What better way to mark the beginning of spring than with an all new wallpaper pairing? Here, a few familiar Animal Print Shop faces—Flamingo, most notably, plus eight lovable Little Darlings—show their colors against an eye-catching patterned paper called Speckle, from New York City company Chasing Paper. Its striking simplicity and playful, perfectly-imperfect dots are just the right match for Flamingo, whose most irresistible features— round eyes, tall legs, and two-tone-pink plumage—truly pop in the pairing.

Founded by printing industry veteran Elizabeth Rees, Chasing Paper has made a name for itself with affordable, removable wallpaper that blends striking design with fail-proof functionality. Those on the hunt for the perfect paper can choose from a wide range of colors (from sweet pastels to radiant brights) and patterns (including geometrics, florals, and lively animal prints)—or, browse a selection of collaborative designs. Best of all, when you’re ready for a change of scenery, you can peel your chosen paper off in a pinch and replace it with something new, making it a no-brainer for “serial movers, stylish mamas, renters, DIYers, and, of course, commitment-phobes.” “Our hope was to introduce a fun way to create a curated and personal moment in people’s homes without putting any holes in the walls,” says Elizabeth.

Stylish and fresh, Speckle caught our eye right away. Composed of freehand dots and available in eight punchy colors, it’s a playful pick for a child’s room or baby’s nursery, but still chic enough to show off in a living room, bathroom, dining room, or foyer. With Flamingo, it provided the perfect backdrop for a vintage rug, sturdy stool, and wooden credenza, all flea market or antique store finds. Meanwhile, vibrant greenery and a hanging light fixture from Ikea complete the picture, further setting the stage for our pink winged star to shine. And showing off it’s verstaility, Speckle is a perfect backdrop for a grouping of Little Darlings – we just love how it makes all their adorable faces pop.

They say details make the difference—and when it comes to nursery design, we couldn’t agree more. From light bulbs to lamp shades, book ends to bed sheets, it’s often the smallest pieces that make really make a room pop. Each time we embark on a new project, we spend hours comparing mobiles, throws, wallpaper, woven baskets, and more—so why not devote some space on our beloved blog, we thought recently, to a room’s most basic necessity (albeit one that’s too often overlooked)?

Here, we’ve rounded up a selection of stylish nursery wastebaskets that represents a range of styles, prices, and performance features, and that elevates the trash can past its purely functional role. Forgo the forgettable, and you’re sure to find that a well-chosen and well-made alternative can add a hit of color, texture, and even humor to any room. Still need convincing? We’ve listed our 11 picks of the litter (pun intended) below.

1. Round Step Trash Can, $19.99

There’s no denying the simplicity of this clean-looking can. Its stainless steel exterior is impressively fingerprint-resistant; housed beneath its lid is a plastic bucket that keeps trash bags concealed.

2. Wire Framed Trash Bin, $149

Handmade in Oregon, Schoolhouse Electric’s eye-catching can merges pretty (its wire frame comes in red, pale green, or a golden yellow) with practical (its metal bin is sleek and sturdy). Take note, design aficionados: its construction takes cues from mid-century master Richard Galef.

3. Handwoven Waste Basket, $70

Woven by hand using a natural fiber called fique, this stunning basket is the result of a collaboration between LA-based online shop Someware and artisans in Santander, Colombia. It’s multifunctional, too: As the folks at Someware point out, you can use it to corral toys, textiles, or “anything else your creative mind can imagine.”

4. White Trash Can, $24.98

An effortless addition to any room, this charming square bin owes its streamlined look to snow-white propylene and a simple wooden handle that makes everyday transport easy. Plus, like many of the options on this list, it comes in a variety of can’t-go-wrong colors.

5. Copper Trash Can, $14.99

Spills, messes, and dings are no match for this gleaming can, which showcases all the attractive qualities of copper, without any of the inconveniences (think: rusting and denting).

6. Swing Top Trash Can, $35

Umbra’s dependable “Venti” model is as good-looking as it is effective: Its brushed metallic lid and neck ring are shamelessly chic; its sizable can holds 16½ gallons.

