This quick and easy DIY nursery décor project takes only minutes to create and adds tons of character to a boy, girl, or gender-neutral nursery. It can be customized to fit any theme. See my material list and tutorial below to get started!
I knew pretty early on with Baby #2 that I wanted to go with a safari/jungle-themed nursery. I love the tribal patterns and endless animal decorations that you can find in-stores, online, or make yourself.
Exotic faux-plants and tribal patterns? Check! Cute baby safari animals and vibrant color scheme? Check!
I was at a local vintage shop when I stumbled across three wicker baskets and immediately pictured them in the nursery, suspended on cords and filled with little safari animals.
This easy DIY nursery décor fits the design for a safari nursery but can be customized to fit any theme, depending on the style of the baskets you use and what you choose to fill it with (I think white baskets with overflowing faux-vines and flowers would be adorable for a little girl’s room)!
This project took me about 20 minutes to complete from start to finish.
Here’s what you’ll need:
MATERIALS FOR THIS DIY NURSERY DÉCOR:
- Baskets (I sourced mine from a local vintage shop but check these similar baskets out for the same look (my baskets were small, approximately 6″, 12″, and 14″ in diameter, and not too deep).
- Suede Cord, or other material to hang your baskets. I used a 5mm brown suede cord. Try the leather cord if you’re going for a more polished look or this rustic, woven twine if you like the farmhouse style.
- Baby Safari Animals (or other items to fit your theme; find the ones I used in this project here)
- Faux Leaves for added texture and color. Hobby Lobby is the place to go!
- Decorative Ceiling Hooks – Again, Hobby Lobby or World Market has a great selection.
- Drywall anchors that fit your hooks (I prefer the self-drilling ones like these and make sure they will fit the size of your ceiling hooks)
- Scissors
- Hammer
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- Wire cutters if needed for greenery
DIY NURSERY DÉCOR: STEP-BY-STEP TO CREATE SAFARI HANGING BASKETS
1. Prep your materials and pick a spot to hang your décor.
First things first, have all your materials handy. Then, go ahead and find the perfect spot to hang your baskets. For me, this was in the corner of the nursery between the crib and dresser. There wasn’t much in that corner beforehand, except for a faux banana-leaf plant on the floor. The hanging baskets add height and visual interest to that area of the room while still fitting the safari nursery theme.
2. Pre-measure how low you want your baskets to hang and string the cord through, leaving extra length for adjustments.
I used a basic larks head knot to loop the cord onto two of my three baskets, then wove the cord through the third so that it created a 4-point effect once it was hung. You could knot and string the cord however you wish – add some macramé knots or braids for flare or leave it simple as I did.
I do recommend doubling the cord for extra stability so you don’t have the weight of the basket and its contents hanging by a thread (no pun intended).
Remember to approximate your length by measuring, double it, and add extra for adjustments. You can trim the excess after it’s hung.
3. Install drywall anchors and hooks.
I set my anchors in a triangle in the corner of the room, leaving space so that the baskets would not be crowded but would also be close enough together to look like a cohesive grouping.
Don’t skip out on drywall anchors – you don’t want the hooks and baskets to come crashing down!
4. Hang your baskets, adjust, and trim the excess cord.
I wanted a staggered look to my trio of baskets, so it took a few adjustments to get it just right. The baskets are suspended several feet below ceiling height, but not too low that my kiddos could mess with them (even if my toddler grabbed a long toy or tried to toss something up at it).
5. Fill ‘em up with safari animals and greenery!
This was the fun part – my baskets held 1, 2, and 3 stuffed safari animals perfectly. I added three types of greenery to fill in gaps and expand on the safari/jungle look. The greenery also tied in nicely with the faux plant below.
And you’re done – I told you this was quick and simple!
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You can also explore related posts on this blog such as My Home Office Makeover or this DIY Window Frame Art.
