When my daughter Layla first moved into her own room at around 11 months old, I spent a couple of weeks painting a woodland mural across two walls. It featured a big autumn tree, woodland animals, butterflies, flowers and toadstools - all the things I loved most about the British countryside. More than anything, I wanted her room to feel quiet, imaginative and full of little reminders of the outdoors, and seeing her excited little face light up as she pointed to the bear made every hour worthwhile. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t polished. But it felt like creating a tiny piece of calm for her to grow into.
This is the woodland mural I painted for Layla's bedroom when she was 11 months old. Seeing her little face light up as she discovered the bear, rabbit and butterflies was one of the moments that eventually inspired Mummy & Bear.
Looking back, I think that little mural was the beginning of Mummy & Bear, long before I realised it. It reminded me that creating a nursery isn't about getting everything perfect. It's about filling a room with things you love and creating a space where your child can grow, play and feel at home.
🍄 Why woodland nurseries feel so grounding
A woodland nursery works because it draws inspiration from the natural world. And let's face it - nature has always known which colours work beautifully together. Muted greens, warm browns, beautifully illustrated animals and botanical details all help create a space that feels peaceful and welcoming - something that's especially appreciated during those early, sleep-deprived months (and beyond!).
One of the things I love most about decorating with nature is how well it grows with your child. My daughter is five now, and although we've changed little bits of her room over the years, the woodland mural is still there - and she still loves it just as much as she did when she was little. For me, that's one of the biggest advantages of a woodland nursery. It feels timeless rather than trendy, creating a room that children don't simply grow out of.
🍂 Starting with an earthy colour palette
When I design woodland-inspired spaces or illustrations, I always come back to nature’s own palette:
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subtle sage greens
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warm oat and beige tones
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muted browns and bark tones
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pale greys
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touches of dusty pinks or blues
These colours create a peaceful backdrop that's perfect for those quiet moments together - whether you're feeding your baby in the middle of the night, reading a bedtime story or simply taking a moment to slow down and enjoy being together.
🦊 Bringing woodland animals into the space
One of the most magical parts of a woodland nursery is, of course, the animals. This is where art can completely transform a room.
A gentle hare surrounded by chicory flowers can become a soft focal point above a cot or reading corner, while a hedgehog with playful personality adds a little moment of joy in smaller spaces like shelves, side tables or bedside corners.
A little glimpse of the hare and chicory print in a real nursery space, styled above a child’s desk alongside the original watercolour sketches and pencils used to create the artwork.
A woodland wildlife poster can become the centrepiece of a feature wall, bringing together familiar British animals in a way that feels calm and engaging for children.
🌸 Wildflowers and floral details
I’ve always loved mixing wildlife with wildflowers in my work - there’s something about that combination that feels very British countryside to me. Poppies, knapweed, cornflowers and meadow grasses help soften a nursery and make the walls feel a little more connected to the outdoors. I’ve always loved Greater Knapweed, which often appears in my sketches, and it works beautifully in more minimal botanical pieces. I also love how these meadow-inspired details sit alongside the animal illustrations. It starts to feel a bit like pieces collected from the wild and brought together.
🐝 Creating a meaningful gallery wall
A gallery wall in a nursery doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, I think the most beautiful ones feel slightly imperfect and personal.
You might include:
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a personalised name print (surrounded by wildflowers or butterflies)
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a “Be a Wildflower” style print for a gentle motivational touch
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a meadow-inspired illustration full of bees and butterflies
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a simple floral sketch to balance the composition
Together, they tell a little story of nature and childhood.
🌿 Small words that matter in a nursery
I love adding a few simple words alongside my illustrations. Phrases like "Be a Wildflower", "Stay Wild" and "I ♥ Nature" have all found their way into my artwork because they reflect what Mummy & Bear is all about. They're not there to be bold or shout for attention - they're just little reminders of the joy of exploring, appreciating wildlife and spending time outdoors.
If you’re looking for gentle ways to bring these kinds of messages into your child’s routine, I’ve shared some of our favourite reads in Our Favourite Bedtime Books about Nature, Animals and Kindness.
🌳 Keeping textures grounded
I’ve always preferred organic fabrics and materials - something I think comes from my background in fashion and textiles. From the clothes I wear to the bedding in our home, I’ve always found myself choosing things like linen, cotton and wood over anything too shiny or synthetic.
When Layla was born, I gravitated towards those same textures for her too, choosing soft, breathable fabrics and delicate, natural materials for her space. I think those kinds of textures work beautifully in a woodland nursery, adding warmth and character while helping create a space that brings a little of the outdoors in.
Think things like:
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wooden furniture
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woven baskets
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linen or cotton fabrics
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warm knitted blankets
All of these elements work together to create a calm, simple foundation for the room, allowing the artwork to sit comfortably within the space rather than competing with it.
🐻 A note from Mummy & Bear
Mummy & Bear is just me, Emma. I illustrate everything by hand, inspired by a lifelong love of British wildlife, and our beautiful countryside.
Before starting Mummy & Bear, I spent eight years painting pet portraits, and before that I studied fashion and textiles. Looking back, I can see little pieces of both finding their way into my work today - from the attention to detail in every illustration to my love of natural colours, fabrics and textures.
More than anything, I hope my artwork helps children grow up noticing the wildlife around them, whether that's spotting a butterfly in the garden, recognising a hedgehog on an evening walk or simply developing a love for the outdoors.
That's also why I donate a portion of every sale to wildlife conservation. It feels like a small way of giving something back to the wildlife that has inspired my work for so many years.
🦋 Final thoughts
Layla's room has grown slowly over the years with things we love - a mural I painted, a few favourite wildlife prints, natural textures and colours inspired by the countryside. Together they've created a room that still feels peaceful nearly six years later, and I hope she'll continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
If you're creating a woodland nursery, I hope these ideas have given you a little inspiration. You can browse my collection of hand-illustrated woodland nursery prints, inspired by British wildlife and wildflowers, if you'd like to bring a little of the countryside into your own little one's room.
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