Put a birdcage on it. That’s right—why stop at a single bird when you can hang an entire birdcage in the room?
Follow-up question: why stop at one when you can hang three?
Quick side note: you might notice a brown sheet on the daybed in some photos. We haven’t picked out new sheets yet, but we’re leaning toward navy. That old tan sheet has been on the daybed for years and will be replaced soon, so try to ignore it for now.
Back to the birdcages. I’ve been eager to hang these since we began decorating this room, so it felt great to finally unveil the “secret 3D pieces” that would help balance the off-center window. How did we end up with birdcages? It started over a year ago when we found a large white birdcage at a thrift store while out shooting photos for a book. We couldn’t leave without it, and it came home with us for a steal.
On another thrift run in September—after fixing up Granny’s bathroom—we picked up a second birdcage that was red in the photos online but actually arrived white. It was also inexpensive and joined the first one in storage while I waited for a third to complete the grouping.
Two cages were useful, but three makes a more intentional cluster. The third was harder to find. We checked thrift stores, scanned classifieds, and even looked at decorative retailers, but prices were often high. Eventually I found a darker pewter birdcage at Hobby Lobby during one of their frequent sales and scored it for a good price. I originally planned to spray-paint it white to match the other two, but keeping the pewter finish ended up being a better choice: it ties into the navy curtains and creates a pleasing mix when the thrift-store one gets a bright red spray.
We wanted this to be a surprise for Clara, so she didn’t see the paint or the hanging. The cages are very lightweight, so we used sturdy plant hooks with anchors to be safe. When Clara woke from her nap and saw them suspended from the ceiling, she was thrilled—lots of pointing, lying on the floor and daybed, and gazing up at them. She even brought in her stuffed animals for introductions.
Because the white and red cages are wicker and especially light, we hung the darker pewter cage on the end away from the bed. That way nothing sits directly above where Clara plays or naps. From another angle you can see how the white and red cages are set back and the daybed is pulled away from the wall so that a jumping child couldn’t accidentally reach them. Think of them like a mobile or a model airplane hung in a child’s room—decor that provides visual interest and invites a child to look up and imagine.
We love how the cages add pattern, color, and a playful three-dimensional element to the room, especially alongside the framed collage on one wall and the postcard ledges on another. It’s rewarding to layer textures and shapes so the space feels dynamic and child-friendly rather than flat and predictable.
Here’s a close-up detail of one of the cages.
We made a few small updates elsewhere in the room too. I found a thin red ribbon in my leftover holiday box and wrapped it around the base of Sir Moose to help balance the patterned lampshade. A reader had suggested painting the base, but I chose ribbon because it’s easy to change when we want a different look.
I secured the ribbon with a few pieces of scotch tape at the back and it has held up well so far.
Some parts of the room already feel finished, while others still need work. Progress is steady, and we’re enjoying how little touches—like hanging birdcages and ribbon—bring the space together.
Here’s the current to-do list for the room:
paint the roomcut down our old den side table to make a play tablebring in a dresser (we’d love to find something secondhand)make and hang curtainsadd a rugpaint the backs of the chairs and the play tablehang our postcard ledges and fill them with favorite flashcardsinstall a new light fixturehang a few three-dimensional objects as wall decor- buy new sheets for the daybed (most likely navy) and a cushy mattress pad
- refinish or paint Clara’s new dresser
- convert the cluttered closet into a clothes closet and reading nook
- add crown molding (and update other bedrooms on this side of the house)
- possibly paint the ceiling after the crown molding is installed
- add accessories like more pillows and storage bins for toys
We also framed and hung one more piece of art that I adore. It’s colorful and greets you as you walk in, echoing the palette used throughout the room. A thoughtful friend gifted us this print—she knew I’d loved it for a long time—and seeing it in the space makes me smile every time.
It’s a little sentimental, but seeing that art—knowing it came from thoughtful friends—reminds me how much Clara is loved. Those little touches, whether a cluster of hanging birdcages or a treasured print, make the room feel personal and joyful.
So that’s the update from Clara’s big-girl room. What did you tackle this weekend? Anyone else hanging oversized three-dimensional pieces or adding playful prints? Maybe we’ve started a trend: put a birdcage on it. Will it catch on? Only time will tell.
P.S. We finally released that secret video project we teased on social media. It was produced for a major news outlet and includes a candid interview about a big goal we have this year—plus some priceless shots of Clara and Burger. It was fun (and nerve-wracking) to chat about our plans on camera.