You probably remember where we left off with the nursery makeover: the walls painted a cheerful pear and the ceiling a soft aqua. With that as our starting point, we set out on a determined shopping mission one Saturday morning. Our goal was ambitious but clear: find five specific items by the end of the day to bring the painted room to life.

• A playful pendant or chandelier
• A plush 5 x 8′ 100% wool rug (no rubber backing or synthetics to keep the nursery low-VOC)
• Enough fabric to sew three curtain panels (two for the window, one for the closet)
• A simple, clean-lined curtain rod
• A bright mirror to hang opposite the window and reflect light around the room

That’s a focused list, and although it sounded optimistic, we managed to return home with every single item. It took nearly seven hours, visiting almost eight stores, but we completed the shopping blitz the same morning we picked up the paint. Our back seat looked appropriately full by the time we got home.

We approach room makeovers in a couple of ways. Sometimes we start with a mood board based on one inspiring piece—a rug, pillow, or fixture—and build outward. Other times we decorate in stages, letting a single find guide subsequent choices. Both methods arrive at a cohesive result: you pick one thing you love and the rest follows. For this nursery we didn’t have a formal mood board; the pear-and-aqua paint chips were our guiding palette, and we brought them with us to hold up against fabrics and finishes as we shopped.

Our first stop was a local discount fabric store. The first bolt that caught our eye had bold flowers and leaves echoing both the pear wall and aqua ceiling, but we wanted something slightly softer—modern with a touch of traditional charm. Then we found a fabric that felt like love at first sight: a slightly deeper aqua background with a warm, graphic print that complemented our paint chips perfectly. It happened to be an indoor/outdoor textile by P Kaufmann/Waverly, so it’s fade-, dirt-, and water-resistant while still soft and billowy. It felt ideal for a little girl’s room.

The price was reasonable for a designer-feeling fabric, and after running the numbers we decided it was worth the splurge. We needed enough to make two floor-to-ceiling window panels and a third panel to replace the closet door, and the cost per finished panel made sense compared with the impact we anticipated the curtains would have. We also found a clean-lined, oil-rubbed bronze curtain rod on clearance at Target that included ring hooks, so the hardware was an easy win.

With fabric and rod secured, we still needed a light fixture, a rug, and a mirror. We stopped at a local decorating outlet that often surprises us. There it was: the perfect capiz chandelier in aqua. Capiz shell fixtures are a favorite of ours, and this one felt whimsical and childlike—ideal for the nursery. Bonus: it was marked down from $125 to $50. It’s slightly longer than the one in our bedroom across the hall, so the two fixtures will read as related but not matchy-matchy—like a playful pairing between rooms.

The outlet also had a rug clearance, so we hunted for a simple, plush 100% wool 5 x 8 rug with no synthetic backing. After sampling several options, we found a hand-knotted, cushy powder blue rug marked down from $399 to $99. It wasn’t the exact aqua of the ceiling, but its subtle gray undertone adds warmth, hides dirt better, and layers nicely with the brighter colors in the room. It looked even better once everything was in place.

Finally, we checked Marshall’s and TJ Maxx for a mirror and found a large, detailed 30″ solid wood mirror for an incredible price—$39. It’s currently black, but we plan to paint it to better suit the nursery palette.

By the end of the day we had a car full of items—fabric, a curtain rod, a capiz chandelier, a wool rug, and a large mirror—and a much shorter to-do list. About 70% of the finds came from local independents, which was gratifying: the paint and several major pieces were sourced from small Richmond boutiques and outlets. The curtain rod and the mirror came from big-box stores, so it was a balanced mix. The lesson: check specialty local shops, do some quick research, and ask around—great finds can come from unexpected places.

We don’t always have shopping trips this productive, but being intentional and persistent paid off. Next up: sewing the curtains, hanging the chandelier, painting the mirror, and adding furniture, art, and storage. We can’t wait to show the finished nursery.

Do you have favorite local spots where you always find treasures, or big-box bargains that make you giddy? Share your best thrift and deal stories—there’s nothing like the thrill of snagging the perfect piece at the perfect price.

Psst—If you want to follow this makeover from the start, check out our earlier posts about clearing the room and painting the walls and ceiling.