Our Countryside-Inspired Nursery: Gender-Neutral Design + Everyday Baby Essentials
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Designing our baby’s nursery was one of those dream-come-true projects for me. I wanted it to feel calm, cozy, and rooted in nature – something timeless that could be used for all our babies in those first precious years. We created a soft, layered space with an English countryside theme nursery at its core, paired with a gender-neutral nursery wall decor approach that feels classic and versatile. Since our little ones will all start in this room before moving into their “big kid” spaces, I wanted the room to be functional and beautiful.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
A Calm and Timeless Colour Palette
We painted the walls in Sea Pearl by Benjamin Moore, a soft and warm neutral that complements the rest of our neutral nursery theme. We installed panel moulding to add depth and charm and topped it with a simple chair rail detail. This classic wall treatment feels true to the countryside theme nursery style I love and brings extra character to the space.
We also used IKEA cabinetry to create custom-built-ins along one wall, which gave us extra storage for books, toys, and clothing. The design maximizes the room’s footprint while seamlessly blending into the overall design. This way, all things baby are stored in here!
I leaned into neutral nursery themes with shades of sage green, creamy white, and natural wood to keep the room serene and flexible. The wallpaper we used from Sandberg in Sage Green, adds a perfect touch of pattern and English charm without overwhelming the room.
The rug is from Ruggable’s Morris & Co. line (machine washable, which is a must), and it ties in beautifully with the tones of the wallpaper and the rest of the neutral nursery wall decor.
The Crib That Grows with Your Baby: A Countryside-Inspired Essential
We started out with the Stokke Sleepi Mini Crib, which was small enough to keep beside the bed in the early days. It felt snug and secure without being bulky, and we loved the soft oval shape – a subtle design feature that also saves space. When Owen outgrew the mini, we used the Sleepi extension kit to transition it into the full-sized crib, which now lives in the nursery.
Why we love it:
- Compact and cozy for newborn days
- Smooth transition to a full crib
- The oval shape makes the room feel more open
- A timeless design that fits beautifully with our countryside theme nursery vibe
A Dresser Hack That Looks Custom
We used an IKEA dresser as the changing station and gave it a complete DIY makeover:
- Routered the top for a more finished look
- Painted it in Raintree Green by Benjamin Moore
- Swapped the knobs for something more vintage-inspired
You can more details that inspired this project here: How to Paint IKEA Furniture and Guide to IKEA Hacks: From Planning to Execution
We also added the Skip Hop Wipe-Clean Changing Pad in Oat, which is practical and looks great. The surface wipes down easily, and the mobile detaches when needed. This is something I spent so much time stressing over. There is popular brand with a changing mat for double the price – zero regrets on buying this one!
I also went with Ubbi diaper pail in taupe – sleek, neutral, and doesn’t require special bags (though I ended up buying these that fit the pail and so happy I made the swap). This was just another thing I spent a lot of time stressing over, but happy with this choice in addition to now having the bags that fit well. I tried random bags for a while and it was frustrating.
Storage & Organization Ideas for Gender Neutral Nursery Themes
Keeping everything organized in a small nursery can be tricky, but a few staples helped us make it work:
- SKUBB drawer organizers from IKEA for dividing up clothes, bibs, and accessories in the dresser.
- SAMLA clear storage bins for organizing future clothing sizes in the closet.
- Amazon velvet baby hangers for keeping tiny clothes neat.
Feeding & Soothing Essentials
One furniture piece in the nursery we have loved is our glider recliner. It’s incredibly comfortable and fits seamlessly into the calming, neutral palette of the room. We’ve spent countless hours feeding, rocking, and snuggling here. I love that it both glides and reclines, making those late-night feeds and early newborn naps much more comfortable for us. It’s one of those investments I’d recommend if you’re planning a neutral nursery that balances style and practicality. It also fits seamlessly with the decor in the rest of the house so we can use it in the living room one day!
Here are a few more items we used and loved during our feeding journey:
- Avent glass bottles (we started with another brand and switched)
- MomCozy bottle warmer (also a switch we made early on)
- Baby Brezza Formula Pro – we got the advanced model that connects to your phone but the basic version would have done the trick!
- Baby Brezza Bottle Washer Pro: I bought this at the last minute, three days postpartum, and have used it daily since. It’s a total game-changer.
- MomCozy M5 wearable pumps – I never used the manual ones I bought. These were comfortable and actually made pumping manageable. I was also able to claim these through insurance with a note from my OBGYN!
Bath Time Must-Haves
We kept bath time sweet but straightforward with a few key items:
- Angelcare Bath Support – perfect for newborn baths (we are still using at 6 months, and will flip over and use as a seat soon)
- Angelcare Bath Thermometer – doubles as a bath toy!
- Skip Hop Whale Rinse Cup
- KeaBabies Hooded Towel – soft, absorbent, and so cozy post-bath, other towels are too small after a few months as baby gets bigger
We also keep the Snuggle Me Organic in the bathroom to lay Owen on before and after baths. It’s a soft spot for him to hang out while we get him ready, and it’s been one of those items that continues to be useful long after the newborn stage. We brought it all over the house when he was tiny, but now it lives in the bathroom beside the tub (and I put this on the side of the tub for him to play with while he waits).
Gear We Love
Here are a few more items we constantly use, especially for on the go:
- UPPAbaby Vista V3 in Declan – our main stroller
- UPPAbaby Bassinet and Stand – this was key for the first 3 months
- UPPAbaby Aria Infant Car Seat – lightweight and clips into the Vista
- Stokke YOYO Stroller – our compact, foldable stroller for travel
- Silver Cross Slumber – a sleek, easy-to-pack travel crib, up to 50lbs (many only do 20-35lbs)
- Nuna RAVA Convertible Car Seat – for when Owen is bigger
The Little Things That Add Up
Sometimes, it’s the less glamorous items that genuinely make life easier:
- A good stash of burp cloths (keep them everywhere!)
- A diaper caddy on the main floor
- We stocked it with: a foldable change pad, extra diaper cream, wipes, diapers, and burp cloths.
- Get a few muslin swaddle blankets in prints and colours you love. We used them for everything from swaddling to blankets and nursing wraps – and it just made me happy to have a print I really loved.
Favourite Toys That Fit Neutral Nursery Themes
We’ve tried out a lot of baby toys, and a few have definitely become go-to favourites around here. If you’re looking to stock up or build your registry, these are the toys Owen has reached for again and again, from tummy time to early sensory play and more:
- Newborn Soft Book is a soft, double-sided sensory book perfect for tummy time and early exploration.
- This popular play gym isn’t aesthetic, but babies love it, and it is helpful for so many stages.
- Stacking cups and rings for fine motor development
- A silicone teether with easy-to-grasp handles is a big hit
- Spinner toy
- Aquarium toy
👉 You can shop my complete list of favourite baby toys here (canada) and here (USA)
This nursery has been a cozy, peaceful space for all those everyday moments with Owen. I love that it’s rooted in neutral nursery themes and designed to adapt as our family grows. Whether designing your own countryside theme nursery or putting together a registry, I hope this gives you some ideas, inspiration, and a few tried-and-true product recommendations to make those early days a little easier.
If you have any questions or want links to anything I mentioned, please comment!
