A friend is having a baby and is totally overwhelmed by all the decorating options. "I want a cool nursery that will inspire my baby to live a creative, colorful life," she said. "Oh, and I don’t want the same items as everyone else. And, since I’d like the room to be something a child can grow into, I don’t want it to feel too baby-ish. Can you help?" After surveying other expectant mothers, we determined that the desire to create inspiring, unique spaces that their children could live in for years was a fairly common desire. Always up for a decorating challenge,we decided to launch a series of stories featuring nursery ensembles curated from eBay. We kick things off today with a menagerie theme (while certainly not a revolutionary children’s motif, we’ve noticed a recent surge in the trend, with more to choose from than ever). Here, a round-up of our current favorites on eBay, ranging from a penguin-shaped air purifier to wildlife wall decals.
1. Areaware Balsa Wood Wall Hanging (buy it now price, $350) Child-friendly yet unexpectedly hip, this balsa wood wall hanging is silkscreened with an image of a scrub jay bird in flight.
2. Bear Switch Plate (buy it now price, $25 and up) These charming switch plate covers are made to order in Montana in your choice of hardwood and finishes.
3. Flensted Flowing Rhythm Hanging Baby Mobile (buy it now price, $48) An abstract, sculptural piece to spark the imagination: for us at least, something about this mobile is reminiscent of birds in flight.
4. Dwell Studio Silver Lake Changing Table (buy it now price, $125) This sleek, modern, blends-in-anywhere changing table converts to a dresser as baby grows.
5. Animal Altimeter Vinyl Wall Decal (buy it now price, $67) Such a chic, totally inventive (and non-committal, given they’re actually easy-to-peel-off decals) means to track your child’s growth.
6. Set of Two Oxo Candela Tooli Lights (buy it now price, $32.99) These rechargeable nightlights stay charged for eight hours at a time and emit a soft, ambient glow.
7. Dwell Baby Chocolate Animal Crib Bedding Set (buy it now price, $249.99) This everything-you-need set includes bumper, blanket, sheet, and skirt.
8. Animal Toy Storage Unit (buy it now price, $89.95) Stackable wooden boxes with a circus theme are as stylish as they are functional.
9. Crane Air Purifier (buy it now price, $75.37) This quiet filter removes allergens and shuts off automatically if tipped over.
10. Giraffe on Wheels (buy it now price, $28.99) Get toy and design object in one with this all-natural, hand-finished wooden giraffe.
Emily Hsieh is a freelance writer and editor in New York City who has contributed to publications including Lucky, Allure, InStyle, and People.
