Designing Darla’s Vintage-Inspired Nursery

Watching this room come to life was really special. Creating Darla’s nursery was a true labor of love—filled with vintage-inspired details, cozy layers, and thoughtful choices that make this small nursery both beautiful and extremely functional.

I never intended to wait until Darla was six months old to start her nursery. But if you’ve been following my story, you know that nothing went according to plan. And honestly? That ended up being okay. Waiting gave me the chance to get to know her a bit and design a room that felt like her.

Would I recommend designing a nursery this way? Not exactly! Only because it’s about 1,000 times harder to finish once your baby is already here. But silver linings, you guys!

Not only is Darla’s nursery the cutest (if I do say so myself), it’s also incredibly functional. For a small nursery, that was non-negotiable—and definitely not an accident.

As a second-time mom, someone who has designed nurseries for clients, and after watching so many friends go through the nursery design process, I came into this project with a lot of experience. And yet, it still wasn’t easy. What helped most was approaching the space with intention instead of trying to do everything at once.

Function always comes first in nursery design, especially in a small room. Every piece needs to have somewhat of a purpose, and every layout decision has to work just as hard as it looks good.

The biggest thing that helped ground the design was choosing a theme early and sticking to it. Darla’s full name—Darla Rose—felt soft, romantic, and old-fashioned to me, and that instantly pointed me toward a vintage-inspired nursery design style.

From there, every design decision filtered through that lens:

Does this feel timeless?

Does this feel collected rather than trendy?

Will this grow with her?

For me, a vintage nursery doesn’t mean overly frilly or themed. It’s about warmth, softness, and pieces that feel like they could have been loved for years. The color palette stayed within gentle shades of pink, layered with neutral tones to keep the room feeling calm and balanced.

When it comes to small nursery design, scale matters more than almost anything else. Choosing furniture that’s the right size for the room makes the space feel intentional rather than crowded. I focused on pieces that fit the room proportionally, offered storage without feeling bulky, and had classic silhouettes that wouldn’t feel dated.

The crib and dresser were sourced from The Baby Hive right here in Utah, and they were exactly what the space needed: functional, well-scaled, and timeless. Choosing the right furniture allowed the room to feel open and breathable, even with limited square footage.

One of my favorite details in Darla’s baby girl nursery is the artwork above the crib, created by my sister-in-law, Heather Roth. Incorporating meaningful, personal elements like this instantly gives a nursery soul and makes it feel truly one-of-a-kind.

Whether it’s family artwork, vintage finds, or heirloom pieces, these personal layers are what turn a nursery from a styled room into a meaningful space.

A major goal with Darla’s nursery design was longevity. I didn’t want a room that would feel “too baby” in a year or two. By leaning into classic design principles and vintage-inspired elements, the space can easily evolve as she grows. Accessories, art, and textiles can change over time, while the foundation of the room remains timeless.

If there’s one thing this nursery taught me, it’s that interior design—especially in family spaces—is rarely perfect or linear. Sometimes the timeline shifts. Sometimes the plan changes. And sometimes, waiting leads to something even better.

Darla’s nursery may not have come together the way I originally imagined, but it came together exactly how it was meant to. Cozy, functional, vintage-inspired, and filled with love!

Shop Darla's Nursery: Chair | Scalloped Shelf | Floor Lamp | Wallpaper | Alpaca Rocker | Baby Cubby Dresser | Baby Cubby Crib | Crib Sheets | Custom Window Coverings by My Shade Co. and Graber