Safari Nursery Decorating Ideas

by Amanda
(Indianapolis, Indiana)

Our safari nursery decorating ideas began with the Sleepy Safari baby bedding by Nature’s Purest. My husband and I chose it because the fabric felt soft, the animal designs were simple and the neutral colors created a calm foundation for the room.

We wanted the nursery walls to be completely unique, so we created our own large-scale safari artwork instead of using ordinary decals or small repeating stencils.

A 14-Week Safari Wall-Painting Project

Although we originally described the designs as stencil-style wall art, the process required much more work than traditional stenciling. This became a 14-week DIY decorating project.

We had to trace each animal design by hand in its planned location. Tracing a section of the room could take between five and eight hours. We then filled in the designs with small paintbrushes rather than applying the paint with a roller.

The work was slow at first, but we paced ourselves and became more comfortable with the technique. Once the wall painting was complete, we were delighted with the finished safari scene.

Creating a Little Cub’s Den

The placement of the lions was planned around the nursery furniture. We positioned the baby lion above the area intended for Fin’s changing pad. The mother lion was painted above his crib, making that part of the room feel like a protected little cub’s den.

The neutral animals and background colors coordinate with the crib bedding. We then introduced dark blue, lime green and burnt orange through smaller decorative accents. These stronger colors prevent the room from looking flat without overpowering its soft safari palette.

For another handcrafted interpretation, visit this natural safari nursery. Its tan, brown, antique-white and muted-green crib linens inspired layered paper animal decorations finished with stitched accents.

Hand-Painted Name Blocks and Natural Accents

We made and painted individual blocks spelling Fin’s name and displayed them above the closet. The handmade letters repeat the nursery’s accent colors and add a personal focal point to that side of the room.

Wicker storage chests and tall decorative branches add natural texture. Their warm woven surfaces coordinate with the neutral bedding and reinforce the safari setting while providing useful nursery storage.

Although we designed the room for a baby boy, its neutral foundation could be adapted with other accent colors. Deep purple, vivid pink or rich yellow could create a different appearance without changing the painted animals or major furnishings.

We love Fin’s little cub den and cannot wait for him to enjoy it.

Note from Jan: Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your safari nursery decorating ideas. The project required far more tracing and brushwork than you initially expected, but the carefully positioned animal silhouettes make the room memorable.

The mother lion above the crib and the cub near the changing area give the jungle nursery theme a sweet story. The painted name blocks, wicker storage and colorful accents complete the room without distracting from its handmade walls.

Thank you for adding Fin’s distinctive cub den to the nursery inspiration shared on Unique Baby Gear Ideas.