A lot of people say they grew up in the wrong era because of their taste in fashion and music. I’m not one of those people, but after seeing these nurseries from the WL archives, I’m starting to wish I had been born a couple decades later—especially since this is what baby rooms are looking like today. There’s not a cartoon decal or wallpaper border in sight!

Cozy Corner

Erin Ireland and Darren Yada transformed a Mount Pleasant townhouse into their dream home with a lot of help from friends and family, including Ireland’s dad and uncle. But they enlisted a professional for the nursery—and it paid off. Designer Karla Dreyer brought in a crib and rocking chair from West Coast Kids, framed prints by Australian artist Alyson Pearson and cactus wallpaper from Anewall to create this comfortable space. “Elsewhere in our house, style was the first priority,” says Ireland, “but Roen’s room is definitely a lot cozier.” Check out the rest of this open and airy home.

Grey Area

There are so many things to love about this nursery, from the elephant head wall mount to the gold accents. Oh, what’s that? You were too distracted by the monochrome gradient feature wall to notice those things? We completely understand—and are as obsessed with this look as you are. It’s why we asked designer Ben Leavitt to share his secrets for recreating it at home. Get his tips and tricks for painting this geometric pattern.

Photo: Brianna Hughes

Ma Chérie

If we were asked to describe this Edmonton home in only three words, these are the ones we’d choose: black, bold and beautiful. There are rich, dark details throughout the 2,600-square-foot abode—including the geometric tile floor in the entryway, the shiplap-covered hearth in the living room and the barbell light fixture in the kitchen. The nursery, however, has its own distinct style thanks to the pale pink French village-inspired Madeline wall mural. Tour the rest of this modern farmhouse.

Room to Play

This might just be the most playful nursery we’ve ever seen. PlaidFox Studio covered the walls and ceiling with shimmering gold-leaf stripes, reupholstered a mid-century-style sofa in a banana leaf print and incorporated unusual decor pieces (vintage prints from Vietnam, monkey-pirate wall sconces) to create this one-of-a-kind space. “Every single person who has come into our house has been blown away by that room,” says the homeowner. See more of this eclectic townhouse.

Baby's room
Photo: Phil Crozier

Pretty in Pink

Reena Sotropa designed this Calgary home so that it could evolve with the owners’ growing family. The playroom on the main floor, for example, will easily convert into a formal dining room down the road. Similar considerations were made for the nursery, which is complete with drapery, a ceiling fixture and an occasional chair that are worthy of an adult space. Step inside this family home.

Out of the Woods

There are two reasons why designer Tanya McLeod opted for a neutral palette in this nursery. First and foremost, she wanted something that could suit any age or gender (the sex of the baby was unknown at the time of this renovation)—but she also wanted something that could accommodate a growing collection of toys and books. “It’s impossible to control the variety of colourful objects that come into a child’s life,” she says. The Cole and Sons wallpaper ended up being the perfect solution. Check out the rest of this woodsy, whimsical nursery.

Grow Up

While some elements in this nursery are delightfully childish (read: the balloon-shaped overhead light), Elena Del Bucchia made sure to also lend a touch of sophistication to the space—which just so happened to be for her own daughter. The designer wanted to be able to reuse everything, so she chose a wallpaper pattern and area rug that are stimulating but not explicitly babyish. Peek inside this modern-yet-playful nursery.

Photo: Ema Peter

Top Tier

You wouldn’t know it at first glance, but this baby room isn’t actually a room. After learning that the homeowners were pregnant with their first child partway through this project, designer Gillian Segal had no choice but to turn the “teeny, tiny” landing at the top of the stairs into an adorable nursery. “We kind of ignored the fact that it was little and open,” she says. See the rest of this chic home makeover.