7. Woven Basket, $38-78

Available in small, medium, or large, these beautiful baskets are made to last, featuring durable water hyacinth woven over an iron frame.

8. Powder Coated Trash Can, $48

On the hunt for cute and compact? This powder-coated trash can does just the trick.

9. Multicolored Wastebasket, $14.99

We love that this playful, patterned wastebasket is simple enough not to steal the show—but its colors bring a hearty dose of charm and seaside whimsy to the table all the same.

10. Wire Basket, $85

The brainchild of Danish designer Trine Andersen of ferm LIVING, this iron basket comes in three sizes and a host of colors. We’re partial to the elegant, understated, and not-overly-girly rose.

11. Swing Bin, approx. $70

Designed by Shingeichiro Takeuchi and made in Japan, this minimalist trash can—whose graceful swing lid is conveniently removable—is artful, efficient, and appealingly uncomplicated.

If you read our blog, you know we love working with Matt Monroe of Monroe Workshop. Over that last several years, we’ve used his handmade furniture in many of our projects – a beautiful log bench in our Wolf Pup Room for Siblings, a custom live edge kids’ desk for our Cabin Inspired Kid’s Room featuring Baby Horse and Baby Horse Little Darling, an original, custom floating shelf/changing table for our Baby Wallaby Nursery, and our favorite Credenza sits below our majestic 30”x40”American Buffalo limited edition print in our Dining Room Makeover.

To say we have a working relationship with Monroe Workshop is accurate, but it doesn’t nearly describe how fond we are of Matt and his crew. Seriously, you couldn’t find a nicer guy who happens to be insanely skilled! 

So, we’re thrilled to pull the spotlight away from his furniture for a moment to feature Monroe Workshop’s new series of Toys – a charming coterie of critters. The genesis of Monroe Workshop’s first two toys–his robot horse and robot monkey–was a clever way to minimize waste. Matt says: 

“As a fan of wood, I hated to throw our scrap away–all the toys are made of furniture grade hardwood. So, I started making the toys to give as gifts to family and friends.”

Matt featured the robot monkey on instagram and the demand was immediate. He and his crew have been working like busy elves this year and have unveiled a charming new collection of animals to add their menagerie. Here are our favorites!

Cecily the Pig is giving our Piglet a run for her money. We love Cecily’s mismatched ears which Matt sources from a local shoe manufacturer’s scraps of Italian leather.

Matt gave Avinash the Elephant a huge dose of personality. Not dissimilar to our Baby Elephant.

You can almost hear Jean Pierre the Longhorn Bull bellowing. His stare is just as intense as our Long Horn Steer Close-Up.

Ravi the Rhinoceros may be small, but he’s every bit the brute our Baby Rhino is.

We think Gemma Lou the Giraffe would get along with our Baby Giraffe just fine.

The toys are named after family members. Well, all except for Gary the Robot Monkey. Matt says, “I just like the name Gary.”

All of the toys are made of domestic hardwoods in Monroe Workshop’s Los Angeles shop. They’re available at monroeworkshoptoys.com.

Matt says to keep an eye out for a barn and possibly a jungle-scape tree house for more play opportunities. We can’t wait!

For our latest wallpaper pairing, we returned to one of our favorites: Baby Deer. She was one of our first Animal Print Shop prints and even though she has lots of company now, our love for her hasn’t diminished. We’ve been chomping at the bit to use a Hygge & West wallpaper (BTW, Hygge is pronounced: Hoo-Ga) and knew we’d found the perfect compliment in their soft blue Petal Pusher pattern. Even better, Petal Pusher is a design by the uber talented Joy Cho of Oh Joy Studios.

