Old English Hot Air Balloon Drawing - Baby Nursery Wall Mural

by Tiersa
(PA, USA)

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A charming hand-painted hot air balloon nursery mural featuring pastel balloons drifting above a peaceful Old English countryside.

The old English hot air balloon painting on the nursery wall is the highlight of our baby girl's nursery. My husband and I wanted a nursery that was bright and cheery but that was not overdone with too many frills or too much pink and yet had feminine, girly details.

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The room initially started out as a study with sage green carpet that we knew eventually we would use as our nursery. So we knew that we would have to work around the existing floor covering when we began our baby room decorating project.





We chose an elegant cream colored Stanley "Built To Grow Crib" that eventually converts to a double bed so that it can be used in our daughter's room for many years beyond infancy. For the crib set, we chose a vintage style, pink and green Laura Ashley baby bedding collection.


We wanted the look of the room to be soft and feminine so there are pastels and NO primary colors anywhere. Our goal was for the atmosphere to be airy and light.

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Updated hand-painted hot air balloon nursery mural in soft vintage colors.

It was a challenge to blend the palette keeping it visually pleasing and interesting with plenty of color to brighten the cream color paint on the nursery walls.

The hot air balloon drawing caught my eye when I saw a hand painted toy chest at a posh, upscale baby boutique. That gave me inspiration and so I ran with the idea and we had the mural painted before we bought any other nursery accessories or the baby crib bedding set.

We liked the look of the Old English hot air balloon drawing as a nursery wall mural. It was just what I was looking for and I was very pleased at how it turned out because at first I was afraid that the baby's hot air balloon nursery theme would turn out campy and that wasn't the atmosphere I wanted.

We wanted a childlike, cartoon design that was elegant and soft like a picnic on the lawn of a country estate with a view of the landscape and that's exactly what we got.

This particular painting was to serve as the background for an Old English hot air balloon drawing or painting girl's nursery room theme, so we played up the pink over the gender neutral colors or yellow and blue even though they were included in all of the preliminary hot air balloon drawings.

The matching changing table was cream also but boasted a green diaper changing cushion on top. In the corner of the room we decided we wanted even more color so we added a blue rocker and a pink rug to the room bringing together all of the colors in the mural.

I am very pleased and to give it a personal touch our decorative painter put Olivia’s name on the top flag of the center balloon. Pastel latex craft paints were used in the making of the mural and the rocker is a discontinued model from Babies R Us.

How to Choose Colors That Complement an Old English Balloon Mural

One of my favorite things about working with an Old English hot air balloon drawing is how beautifully the artwork pairs with soft, grounded colors. Warm parchment, gentle sky blue, antique cream, and muted rose all work so naturally with the hand-drawn style. If the mural has a slightly browned, aged-paper effect, I often match it with warm wood tones or a creamy off-white wall color to keep everything cohesive.

I’ve also found that layering textures plays a big role in making the room feel finished. A woven cotton throw over the nursery chair, a soft braided rug under the crib, or a linen crib skirt can help balance the delicate linework of the mural. Years ago I painted a balloon mural for a friend’s nursery, and adding just one textured jute basket near the dresser made the whole space feel richer and more lived-in. It’s the little touches that pull the room together.

Vintage Nursery Decor That Matches the Old English Style

Because this illustration style leans toward the classic and timeless, I like decorating with pieces that feel heirloom-worthy. A simple wooden crib, an antique-inspired lamp, or a framed print of a vintage map can echo the mural without overwhelming it. Even small details — like aged brass knobs on the dresser or a soft ticking-stripe crib sheet — help reinforce the mood of the room without making it feel themed.

For parents who want to keep the room gender-neutral, this balloon-drawing style is perfect. You can tilt the room slightly feminine with brushed gold accents or keep it neutral with warm natural woods and creamy textures. And if you’re mixing in wall décor, keep it minimal so your mural remains the visual anchor of the space.

If you’d like more nursery theme ideas, I have a lovely roundup on my Nursery Ideas page that offers inspiration for every color palette and style.

Where to Place the Balloon Mural in the Nursery

I almost always recommend placing balloon murals on the crib wall or the longest uninterrupted wall — it gives the drawing room to “float,” and it becomes a natural focal point the moment you walk in. If you have a window wall that gets soft light in the morning, that’s another lovely spot. The hand-drawn lines look gorgeous when sunlight moves across them.

Just be sure to keep furniture placement simple. Avoid putting tall bookshelves directly in front of the mural, and keep the changing table or glider on adjacent walls so the artwork has space to breathe. A clean, open focal wall helps the whole room feel larger and more serene.

Finishing Touches to Complete the Old English Look

To wrap up the room, I like bringing in one or two subtle pieces that echo the vintage travel theme — but never too many. A small wooden globe on the dresser, a classic monogram above the crib, or a soft fabric hot-air-balloon mobile adds charm without competing with the main mural.

For parents who prefer a deeper dive into nursery painting ideas, I also have a helpful section on Nursery Wall Decor Ideas with techniques and inspiration for hand-painted accents, stencils, and murals.

For step-by-step inspiration, you can explore even more mural and painting ideas here: Nursery Wall Decor Ideas.

And if you’re thinking about pairing this with a complete themed room, you might enjoy my Hot Air Balloon Nursery Theme page — it blends beautifully with this Old English illustration style.

Please make plans to visit Unique Baby Gear Ideas again soon to see more modern and vintage hot air balloon nursery ideas and decor.

DISCLAIMER:
I share nursery projects and repair ideas for inspiration, but I’m not an authorized crib technician or manufacturer representative. Always verify part compatibility and safety standards before making repairs or modifications. For details, please read the full disclaimer.