A Room to Grow Into
On creating a shared childhood bedroom, finding comfort in familiar things, and leaving room for the people our children are becoming.
At the end of our upstairs hallway, past the reading nook, the playroom, and the bathroom, is a small bedroom filled with light.
When we first imagined how our family might live in this house, we always pictured this as a shared room for our children. A place for little beds, whispered conversations after bedtime, and the kind of companionship that comes from growing up alongside one another.
For now, it's Asta's room. Someday, when Nori is ready to leave the nursery, she'll join her sister here. And perhaps, if we're lucky, there will be another little one to take her place in the nursery.
It's a hopeful thought, and one that has quietly shaped how we've put this space together.
We wanted to make a room that feels complete enough to be enjoyed now, but with plenty of space to change as the girls grow.
Familiar Things
When we began choosing furniture, I knew I wanted to carry some of the warmth of the nursery into this room.
The dark walnut felt familiar to me. It's a color and material I return to often throughout our home, and I love how it grounds a space without making it feel too serious.
The beds have a simple, timeless shape, with a softly scalloped hem on the dresser that adds just the right feminine detail. They're sweet enough for little girls but don't feel like something they'll quickly outgrow.
Against the light walls and natural wood floors, the darker furniture brings a warmth that makes the room feel settled.
The curtains are another favorite detail. They're blackout linen drapes from Anthropologie in the softest dusty pink, gathered back with little golden fish.
We let Asta choose the curtain tiebacks herself.
I have to admit, I was a little surprised when she chose the fish. They weren't necessarily what I would have selected on my own. But as I read more about their symbolism, I grew to love them even more.
In different cultural traditions, fish can represent joy, fearlessness, protection, and good fortune.
What lovely wishes to hang beside a little girl's window.
It's become one of my favorite details in the room, not only because of what the fish represent, but because Asta chose them. They're a small reminder that this is her space, too.
A Gift from Grandma
The embroidered bedspreads were an especially meaningful gift from my mother.
They're covered in woodland creatures, flowers, and branches, all stitched into soft quilted fabric. The colors are gentle but playful, with little moments of blue, pink, rust, and green.
There's something about them that reminds me of my own childhood.
I grew up finding comfort in soft quilts, mixed patterns, and things inspired by the natural world gathered by her, my own mother. Those familiar textures and colors still make a room feel like home to me.
I wanted the girls to have some of that same feeling.
Not necessarily the same objects, but the sense of being surrounded by things that are soft, comforting, and full of little details to discover.
The quilts bring that feeling into this room beautifully. And knowing they came from their grandmother makes them all the more special.
They're the kind of gift I hope the girls will remember long after they've outgrown their little beds.
A Place for Imagination
Another gift from my mother is the striped play tent from Gathre, tucked into the corner beside the bed.
Inside, there's an enormous teddy bear, a pile of pillows, and thick, cozy blankets.
It's become a little world of its own.
There have been countless afternoons of pretending, reading, hiding away, and, if I'm being honest, a few naps in there, too.
One of my favorite sounds in the house is hearing the girls squeal and play inside the tent while I'm getting dressed or cleaning upstairs.
It's such an ordinary part of our days, but one I know I'll miss someday.
The tent may not always live in this corner. As the girls grow, they'll need different things from their room, and we'll make space for those changes.
But right now, it feels exactly right.
It's a place that's just for Asta, and for the imagination she's growing into.
Pieces of Our Story
The final touches were the two framed artworks hanging above the beds.
They're especially dear to us because Matthew and I brought them home from our honeymoon in San José del Cabo.
We found them while exploring the work of local artisans. Their embroidered designs caught our attention, and we carefully packed them into our suitcases to bring home.
At the time, we had no idea that one day we'd have two little girls, or that those pieces would hang above two little beds in their shared room.
I love that about collecting things for a home.
Sometimes we choose something simply because it speaks to us, without knowing where it will eventually belong.
Years later, it finds its place.
The dark walnut frames connect the artwork to the furniture, while the playful designs feel right at home alongside the embroidered bedding.
They're a little piece of our story, now becoming part of the girls' story, too.
Room to Become
There are other little signs of Asta's life scattered throughout the room.
A laundry basket holding her small clothes. Her dance bag resting nearby, with ballet and tap shoes tucked inside. The oversized bear waiting patiently for the next afternoon of play.
Nothing especially elaborate.
Just the things that belong to her days right now.
I think that's part of what makes the room feel so special to me.
It's bright and playful, with a little Northwoods whimsy woven throughout. The woodland quilts, warm wood, soft linen, and familiar textures all make it feel like a natural extension of the rest of our home.
It's a small room, but there's still plenty of space for it to grow.
We'll add things as the girls need them. We'll move furniture, change little details, and make room for the interests and personalities that are still unfolding.
For now, I'm happy to let it be what it is.
A room full of light, a few meaningful things, and the sound of little girls playing.
A room made for the children we have, and with hope for the life still ahead of us.
A room to grow into.
Collected with Care
A few of the pieces that have made Asta's room feel so special, from the embroidered woodland quilts gifted by her grandmother to the soft linen curtains, warm wood furniture, and little details chosen along the way.
I've gathered the room's sources in one place for anyone looking to bring a little Northwoods whimsy into their own home.
Explore Asta's Room Collection →
Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
