Roo, I recently went to our local decorator showhouse and they had a room with a car theme so here are some ideas: The neatest thing I saw was an oval mirror with a black frame with matchbox cars glued to the frame to look like a racetrack. They also had valances and a bedskirt made from pices of (what looked like) felt with pictures of various license plates. It looked like they used photo print material and ironed it onto the pieces of felt. They had a seat from the back of a van as seating (it was kind of neat, and kind of odd simultaneously - if that makes sense.) They also had 1 wall covered in maps as the theme had a travel element to it as well. I know these are not exactly baby oriented but if you decide to go with cars, the ideas might get you thinking. I do think the oval mirror was so cute and could be cheap and easy and would be okay for a baby too. Pam

We have the flor squares in our living room. Dh wanted to get them because you can pull them up individually to clean them if something gets spilled. But I wouldn't recommend them. They don't stay together all that well, despite the stickers underneath. And sand and such goes between the cracks and scratches the floor. And because of the cracks in between and no rug pad underneath (the recommended installation method), I am afraid to clean them in place with a rug cleaning machine for fear of further damaging the floor underneath. So I will have to pull them all up and clean them all individually and piece them all back together. I have been postponing this task. . . . All rugs are bad for allergies.

Jakkom offers some great advice, try to make an adventure out of looking for things you might like in your apt. Get out and do some shopping at some cool places you find out about. Come here and read posts that interest you, you can get some great ideas. When I had my house, I used to keep a little slip of paper in my wallet with a list of some of the kinds of things I needed for the house, so when I was out and about, I would be able to remember if I needed something or not. It's kind of nice to know that while you have a perfectly adequate floor lamp, you're really looking for something the same basic height and size, but way cooler. That's why I started out with hand me downs thinking I could always upgrade piece by piece. In the end, I have found that the quality of the hand me downs has often far exceeded any new things I have seen in the stores, and the price sure was right for the hand me downs! Over time, it has developed into my "look" which I call MCM Grandma! For example, an old lamp that was anachronistic in my house for years and years but I just never found a replacement for, is now super hot again and the young folks who come over think I'm uber hip! OMG Jakkom on the prices for the Milo Baughman stuff, I'm going to have to take a closer look at my chair and find out if it is an original or a knockoff. I know it is of the MCM era, not a repro. It has the original faux naugahyde dirty white vinyl covering. Sadly, it got nicked in two places during my last move. Not sure at this point whether I am going to recover it or sell it. It's very comfortable, despite its lean modern looks. Despite it being comfortable, SO hates it, at least in its dingy white vinyl incarnation, and it doesn't go very well with most of my other stuff, although I pride myself on being "eclectic." We'll see how my furniture culling goes, it may be time to pass this chair on to someone else who will love it properly. I kind of like it, it represents to me the humor of something that was a complete garage sale can't get rid of item a decade ago and now is really hot, and also something of quality and value, albeit "out of date" by casual standards and yet still has intrinsic good/worthy style. "Character" I guess would be the operative word. Oh, BTW Bigeze, that's another way to have fun decorating your place, seeking out things with "character" which I think can be fun. Unless you just want to go out and get everything and have it be done and over with, which I can also relate to and understand. I'm often torn between the two instincts.

I definitely think grey is great long term- just change out the accessories. But I wouldn't do grey accessories with grey walls. it'll be too blah. Your taste reminded me a lot of the Emily & Merrit collection. Its geared a bit towards girls but there's a ton of great accessories that would work in your room. I adore their yellow and white pinstripe bedding, it would be great if you could find a crib option similar. curtains: https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/emily-and-merritt-circus-stripe-blackout-drape/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.12536 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/large-check-panel-boy/?pkey=cboy-window-panels-and-shades&isx=0.0 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/stitched-border-panel/?pkey=cboy-window-panels-and-shades&isx=0.0 rugs: https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/emily-and-meritt-circus-stripe-rug/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.10726 or https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/the-emily-and-meritt-tassel-rug/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.11744 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/mercer-rug-boy/?pkey=cboys-rugs&isx=0.0