We did it! We can check off “paint the walls,” “paint the closet,” and “paint the ceiling” in Clara’s room. It was a bit of a painting marathon, but the soft pink ceiling turned out so sweet. The color is Pink Cadillac by Benjamin Moore in an eggshell finish. In photos it reads subtle, but in person it’s a soft-but-noticeable detail—not the room’s focal point, but a fun layered touch. For the walls we chose clean white to complement the ceiling without competing with the rug, pillows, and curtains. We used BM Simply White in eggshell for the walls and the same hue in a glossier finish on trim and doors.
We also used leftover ceiling paint inside the closet to add a little continuity. Someday we’d like to add a built-in bench and maybe do something playful with the slanted ceiling—little cedar shakes could give an indoor playhouse feeling, and a bit of fun wallpaper on the back wall might be charming.
The rug and curtains from the living room migrated up here. Clara’s pink rug was shedding, and the new hardwoods made the tumbleweeds especially obvious, so we swapped in a blue rug she loves—the light blue sections become the “ocean” for her toys. After moving, we expected things to find new homes, so it’s been fun to see pieces make the rounds. The woven rug ended up in the living room for now, though we’re still deciding if it will stay there long-term.
Before painting we prepped the room by moving everything to the center and covering it with drop cloths. Remember the stripey look from spraying the doors before the floors were installed? We didn’t want that primer/paint flashing through the new color, so we primed the specific areas we worried might show through.
We painted the ceiling first, then primed select wall areas where bleeding or flashing could occur. Here you can see the primed section alongside the freshly painted ceiling.
Then we rolled out the white paint for the walls. This shot shows the difference between the yellowed old paint, the cooler-toned primer, and the final Simply White wall color.
There are still a few finishing touches missing—like a canopy I’m halfway through sewing to hang over Clara’s bed, some art, and a light fixture we’d like to add. Even so, getting rid of the yellowed walls and those spray stripes is a huge improvement. It’s a big change from the room’s earlier look, when blue trim dominated the space.
We’ve been practicing photography too—these after photos were shot in manual for the first time. They aren’t perfect, but we’re slowly getting better and learning what works.
Clara adores her pink ceiling. When she first saw it she said, “now when I’m sleeping I can look at the pink and the pink can look at me.” That sums up how much she loves it.
The room feels balanced—playful patterns in the pillows, curtains, and rug are tempered by white furniture and walls, so the space reads fun without being overwhelming.
Here’s a view from the closet looking back across the room. The wall above the crib still needs art, but since Clara is nearly finished with the crib stage we might wait until she’s ready to move out of it before deciding what belongs on that wall—whatever we choose will depend on the room’s final layout.
I managed one photo where the book is in focus and the alligator is blurred—I’ll take small victories in the photography department. Still, this kid makes every picture better, so big thanks to Clara for being the star.
One small note: we didn’t quite paint every tiny crack where the wall meets the ceiling because we plan to add crown molding soon, which will cover those edges.
What are you painting these days? Any clean walls with playful ceilings in progress?