Looking to design an aviation-themed nursery that’s nostalgic yet sophisticated? This busy parent trusted a Decorilla expert to craft a space that blends playful aviation elements with timeless style. The result is a charming, curated room that captures the spirit of flight in the most whimsical ways!
The Challenge: Aviation-Themed Nursery
The client came to Decorilla ready for an aviation-themed nursery transformation for their growing family. With a busy toddler already keeping them occupied, they needed a designer to take the lead on creative decisions. Their starting vision included wallpaper throughout the room and a vintage gold crib. The possibility of color drenching the ceiling and trim was left to the designer, along with specific tasks such as:
- Select a covering for all four walls
- Specify a statement light fixture
- Develop cohesive aviation nursery decor
- Work within the 9-by-11-foot floor plan
Pro Tip: An aviation-themed nursery can fit any design style. Try our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to discover your ideal style today!
Design Inspiration: Organic & Aviation Nursery Decor
The client gathered nursery references that ranged from bold graphic wallpapers to muted organic forms. Natural wood cribs appeared throughout their saved images, often near woven storage baskets and textured poufs. Linen and rattan surfaced repeatedly, as did muted earth tones warmed by mustard or terracotta accents. The furniture in these rooms stayed spare, letting wall treatments and soft goods carry the character.
For the aviation nursery theme direction, the client looked to vintage travel posters and early twentieth-century flight imagery. They wanted to convey a nostalgic vibe, with warm neutrals as the foundation and navy or mustard woven through the details. Hot air balloons and cloud motifs appealed more than literal airplane graphics. The organic materials would temper the thematic wallpaper, keeping the room grounded in texture.
Initial Concepts: Finding the Right Designer
Decorilla typically matches clients with two designers, each presenting a distinct concept for the space. This approach gives clients flexibility and a point of comparison before committing to a direction. In this case, however, the client had already browsed designer portfolios on the platform and connected fully with Casey H.’s aesthetic. Her previous work in thematic interiors and the playful use of wallpaper closely aligned with what they envisioned for their aviation-themed nursery.
Casey’s initial moodboard anchored the room in dark grid wallpaper, a bold choice that gave the aviation nursery decor a sophisticated edge. The vintage gold crib the client had requested set against this moody backdrop, joined by a taupe reeded dresser with brass hardware. A white bouclé glider and matching ottoman occupied the other corner. The aviation theme appeared in detail: a cream rug patterned with black airplanes, a woven hot air balloon pendant, a framed world map, and a rattan rocket ship basket tucked near the crib.
Results Revealed: Aviation-Themed Nursery Design
“I’m obsessed!!!!! It’s freaking perfect.” – The client’s reaction captured what the renderings delivered: an aviation-themed nursery that feels collected and vintage without sliding into theme-park territory. After a few rounds of consultations and tests, Casey wrapped all four walls in a blue-and-cream striped grasscloth wallpaper from Spoonflower. This was a material the client had been eager to see in person, correctly expecting that its texture would deliver.
The color-drenching technique transformed the 9-by-11-foot room into something more intentional. Among others, this monochromatic treatment makes the compact room feel taller and more enveloping. All the baseboards, crown molding, window casings, and doors are painted in Sherwin-Williams Tradewind, a blue with enough green undertone to match the wallpaper’s stripe. It was a decision that came after sampling several blues that read too periwinkle against the grasscloth.
A vintage gold crib anchors the room exactly as the client had imagined in their original brief. Above the crib, a mobile with vintage propeller planes catches light from the window.
The aviation nursery decor appears through specific objects placed throughout the space. A woven rattan rocket ship basket sits in one corner, large enough for toy storage. Paper hot air balloon pendants hang at varying heights near the glider.
A brass chandelier with black cone shades is the room’s central fixture, supported by sconces above the reeded oak dresser. A scalloped wood mirror hangs between the sconces, and a skirted ottoman in gold botanical print sits beside the white bouclé glider. A ceramic rocking horse near the crib adds a final playful element scaled for toddler use.
Maximizing Space and Utility
The nursery measures just 9 by 11 feet. At the same time, it had to accommodate a crib, dresser, glider, and storage, all while leaving room to move during routines. Positioning the gold crib against the window wall, the designer achieved enough clearance for the closet door’s swing radius. Meanwhile, the dresser serves two functions: drawer storage below, a changing station on top. Wall-mounted sconces above the dresser provide task lighting for diaper changes, eliminating the need for a table lamp that would eat into counter space.
Design Details: Sourcing the Perfect Pieces
Decorilla’s 3D renderings helped the client understand how materials and furniture would work together before any purchases were made. They could confirm that the wallpaper pattern wouldn’t dominate the room at full scale, and that the gold crib read as vintage rather than flashy against the striped walls. Some accents didn’t resonate in the first rendering, so they were also able to catch it and had the file corrected before finalizing.
Throughout the process, Casey adjusted details based on the client’s input, adding or removing items from the initial shopping list. Decorilla’s furniture shop offers exclusive trade discounts, making it possible to source quality pieces like statement aviation-themed nursery decor or the Visual Comfort sconces at lower price points. The client’s final message said it all: “Thank you! 4 more days to go! Thank you for making this nursery perfect. Can’t wait to show you photos once completed.“
Get the Look: Aviation Nursery
An aviation-themed nursery works best when the flight references stay subtle. The palette should anchor the theme and give the room a collected quality that ages well as the child grows. Below are pieces that capture this approach, sourced from the Decorilla trade catalog.
Looking for aviation-themed nursery interior design?
Decorilla’s designers specialize in personalized spaces that meet the demands of welcoming a new addition. Book your Free Online Interior Design Consultation to get started on your little one’s space today!