Hygge & West was founded by childhood friends Christiana Coop and Aimee Lagos – loving the vibe of Danish design, they created their wallcovering company around it – Hygge is a Danish concept loosely translating to life’s small pleasures, be they cozy homes in winter or bedtime stories with your kids. The “West” in Hygge & West is western as in the United States. We love that their wallpapers are all hand silk screened AND Hygge & West works with so many talented designers. Oh Joy finds herself in amazing company next to Julia Rothman, Rifle Paper Co., Heath Ceramics, Justina Blakeney, and many others. 

Petal Pusher pairs beautifully with Oeuf’s clean-lined, modern Rhea Crib. We especially appreciate the slight Danish taper of the legs. The sweet polka-dot crib sheet is from Etsy seller Holkuda who hand prints on the softest fabric ensuring restful sleep for the little slumberer. And our favorite detail is the pop of fuchsia from a custom Kantha baby blanket made by our good friend Heidi Merrick (we’re trying to convince her to make them for sale!). And if blue isn’t the direction your design is headed, Petal Pusher also comes in a range of other gorgeous colors, from gold to blush to black.

Finally, if you follow our blog, you know that we love ourselves a vintage nod. In this pairing, we used two: the brick pattern vintage Moroccan rug and a large white Gainey pot from the 60’s. We’d never seen a rug with such a vibrant, rich blue color, let alone in a brick pattern (if you’re in Los Angles, you can pick this rug up at Hannoun Rugs in Culver City). The Gainey pot is from Sharon’s own collection. Sadly, Gainey stopped making their signature ceramic pots in 2013, so if you spot one at a thrift store, don’t hesitate to buy it!

The finishing touch is a delicate mobile from Brooklyn’s Fort Makers. The designer, Noah Spencer, says he takes inspiration from human fascination with the universe. We love its delicate lines and gentle movement, and we think it is the perfect compliment to the pairing of Baby Deer and Petal Pusher. We also think Petal Pusher pairs beautifully with Baby Camel! 

To introduce the newest addition to our menagerie of baby animals, Baby Zebra, we sought to design a feminine nursery of soft pink, natural materials, and wood tones. For Baby Zebra’s nursery (the eigth in our Nursery Project series) Sharon drew inspiration straight from Baby Zebra –“She’s so sweet and if you look at her stripes where the white and black meet, she almost looks pink!” Says Sharon of her newest muse.

Designing the room in layers as she always does Sharon continues:  “I knew I wanted a wallpaper to compliment Baby Zebra without competing with her stripes or soft feel. The perfect wallpaper would be a tonal pink with a subtle pattern so it wouldn’t distract the eye from Baby Zebra.” Kremelife had the perfect palette and a pattern that fit the bill in their Diamondettes line.

And, for a touch of sophistication, Sharon adorned the dresser with a vintage brass tea light globe. “The globe light is on a dimmer and fills the room with a soft glow.” Perfect for taking advantage of the curated library and reading a bedtime story in the coral colored Togo chair by Ligne Roset. The sisal rug “really ties the room together,” kids Sharon ala The Big Lebowski. The space called for a round rug and she found the perfect one at West Elm.

With a nod to Safari themes, Baby Bengal Tiger, Lion Cub, Baby Monkey, and Baby Elephant hang above an Oeuf Rhea crib. “I’m kind of obsessed with macrame right now.” Sharon confesses. “I discovered Sara of The Forest Fern, who makes the most beautiful pieces, including the lantern style we selected for this space.”

The crib sheet is handmade by Petal and Branch. “It was a perfect match to the wallpaper without being too ‘matchy-matchy’, but still similar – I really love the soft feel and color.” Of the blanket, softies and trash can, Sharon explains, “The last details for me are not afterthoughts, but the final layer.” We love the blanket’s little pop of bright pink, and the two rascals in the crib: you can almost hear them scheming!

(Photos ©The Animal Print Shop)

Our customers often ask if it’s okay to group horizontal and vertical prints. Well, designer Andria Fromm artfully answers that question with an Animal Print Shop feature wall in Baby Harley’s nursery beautifully photographed by Alyssa Rosenheck.

