When it comes to designing a baby’s nursery, the possibilities are endless. For many, the journey of styling a nursery is an exciting opportunity to inject a unique personality into the home. After all, you’re welcoming a new little human into the world, so it’s your opportunity to prepare their nursery in a way that showcases their personality (or, at least, what you image their personality will be like) by focusing on a particular theme, highlighting a certain color palette, or incorporating various elements that are meaningful to you.
Love means everything — decorating a tennis-themed nursery
Tennis was the theme that Justin L. Segal, Storkcraft’s Creative Director, and his wife wanted to focus on for their nursery. For Justin and his wife, tennis is an incredibly important part of their relationship — it is a hobby and passion that they both share, and something that they hope their daughter will love just as much as they do. For them, it was a no-brainer that their baby girl’s nursery would be centered around the beautiful sport of tennis.
For any other soon-to-be parents out there who also call themselves tennis fanatics, follow along with us as we sit down with Justin to uncover what makes for the perfect tennis-themed nursery.
Choosing your furniture — for all the Grand Slam vibes
The starting point for outfitting any nursery is the furniture — specifically, the baby crib. After all, as Justin says, the crib is the “heart of the nursery”. Justin designed his daughter’s crib, the Storkcraft ® Santorini ® Deluxe 5-in-1 Convertible Crib with Toddler Guardrail, which was the obvious choice for his daughter’s tennis-themed nursery. “For a tennis-themed nursery, I think the Santorini® gives Wimbledon vibes — especially in its two-tone Frosted Oat & Driftwood or White & Driftwood colorways,” says Justin. “I think the Frosted Oat & Driftwood Santorini® has that vintage tennis club, ‘la dolce vita’ aesthetic, while the White & Driftwood Santorini® screams ‘Wimbledon’ with the tournament’s all-white attire rule.”
The key to a successful tennis-themed nursery is balance. While you want to capture the excitement of the game, it’s important to remember that the space should remain calm and inviting for both you and your baby. Choose light wood furniture and neutral fabrics to bring warmth to the space, and to create a serene environment for your little one to sleep and play in. Like Justin said, we recommend our Santorini® Crib in Frosted Oat & Driftwood — providing a sleek and modern look while offering all the functionality you need as a parent. To pair with the crib, we think our Santa Monica® Nursery Power Recliner Swivel Glider in Ivory Boucle is a must-have item in every nursery for those warm & cuddly moments with your little one.
A calming, refined color palette — capturing the international tennis spirit
Tennis evokes a distinct color palette that immediately brings the sport to mind: grass green, clay court terracotta, and the iconic crisp white of tennis apparel. These colors can be used throughout the nursery to create a cohesive and energizing environment.
Don’t be afraid to use pops of color in small doses. Here are some tennis-themed products we recommend to bring your tennis nursery to life:
· A framed tennis-themed print from Favourite Place Prints
“With the calming neutrals of the Santorini® crib and Santa Monica® power recliner, I love the pop of color that this rug adds to the nursery. Just looking at this rug makes me so, so happy. And I love that Favourite Place Prints offers such a wide array of tournaments to choose from. For me, it’s definitely Wimbledon, Monte Carlo, and Indian Wells,” says Justin.
Bonding with baby through story time — with a tennis twist
To instill a love of reading in your child, but in keeping with your nursery’s tennis theme, opt for these three books, as recommended by Justin:
· Tennis Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner
· Bibi’s Got Game by Bianca Andreescu, US Open champion and Canadian icon
· Baby Ballers: Venus and Serena Williams by Bernadette Baillie
“Not only do I love reading these books to my daughter, I also love keeping them on display in the nursery so they add to the overall tennis theme. I installed some cute, scalloped shelves from H&M Home, and keep these three books on display when I’m not reading them to baby girl,” says Justin.
The finishing touches — to put your baby’s personality on full display
And don’t forget to add some fun details. Here are some items to complete your tennis-themed nursery:
· Tennis Collared Sweatshirt by Mini Rodini
· Amuseables Sports Tennis Ball by Jellycat
· Kids’ Stuffed Crocodile Toy with Logo by Lacoste
“The Amuseables Sports Tennis Ball by Jellycat is not only a must-have for any tennis-themed nursery, but also for any tennis fan. I keep one in my home office, at my Storkcraft office, and even have a few of the keychain versions for my tennis bag and travel duffel,” says Justin. “I also love the idea of safely mounting a tennis racket onto the nursery wall. You can’t beat the aesthetic of the Nadal 19” Junior Racket by Babolat. The bright neon colors add the perfect pop of personality to the nursery, especially if you’re sticking with more muted, calming furniture like lighter woods and creamy neutrals.” And lastly, Justin’s beloved Lacoste Crocodile Toy. “Lacoste is synonymous with tennis. This plush crocodile toy, in its signature white Lacoste polo, puts the finishing touch on any tennis-themed nursery. It infuses childish playfulness with a nod to one of the most important brands in the history of the sport.”
Game, set, match — final words
Creating the ultimate tennis-themed nursery doesn’t mean you have to overwhelm the space with every tennis accessory you can find. Instead, it’s about infusing your love for the sport into the room through thoughtful design choices that balance playfulness, elegance, and practicality. With the right combination of colors, textures, and accessories, you can create a space that reflects both your personal passion for tennis and your new role as a parent.
Happy designing, and may your little one’s first steps on the court be as memorable as their first steps in this beautiful space!