Rustic Chic Nursery Ideas

Walls

• Use neutral colors on the walls such as light tan, cream and beige, or soft, muted greens. Add texture to the walls with either a textured paint or a faux paint technique such as sponging or ragging. Create an accent wall with wallpaper or a stripe painting technique. Add wood cladding for a rustic lodge feel, or choose a wallpaper that creates this effect. Stain woodwork and skirting boards rather than painting them for a natural finish. A rustic window mural creates a delightful addition to the room.

Floor

• Wood flooring is the best choice for a rustic room, and its hard-wearing and easy-to-clean qualities make it an ideal floor covering in a baby's nursery. For a softer feel underfoot, use a natural fiber carpet such as hemp, seagrass, jute or sisal. If you don't want the expense or work of laying a new floor, lay a large, natural fiber rug over the existing flooring.

Furniture

• Combine rustic wood and vintage furniture pieces. This is a great opportunity to save money by hunting for bargains in thrift stores and antique shops. You need a chest of drawers for clothing and other baby items, a changing table -- use a changing pad on top of the dresser to save space -- a crib and a rocking chair with a small side table. Shelves are a great space-saving option and perfect for displaying toys and books.

Fabrics

• Choose soft green baby bedding to complement muted green walls, with nature-inspired motifs such as leaves or pine cones. Patchwork bedding is a wonderfully chic way to add splashes of color to a neutral-colored room, and it looks cozy and inviting. Introduce an animal theme with bedding featuring moose, bear, bunny or deer motifs. For a striking contrast, use a pretty vintage-style bedding in creams or white. Hang curtains that match the bedding you have chosen, or opt for curtains in a neutral color such as warm brown or cream. A blackout blind really helps with daytime napping.

Accessories

• If you have opted for an animal theme with the bedding, continue this with the accent pieces. For example, if you have a bear motif, place some stuffed bear toys on the shelf, choose artwork or a cute lamp depicting bears, or hang a bear mobile over the crib. In a muted green, nature-inspired room, hang framed botanicals. Wicker baskets add rustic texture to the room and are a cute way to store toys. Stretch patchwork fabric over a blank framed canvas and staple in place at the back for unusual wall art that complements a patchwork bedding set.