Designed last fall by interiors expert Andria Fromm of REDO Home & Design, baby Harley’s nursery is playful, but still manages to be soothing and stylish, cozy and composed with crisp details. “Harley’s mother knew what she was having,” says Andria, “but we didn’t want the room to scream ‘boy.’ The process was more about mixing prints and patterns, textures and fabrics, wallpaper and artwork, so that the room could grow with the baby over the years.”

“We started by selecting a color palette based on the ottoman fabric,” Andria continues. “It had these great rust tones, with gold and navy. I love pulling inspiration from a pattern.” Other details close to the designer’s heart: grasscloth wallpaper from Cowtan & Tout; a multihued pom-pom mobile (made by mom); and a sweet, snug reading nook. “Children need small spaces to tuck into,” she says. “They’re comforting.” We especially love the Devon crib in deep blue, which converts to a toddler bed. We also can’t help but wonder where the little coral colored doors lead!

And what about the set of six Animal Print Shop baby animal pals keeping watch on the wall above the dresser? “They’re the main feature,” Andria says. “We wanted to create a wall of interest, so we started with the grasscloth and layered with modern frames filled with Sharon’s beloved animal photography. Mixing both horizontal and vertical formats give the space a lovely element of interest and works so well with the elevation change in the ceiling. Harley’s brother, Barrett, loves all the baby animal prints most. He always wants to go in and look at them — and he’s learned quite a few of his animals based on that wall. He’s obsessed with Baby Monkey Little Darling in particular — every time they pass by, he has to say hello.” How sweet is that?

Our love for mobiles is no secret and these wooden creations by New York City artist Noah Spencer are among our new favorites – we used one in our lastest Nursery Project.

Noah belongs to Brooklyn artist collective Fort Makers, which has produced a vast array of inspiring works including candlesticks, cutting boards, jewelry, textiles, and more. Consider us fans.

The balmy days of summer are behind us and we’re cozying up to the crisper conditions with this modern cabin-inspired room, the latest in our ongoing Nursery Project series. Happy, homey, and handsomely appointed, it’s perfect for welcoming two brand-new babies to our Print Shop family: Baby Bengal Tiger No. 1 and Baby Bengal Tiger No. 2. 

Bathed in a serene deep blue (Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note, to be exact), the space features a fireplace on a wall of wood siding, a built-in changing table, and a host of gender-neutral accents, including a pair of brass and wood mobiles by Print Shop favorites Julie Burtonand Fort Makers. It’s enough to keep our tiger cubs (and their tiny bunkmate) enveloped in warmth that’ll last through winter—and well beyond.

(Photos by Joe Schmelzer for The Animal Print Shop)

Los Angeles-based furniture designer Matt Monroe has a background in fine art, and it shows. An experienced sculptor and carpenter, his specially-built creations are expertly and elegantly crafted without a hint of pretension. A few of our favorites: custom-upholstered tree trunk stools; a White Oak coffee table with splayed copper legs; and a handsome wooden rocker just right for a nursery.

If Matt’s pieces look familiar, it may be because they’re the building blocks of our beloved Buffalo dining room – Matt’s rustic log bench makes an appearance in this playful homage to our Wolf Pups, too. And if his furniture wasn’t beautiful enough on its own, it’s recently been joined by a collection of handmade toys – including a maple rocking horse and a herd of tiny “robot horses” – constructed of hardwood and cotton rope. Its minimalist design at its finest – and its most fun.

See more at Monroe Workshop.

From top to bottom: Paperback Stump Stool, $500; Seawall Coffee Table, $3000; Haverhill Rocker, $2750; Robot Monkey Rocking Horse, $195; Robot Monkey, $45; Herd of Mini Robot Horses, $25-50.

Second in our brand-new series of print-and-wallpaper pairings: the vibrant Apothecary’s Garden pattern from Trustworth Studios as backdrop for our sprightly Baby Horse. Originally designed in 1926 by famed English designer CFA Voysey, it’s full of life, color, and nature-inspired detail — just right, we think, for Wolf Pup, Baby Monkey, and Baby Fox Little Darling, too.