How to Create a Nursery with a Circus Theme

Have a new little monkey in the family? Why not try a nursery with a nostalgic theme that appeals to adults and kids alike? A circus theme can be a vintage tribute to your own childhood, or as bright and whimsical as you wish. The common materials and décor make it perfect for the do-it-yourselfer.

Walls: If you are going for a vintage circus look, paint the walls in muted tones. Beige, pale pink (the circus isn't just for boys, right?) or pale blue allow for the addition of bright accent pieces that won't overwhelm the eye. If you wish, use slightly different shades of the same color to paint stripes to mock the stripes of a circus tent. Continue the stripes on the ceiling, coming to a point in the middle. Add a mural with an old circus feel, with a monkey in a cap and vest, a seal with a ball on its nose, and a lion tamer. If a bright and fun circus is what you had in mind, paint the walls with brighter blues or pinks. Add an elephant on a brightly colored ball, balloons, or clowns.

Décor: Instead of a normal canopy over the bed, create the space to look like a big top tent. Being sure to keep the material well away from the baby, suspend striped material from the ceiling in tent fashion. A striped shower curtain may work well, since there are already holes through which you can secure the material with eye screws. For a vintage circus, add sock monkeys to shelves or the top of the dresser. Shop flea markets or online for vintage tin toys that are circus related. Hang vintage circus signs, such as ones that advertise candy or rides. If you've opted against a mural (or even if you haven't), add large vintage posters that advertise a circus, such as the famous Barnum and Bailey or Ringling Brothers.

A bright circus feel calls for accents in bold primary colors. Think clown colors when choosing your pieces. Add brightly-colored circus animals to the top of the dresser and clowns to the shelves. If you are handy with a hammer, paint small wooden boxes to resemble circus train cars, and use them to corral baby essentials or toys. Add a striped waste basket, or paint one to resemble a popcorn box.

Furniture: The sky is the limit when it comes to furniture for a circus theme. If budget isn't an issue, use a vintage cotton candy cart for display and storage. Paint a round stool to look like an elephant's foot stool. When shopping for a crib, consider the finish on the furniture. Black or dark cherry wood looks great in a vintage circus nursery, whereas white does well with the bright colors of a fun circus feel. Be sure to purchase a crib that meets all current safety standards, and stay away from cribs with a drop-down side.

These are just a few of the many ideas for decorating your nursery with a circus theme. Use your imagination, and tie in personal memories of the circus from your own childhood. Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer using inexpensive materials, a savvy shopper combing flea markets and the Internet for unique accent pieces, or a little of both, the possibilities for a circus nursery theme are endless!