We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Personalized piggy banks, discreet pregnancy pillows, felt diaper bins—Dayna Isom Johnson knows where to find the coolest nursery decor on Etsy. Not only is it her job (she’s been the shopping platform’s trend expert for nine years), but she just designed a room for her newborn son, Ozzie, in her California home.
From the very beginning, Johnson found herself scrolling through her saved favorites and even old blog posts that she’d written, rediscovering star vendors who make really unique products. She also tapped into the things she and her husband love most, like astrology and nature, translating those pieces of their life to a lightning bolt mirror and a play mat shaped like a leaf. They were also game for some renter-friendly DIYs, going so far as to line the walls in removable molding. “Creativity is at the heart of everything we do, so we wanted that to be reflected in the space,” she says.
Ahead, in her own words, Johnson reveals the hidden Etsy gems that brought Ozzie’s nursery together.
The Cozy Pillows (For Everyone)
I wanted items that could grow with Ozzie and grow with the room. This pregnancy pillow has a beautiful braided texture and now it lives as a backing for the trundle daybed that guests sleep in when they come to visit. The personalized Ozzie pillow is another one of my favorites.
The Lamp with Personality
When you think of floor lamps, not many are very creative (and most of them have a slim bottom). This one, to me, was like a cartoon version of a light, but in the most sophisticated way possible.
The Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
I was highly inspired by our color of the year, Lime Cream, when picking this renter-friendly wallpaper. I was eight months pregnant when we installed it, so I sat back on a bean bag and watched my husband do it. Measuring tape is your best friend! There were many times we had to go back and order more panels.
The Customized Art
Stephanie of Vivid Vidal is one of my favorite artists. I reached out to her and I said, ‘How would you feel about doing some custom illustrations?’ I wanted Ozzie to be inspired as he grows up, so I told her I’d love items that were invented by African Americans (the electric roller coaster, the guitar, the fountain pen, the stop light, the folding chair). We worked through the color story and I showed her some of the other pieces in the nursery. If you love someone’s sense of design on Etsy, you can always reach out and ask, ‘How can we work together?’
The Play Mat That’s an Intro to the Outdoors
This is another tie to me and his dad. We go on hikes all the time. We travel. We’re very grounded in nature.
The Chic Changing Station Bins
Just because an item doesn’t necessarily look like it’s for kids doesn’t mean it can’t work for your space. I really didn’t want ugly plastic bins. These have a really beautiful leather tie on the front.
The Semi-Custom Shelves
I wanted an open shelf to be able to hang some of his sweaters and display items like this cool letter piggy bank, so I started a conversation with a seller and said, ‘I really love these shelves, but is there a way you can make it just open shelving on top? Can you match the wood stain to our crib?’ She was like, ‘Sure, no problem.’
Personalization doesn’t just mean putting their name on something. It can also mean the sizing of the rug or the length of a shelf. That’s up to you, but you just have to start the conversation.