Industrial Loft Nursery Design, Chicago

The nursery I designed for my daughter in our Chicago loft was small but sweet. The space felt fun and bright, pairing modern furniture with industrial architectural features.

Polka dot wall in loft nursery design

Loft Nursery Floor Plan

This 8′ x 9′ room fit a lot in, but careful space planning made sure there was as much open floor space as possible and nothing felt cramped.

Small nursery floor plan layout

Loft Nursery Reveal

Industrial Features

Two of the nursery walls were partial – eight feet tall with a two foot gap to the ceiling. No windows meant no natural light, but high ceilings helped the room feel bright and airy. 

Concrete ceilings in loft nursery

Investing Where It Matters: The Crib

The Oeuf crib is an investment piece, but I chose it for a number of reasons: it’s solid wood, eco friendly, has no VOCs, and is made in Europe to strict standards. It also looks great.

I offset the cost of the crib by opting for more affordable pieces elsewhere in the room.

Oeuf crib

Design Details

The painting above the crib inspired the colour palette for this loft nursery. It has gold details, which I echoed on the feature wall behind the crib using circle decals. You can read about how I installed the dot decals here.

Large mirror in loft nursery design

A large mirror gives the impression of a window, and helps bounce light around.

A refurbished glider sits next to the crib for reading and feeding.

Refurbished glider with slipcovers

It also served as a quiet spot for Ted, our dog, to avoid the abundance of “affection” thrust upon him by the kids.

Corgi under nursery glider

Affordable Nursery Art

A framed sheet of wrapping paper sat above the glider. It originally lived in my son’s toddler bedroom, and it helped him learn his letters. I repainted the mat so it fit its new surroundings.

Affordable nursery art using ABC wrapping paper
Loft girl nursery design reveal

Nursery Storage

A sweet turquoise bookcase displayed board books and baskets for toys.

Turquoise nursery bookcase

I used another set of decals above the bookcase to bring some softer shapes to the wall decor – essential with four blank walls to fill.

Decals in loft nursery design

Customising Big Box Furniture

The dresser is an Ikea staple, but I replaced the knobs with pretty coral pulls.

Ikea dresser with custom pulls
Anthropologie hardware on Ikea dresser

The dresser played double duty as a changing table, with a little gallery wall hung above.

Double duty changing table and dresser in small nursery

It was a sweet little nursery for a sweet little lady.

Loft baby girl nursery design reveal

Sources

Furniture

Crib – Oeuf Sparrow via Craigslist
Glider – Walmart
Brass table – West Elm
Dresser – Ikea // Dresser Pulls – Anthropologie
Bookcase – Home Decorators

Textiles

Crib sheet – Land of Nod
Crib pillows – from fabric by Caitlin Wilson & Pier 1 Imports
Knitted blanket – gift
Glider cushions – recovered in Waverly Cross Section in Charcoal Pillow on glider – Next
Changing mat cover – Land of Nod
Rug – PB Teen

Decor & Art

Gold dot decals – Land of Nod
Giclee print – Alison Keefe
ABC print – Paper Source (frame from Ikea)
Mirror – Pottery Barn via Craigslist
Flower vase – Anthropologie
Yellena James print – Etsy
Birds decal – Amazon
Chevron photo frame – Anthropologie
Wooden letters – JoJo Maman Bebe
Lamp base – Target
Lamp shade – PB Teen
Baskets – Target

Polka dot wall in loft nursery design
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11 Comments

  1. January 16, 2014 / 6:34 pm

    I love it!! Can't wait to hear how you did the decals 🙂

  2. January 16, 2014 / 6:50 pm

    I have the exact same bird decal in Daisy's nursery. Looks great next to the bunting Hannah made! X

  3. January 16, 2014 / 10:26 pm

    so well done in such a crazy small space. love it

  4. January 18, 2014 / 1:23 pm

    Oh wow, this is a GORGEOUS nursery design. I love everything about it – including how you fit everything in such a small space. Those gold decals are soo pretty (and I totally believe you!)

  5. January 21, 2014 / 12:46 am

    It looks so great, Lizzie! And I seriously would do anything Emily Henderson tells me to, as well ; ) Amazing use of that tiny space, great job! xo

  6. January 29, 2014 / 4:20 am

    This is so adorable! I love all the gold polka dots… all the details are perfect. It is so fab that I am featuring it tomorrow at Work it Wednesday. Hop by to grab your button if you have a chance!! Thanks for sharing it:)
    ~Krista from the happy housie

  7. January 29, 2014 / 7:56 pm

    What a cute room! It reminds me of our daughters "room" before we moved. It was actually our walk in closet, but I decorated it for her to feel cozy.
    Now that we are in our new house I have been trying to finish her room here. I just re-painted and put gold stars on her wall. I can't wait to make canopy for over her daybed. It will be like she is sleeping in a tent under the stars 😉

    • December 28, 2020 / 3:54 pm

      That sounds gorgeous – I would love to check it out! 🙂

  8. April 16, 2016 / 3:52 pm

    Everything about this nursery is adorable!!! I love your polka dots and hope mine turn out as cute!!! The little gray crib is so cute too!

  9. March 6, 2017 / 10:50 am

    I find this room so adorable, many thanks for sharing. You’re a talented interior designer:) I’ll be following this blog, since it is an amazing place to learn some amazing ideas for the decoration of my apartment.

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