Katie paint them; together they created an alligator, robot, whale and airplane.

Other DIY items in Max’s room are some pillows Katie made with fabric from Ikea, his banner flags, the art hung on string (created by artist Max, of course) and the valance made with green gingham. For Max’s bedding, Katie selected the Siffror three-piece quilt cover set. Best part is, the set is only $12. She also added a red bed skirt and sham from Target.

Among the other great items in the room are a train table from Kidkraft and the circle patterned pillow from Hobby Lobby which Katie snagged on clearance for only $3. And to bring a little of the outdoors inside, Max’s has a cute ersatz garden which features some plastic bugs and paper grass in canning jars and a white chalkboard pot. Our favorite part of the room, however, is Max’s cozy reading nook inside the closet that holds a wonderful bookshelf and bench. The nook is made even more soothing with the light green paint, Potpourri Green, from Benjamin Moore.

When asked for advice on how to approach the nursery decorating process, Katie remarks, “If I could think of anything it would be to let the room come about organically. Some of the best things in Max’s room or our house, in general, have come from a thought out of nowhere or by complete accident. Find something that inspires you, whether it’s your child or a piece of art or a color scheme and run with it — and never settle for full price. If you have the time to hunt in store or online it is well worth it; especially when it ends up covered in toddler teeth marks and crayon.”

Thanks for sharing your lovely space, Katie and Max!