Designing Hudson’s big boy room
The time has come! Our Hudson is moving out of the nursery and into his very own big boy bedroom. It has been such a bittersweet season as we prepare for this move to make way for sweet baby brother. My heart aches to think about Hudson not being in his “baby” room any more, so I’ve been extra motivated to make his new room just as cozy, comforting, and love-filled as the one he’s grown up in.
Similar to my process of designing the nursery - I created a Pinterest mood board to form a general color scheme and theme. I quickly realized I wanted Hudson’s new room to have a bit more contrast and include darker, forest-inspired colors along with natural woods & clean whites. This time around, I’ve felt much more confident in what types of furniture and decor to look for and planned the design around minimal, quality pieces that are both nontoxic and sustainable.
It’s been so fun to create a space that is playfully boyish, timeless, and filled with all the things that Hudson loves. While we continue to add more pieces to his room, I’ve made it a priority for us to spend time in there as much as we can - reading his new books, playing with his cars, and even admiring the art (he loves his “Beep Beep” wall art and smiles every time he looks at it). I pray that it immediately feels like home to him and one day we can look back and think of all the countless, joyous memories we’ve made over the years. Big boy room details below.
Greenguard Gold Certified/low VOC furniture
When it comes to furniture, I love shopping with transparent companies who test for harmful substances. Brands like Babyletto, West Elm, and Ducduc offer peace of mind with their products and a guarantee of safe, nontoxic finishes (I look for Greenguard certification).
I ended up choosing Babyletto’s Hudson crib (he’s still in a crib at this point) because they offer a toddler bed conversion kit that will make the perfect, first big boy bed. Ducduc’s Indi bookcase in Fern is a gorgeous, woodsy shade of green, and I love that the open shelves will give him easy access to his toys and books.
Natural decor
A large, cozy rug was a must for me in Hudson’s big boy room. I know there will be plenty of time spent on the floor - racing cars, building forts & sitting around pretend campfires. I opted for a hand woven rug made of wool, jute, and cotton fibers. I love the warmth it adds to his room.
To go along with the forest theme, I chose natural decor like West Elm’s hyacinth bear basket and The Container Store’s jute woven storage baskets. These are perfect for organizing toys in his bookcase.
Organic bedding
Nontoxic, organic bedding is very important to me - and with Hudson’s new crib came the opportunity to invest in a new mattress. I confidently chose Naturepedic’s organic, breathable mattress. I love their transparency and the thought that goes into all of the materials in their products. They stay away from harmful chemicals like flame retardants and use healthier, natural alternatives like a waterproof layer made of sugarcane.
There are so many great options out there when it comes to crib sheets and toddler blankets. I found a beautiful, olive crib sheet by Cozy Earth on sale and love that it’s made of 100% silky bamboo viscose. If you miss the sale, they can be quite pricey - so Natemia is a great alternative. They offer reasonably priced, organic jersey crib sheets in pretty, earthy tones.
When it comes to blankets, Hudson’s absolute favorite is his Lou Lou & Company Cloud Muslin quilt. It’s a bit of a splurge, but worth the price in my opinion. The gorgeous, thick cotton washes beautifully and is a heavy, comforting weight. Comfy Cubs makes a great affordable alternative - we have both, but Hudson prefers Lou Lou’s.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a good toddler pillow, Mother Sheep Organics makes wonderful, all-natural pillows. Hudson has had his for a while now, and it’s just as fluffy and comfortable as it was when we bought it a couple years ago.
Sustainable toys
Not all of Hudson’s toys are natural and sustainable - but I try to invest in heirloom quality, eco-friendly toys when I can. Plan Toys’ wooden vehicles are durable, beautiful works of art made up of mindful materials like sustainably harvested rubberwood. His fire truck doubles as decor in his bookcase.
Hazel Village’s organic stuffies are some of my favorites. They’re made of organic cotton and consciously hand sewn in Nepal. Even their little clothes are made of quality, cotton fabric. They look precious sitting in Hudson’s woven toy baskets.
Lastly, the Lily & River Little Creator table. This may be Hudson’s most used item in his big boy room. He spends time here every day - it makes the perfect surface for setting up his car maps, coloring, sculpting with play dough & it even comes with a silicone mat for legos. This cute little table is a must for me.
Finishing touches
When I saw Christie Garcia’s Beep Beep wall art, I knew it was the finishing touch Hudson’s room needed. The sleek Bronco-style truck, muted earthy tones, and nature theme add a perfect, boyish touch to his room. We hung Crate & Barrel’s wooden moon light above his E&E canvas teepee, and it has become our new favorite spot for a pretend campfire.
I wanted to create a space for Hudson that encouraged all kinds of play and sparked his creativity. His open bookshelf, organized toy bins and open ended play toys have kept us both entertained for hours. It’s been precious to watch him fall in love with his big boy room and make it his new home.
My mama’s heart is so happy to see this new little corner of our home become filled with so much warmth and joy. What a blessing it is to hear shrieks of laughter, extra loud vrooms, and the occasional bang of a dropped toy down the hall. And the especially sweet sound I know I’ll miss for the rest of my days “mommy, come play with me.”
May we enjoy these special, cozy spaces that we’ve been blessed with - whether it’s a roomy play room upstairs, or a shared living area in the apartment. While I believe a safe, nontoxic environment is important - I know that the love, patience, and kindness we show our babies is what truly matters. May God grant us all the wisdom to love on these precious souls in such a way that they grow up never doubting just how much they mean to us & to Christ.
til next time,
Becks