Guide
Nursery and Children's Room Ideas
The pieces that make a room feel like theirs, and where to put them: above the cot or bed, on the bedroom door and around the toy box, with the size to try and what each one costs.
Updated
In short: hang a name sign above the cot or bed, add a few wooden animals in a theme, and put a smaller name on the bedroom door or the toy box. Choose one wood to tie it all together, or mix pale and dark woods for contrast.
What to put where
Sizes are the maximum width of a name sign. They're good starting points rather than rules: a bigger sign makes more of a statement, and a smaller one feels more delicate.
| Where | What works | Name sign size |
|---|---|---|
| Above a cot | A name sign, with animals either side if there's room | 40 to 60 cm |
| Above a single bed | A name sign, or a set of five animals | 50 to 70 cm |
| Above a double bed or across a feature wall | A large name sign, or animals in mixed sizes | 60 to 80 cm |
| Over a chest of drawers or changing unit | A name sign, or a set of three animals | 30 to 50 cm |
| Bedroom door | A door name sign | 20 or 30 cm, or 40 cm for a long name |
| Toy box or blanket box | A name across the front | 20 to 40 cm |
| Shelf, windowsill or desk | A small name sign or a single animal | 10 to 30 cm |
What it costs
These are our regular prices on Etsy, from the smallest size to the largest. Everything is made to order in our Cheshire studio in 1 to 3 days.
| Piece | Price | UK delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Name sign | £9.99 to £104.99 | Free |
| Single animal | £9.99 to £65.99 | Free |
| Set of three animals | £34.99 to £119.99 | Free |
| Set of five animals | £49.99 to £182.99 | Free |
| Christmas name decoration | £3.40 each | £3.50 per order |
Start with their name
A name sign is the simplest way to make a room theirs, and it stays on the wall long after the baby years. Ours are cut as one joined piece of real wood, with the letters flowing into each other the way they would if you wrote the name by hand.
- Size: eight sizes, from 10 to 80 cm wide. Choose from the table above, then mark the width on the wall with masking tape and look at it from the doorway.
- Font: Swirly, a classic calligraphy script, or Scribble, a relaxed handwritten one. Our font guide shows every letter of both.
- Where to hang it: centre it above the cot or bed, so it frames it rather than crowding it. Over a cot, hang it high enough to stay well out of reach once your baby can pull themselves up to standing.
Type the name into our Name Sign Designer to see it in every font, size and wood before you order, or read more about nursery name signs.
Choose a theme for the walls
Wooden animals give a room a theme in calm, natural colours. Ours are each drawn as one flowing outline and come in four sizes, so you can start with a few and add more as they grow.
| Theme | Animals | Sets |
|---|---|---|
| Safari | Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Zebra, Rhino, Crocodile | Three Safari Animals, Five Safari Animals |
| Jungle | Tiger, Monkey, Toucan, Parrot, Bear | Three Jungle Animals, Five Jungle Animals |
| Under the Sea | Whale, Shark, Dolphin, Octopus, Jellyfish, Ray, Turtle, Seahorse, Crab, Starfish, Seashell | Sold one at a time |
- Start with the biggest piece and build around it. One extra large animal with two or three small or medium ones looks considered rather than crowded.
- Leave a hand's width between animals, and centre the group on the furniture below rather than on the wall.
- Try it in paper first. Cut shapes to the sizes on each animal's page and tape them to the wall to check the spacing and height.
See all our wooden animal wall art.
On the bedroom door
A name on the door tells everyone whose room it is. A 20 or 30 cm sign suits most UK internal doors, and 40 cm suits a long name or a wide door. On a panelled door, measure the flat panel and choose a size a few centimetres narrower. Scribble gives a door a playful, modern look. See bedroom door name signs.
Toy boxes, shelves and storage
A name across the front of a toy box, blanket box or playroom shelf turns everyday storage into something that's theirs. Measure the flat area across the front and choose a size a few centimetres narrower: most toy boxes suit a 20, 30 or 40 cm sign. On a shelf or windowsill, a 10 to 30 cm sign or a single small animal is enough. See toy box name signs.
Putting the woods together
Our name signs and animals come in the same four real wood veneers, so you can match them exactly or mix them.
- Canadian maple is pale and creamy, for light, Scandi-style rooms and pastel nurseries.
- English oak is golden and goes with almost anything.
- European cherry is a warm, rosy brown that suits neutral, earthy rooms.
- American walnut is a rich chocolate brown that stands out most on pale walls.
Walnut and maple make a striking pair, while oak and cherry feel warm and calm. If you'd rather have a colour, name signs and single animals also come in unpainted MDF, ready to paint. Our wood guide compares them side by side.
Good to know
- Hanging without drilling. Strong 3M double-sided tape comes with every name sign and animal. It needs a smooth, clean, dry surface, and won't grip heavily textured finishes, wicker or fabric.
- Out of reach. Above a cot, keep everything well out of reach once your baby can pull themselves up to standing, and check now and then that it's still secure.
- Fresh paint. If the wall or door has just been painted, give the paint a few weeks to harden before you put anything up.
- Painting MDF? For anything in a child's room, look for a primer and paint labelled as meeting EN 71-3, the toy safety standard.
Giving one as a gift
A name sign makes a thoughtful new baby, christening or birthday present, and a set of animals makes a lovely joint gift. If it's a surprise, check the spelling with the family first: we cut the name exactly as you type it. Ask us on Etsy and we'll send you a free digital mock-up before you order. For Christmas ideas, see our gift guide.
Questions
What can I buy to make a nursery or child's room feel personal?
A name sign is the classic choice: above the cot or bed, on the bedroom door or along the front of the toy box. Add wooden animals in a theme, such as safari, jungle or under the sea, for the walls. Our name signs and animal wall art both start at £9.99, with free UK delivery.
What size name sign goes above a cot?
Most cots suit a sign 40 to 60 cm wide. Above a single bed, try 50 to 70 cm, and above a double bed or across a feature wall, 60 to 80 cm. Mark the width on the wall with masking tape before you order, or see the name at every size in our Name Sign Designer.
How many wooden animals do I need for a nursery wall?
A set of three, such as our lion, elephant and giraffe, suits the space above a cot or a chest of drawers, and five animals are enough to fill a wall above a cot or bed. Mixing sizes works well: one extra large animal with two or three smaller ones looks considered rather than crowded.
How do I hang things in a nursery without drilling?
Our name signs and wooden animals come with strong 3M double-sided tape. Stick them to a smooth, clean, dry surface and press firmly; the tape won't grip heavily textured finishes. Above a cot, keep everything well out of reach once your baby can pull themselves up to standing.
Do your name signs and wall art match?
Yes. Both come in the same four real wood veneers, English oak, Canadian maple, European cherry and American walnut, so you can keep them matching or mix pale and dark woods for contrast. Our wood guide shows how they compare.
