Shabby chic or vintage style is often associated with girl nurseries but this vintage look can work just as well in a boy nursery. While it does possess elements of romanticism, vintage style also possesses a casual old world charm that, even with its traditional heritage, it still is informally elegant. Shabby chic or vintage style is well-known for its floral patterns, but it also incorporates stripes and retro geometric shapes that have interesting lines and sweet, whimsical contours. Choose “boy” colors, vintage baby furniture and nostalgic wall art and other accessories, and you will have a vintage style nursery that will be a welcoming place for your baby.

Vintage style nursery baby furniture typically has decorative or structural design elements of a bygone era like Victorian, turn-of-the-century and the 1950s. A vintage style crib might have a white-washed or distressed finish; a change table could have wrought iron accents; a dresser may have hand-painted stencils or motifs. Another great thing about creating a vintage style boy nursery is that furniture pieces don’t have to match – in fact, it’s more “vintage” if they don’t.

Predominate colors (from Behr) in shabby chic or vintage décor are pure white, cream and soft pastels like soft yellows, blues and greens. These particular color choices are designed to complement two specific crib bedding sets.

Just like in an adult bedroom where the bed is the focal point of the room, the crib you choose for your vintage style nursery will be center stage. To help create that vintage look, select a crib with inlay accents like the Bratt Decor Chelsea Lifetime Convertible Crib in Espresso.

Or if you prefer a crib in classic white, the Bratt Decor Dick Crib in White is the perfect choice. What makes this crib vintage are the simple lines and handcrafted appearance.

The first crib bedding set, the Caden Lane Modern Vintage Sean Bedding Set displays classic vintage floral designs but with a “boy style” flair. By pairing soft earth toned neutrals with a bright accent blue, this crib set possesses true vintage charm.

On the other hand, the Caden Lane Classic Blue Jack Baby Crib Bedding Set successfully combines vintage stripes with retro circles and polka dots.

The vintage style of the DaVinci Jenny Lind Wood Changing Table in Ebony is evident in its turned spindles. The turned spindles have the classic appearance a bed found in grandmother’s house.

Accessories for a vintage style boy nursery should have the look and feel of prized family heirlooms. Sepia photographs in burnished metal or cast iron frames would be one option for vintage style wall art. Or how about replicas or reprints of 1920s children’s books cover art featuring the popular bunny or fox stories of that era in wood frames with a distressed finish? Lamps will have scrolled metal bases with small checks, stripes or damask patterned shades. Any decorative accessory that has cherished, old world charm will be ideal for a vintage style nursery.