When the mobile was created, it was intended to provide a focal point for baby to aid in his sensory growth and development, as well as soothe him to sleep. If that mobile is stylish, it also has the ability to make a major style statement in the nursery. When seeking out our pick for the most unique and eye-catching mobile for baby, it didn't take us long to decide that the Bla Bla Mobile is the whole package!

Handmade With Variety

Bla Bla mobiles feature a fun and whimsical, nature-inspired style to create the perfect unique accent for your little's crib. With a variety of colors and animal themes available, we dare you to try to resist the eclectic style of these cloth covered statement pieces. As you know, we have an affinity for birds, and think the pink and blue bird mobiles are just adorable! Looking for something more gender neutral? Bla Bla has that covered, too. Each one is handmade, making that mobile just as unique as the babe that will sleep beneath it. Whatever your nursery theme, you're sure to find the right look to add a little bit of funky fun and a fantastic focal point for baby.

Why settle for anything less than one-of-a-kind when it comes to your nursery needs? After all, shouldn't baby's first form of entertainment be as stylish as it is visually stimulating?

-The Girls at Itty Bitty Bella

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DesignerTips-Create the Perfect Nursery

Crib Crazy

Maybe you've seen local Interior Designer Becca Gaines posting over at Bella Vita...or maybe this is your first introduction. Either way you will love her unique style and amazing tips that you can implement at home.

Since designing a nursery is such a huge part of your pregnancy, we asked Becca to give us her favorite design tips to help you through the process. We won't stall any longer-- here she is with her top tips!

Becca Gaines' Top Nursery Tips

I'm so excited to be posting at Itty Bitty Bella- I love designing nursery's! There are so many options and really, who doesn't love a baby?! For obvious reasons, the nursery I designed for my daughter (who will be 2 years old this summer!) is my favorite. Between her nursery and those I've done for friends and clients I've learned a lot. Lucky for you, I managed to squeeze it all into 7 helpful tips. Here they are!

1. Get Started

I feel like there are three basic necessities to any nursery, so this is usually where I start when designing one:  the crib, the "changing table", and the rocking chair.  Then, I fill in with fun accents including a mobile, lighting, and art.

When I found out I was pregnant with a little girl, I knew I wanted her room to be girly, whimsical, and a little spunky.  I had had my eye on sweet iron crib, that reminded me of my childhood daybed.  I know a lot of moms prefer cribs that convert into toddler beds, but my favorite styles are simply just cribs. 

2. Changing Tables

I really prefer to use a dresser in place of the traditional changing table.  Dressers are larger, with drawer storage, and they will still look great after your baby is potty trained!  Little ones will grow out of their crib, and the rocking chair may get moved out to make room for more toys, but a dresser is one piece that can be purchased to last through childhood.

Dresser- Before

Dresser- During

We were definitely on a budget while designing our Jovie's nursery, and I wanted to splurge on the crib and rocker...  That meant there weren't a lot of funds left for the dresser.  We searched high and low - Craigslist and garage sales! - for a beautiful old (and of course, well made!) dresser.  We actually found one for $75 with aged brass hardware and dovetail drawer joints.  Then, I convinced my sweet husband to paint it, but not with just any paint...  It had to be hard and shiny, like a candy coating.  He cleaned, sanded, prepped, primed, and painted the cabinet with an oil-based industrial pipe paint from Porter Paints.  This proved to be quite a task in the rainy month of April, but I know Jovie will cherish this piece and all of the love he put into it, just like I do.

3. The Rocker

When it comes to nursery rockers, my first pick is usually a slipcovered swivel glider.  I know the word "slipcover" can be scary, but when a slipcovered piece is made well, it's hard to tell it isn't upholstered.  Slipcovers can be removed and cleaned when spit-up, spills, dirt, juice, and other unmentionable messes occur.  So convenient!

I chose a fabric for Jovie's swivel glider that coordinated with our living room.  Like I said, we were on a budget, and I wanted the chair to be ready to work in any other room of our home.

Itty Bitty Bella has a great resource for both slipcovered and upholstered rockers. The best part is you can keep it easy and choose from the hundreds of fabric samples on hand, or you can bring in your own fabric and have it  made to fit the chair.

4. The Bedding

There are two companies at the top of my list for nursery bedding, and actually both can be purchased at Itty Bitty Bella.  Bella Notte and Pom Pom at Home have luxurious machine washable fabrics.

For Jovie's room, I wanted something clean and feminine.  I chose white Pom Pom at Home bedding with a few of their grey accents (throw pillow, duvet, and curtains).  Her bedding style is very simple, but the hand and drape of the white Belgian linen adds rich softness and character to her room.

5. Personal Touches

When it comes to art, I love to include paintings in a baby's room.  Jovie has a pair of bird paintings by my friend Briana, that she loves to study and talk about every morning.  There are also twelve patchwork birds framed in a shadow box above her changing table.  These were made by my sweet sister and two dear friends as decorations at our baby shower.  Baby's first outfit, mom or dad's own rattle, or Christening gowns are just a few more sentimental items that could be framed as art in a nursery.  

6. Eye Candy

Jovie's Mobile

Baby Ainsley's Mobile

The crowning piece over a little one's crib should truly be a piece of art.  My husband and I went to New York City on a "babymoon" when we were 13 weeks pregnant.  We ran across Jovie's mobile at a small boutique in Soho.  There is no better way to say this - I was obsessed.  Shortly after we returned home, Itty Bitty Bella held it's grand opening, where I was surprised and absolutely ecstatic to run into an entire collection of these amazing mobiles, right here in Collierville!

7. Storage

My last nursery design secret... As an interior designer, I need both creative freedom and extreme organization.  I wouldn't survive parenthood without the 3Sprouts toy bins from Itty Bitty Bella!  They're cute, fun, and safe for Jovie to play around.

As you prep the nursery for baby's arrival, you are faced with many decisions. Perhaps most prominent of these is the decision on how to keep the nursery looking stylishly put together and safe, without breaking the bank. We know nursery decorating can be a bit overwhelming, especially considering all of the other details required of parents-to-be, so we've done a little research into the latest trends in cribs to help make your life just a bit easier. 

The Corsican Crib

Our Corsican Crib on display in the store. Canvas photography by Allison Rodgers.

The Corsican iron crib was created for all of the mommys out there that treasure the look of chic vintage style. The antique-inspired finish of this dainty iron bed is perfect for softening the tone of the room and keeping things ultra serene. Still sturdy enough for baby's every slumber, this crib will give you peace of mind in both the style and safety realm. Plus, its heavy iron construction creates a great foundation that your child will be able to grow with as the months pass quickly by.

Traditional Wooden Crib

If your style tends to stay on the modern, classic side, you'll love every nook and cranny of this wooden crib. Its boxy design lends it to the sleek lines of modern styles, and we love the idea of setting off geometric patterns or color blocked bedding with its structure. This crib is a bit more gender neutral, and will keep things a bit more casual and laid-back, depending on the overall nursery design scheme. As with its iron counterpart, you won't have to worry a second about a lack of durability or safety with this bed--the sturdy wood construction is great for growing with your little one, too.

Don't add any more tasks to your to-do list than necessary. When it comes to choosing a crib, simply define your favorite style and go from there. Turn the work of nursery decorating into fun! Plus, when you build the crib and it hits you that baby will arrive in just a few more weeks, all of that stress will be on its way out the door anyway!

-The Girls at Itty Bitty Bella

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