We did it — three big check marks: painted the walls, painted the closet, and painted the ceiling in Clara’s room. It turned into a mini painting marathon, but the payoff is worth it. The ceiling is painted Pink Cadillac by Benjamin Moore in an eggshell finish. In photos it can read subtle, but in person it’s soft and noticeable — not the room’s main focal point, but a playful layered detail that makes the space feel special. To balance the ceiling’s personality and the room’s patterned textiles, we chose clean white walls in Benjamin Moore Simply White in eggshell, which we also use for trim and doors in a glossier finish. A crisp white keeps the space feeling fresh and lets rugs, curtains, and pillows take the visual lead.
We also used some of the leftover ceiling paint inside the closet to extend that cozy, intentional feel. Someday I’d like to add a built-in bench there and maybe do something playful to the slanted ceiling — little cedar shakes could give a sweet indoor-playhouse vibe. A bit of cheerful wallpaper on the back wall might be fun too, but for now a painted ceiling makes the closet feel thoughtful and finished.
You might notice the living room rug and curtains migrated upstairs. Clara’s pink rug was shedding a lot, and the new hardwoods made the tumbleweeds extra obvious, so we swapped in the blue rug she loves — she pretends the light blue sections are the ocean for her toys. Moving into a new house always means things shift around until they land in the right spots, so it’s been fun to see pieces make their rounds. For example, a woven rug ended up back in the living room, though we’re still deciding if it will stay there long-term.
Before painting we prepped the room by moving furniture to the center and covering it with drop cloths. There had been some striped areas from earlier door spraying that left primer or paint flashing on the walls. To prevent that from showing through the new finish, we primed only the sections that concerned us, then painted the ceiling first and followed with the walls. Targeted priming saved time and avoided unnecessary full-room priming while ensuring an even final coat where it was needed most.
I snapped a photo during the process to show the contrast between the yellowed old paint, the cooler-toned primer, and the fresh Simply White. The transformation was immediate: the stark, clean white erased the tired, yellowed look of the original walls and made the room feel brighter and more open — a great backdrop for Clara’s colorful textiles and toys.
There are still a few things to finish: I’m halfway through sewing a canopy to hang over Clara’s bed, and we plan to add art and a new light fixture. Those additions will help the room feel complete, but it already feels far better than the old striped, yellowed version we started with. The room has come a long way from the original blue trim and mismatched finishes.
We’ve also been experimenting with photography. These after photos were shot in manual for the first time, so they’re a little rough around the edges. Still, it’s been a fun learning process and we’re slowly improving. The best part of any photo session is Clara — her presence brings warmth and personality to each shot. When she saw the pink ceiling she announced, “now when I’m sleeping I can look at the pink and the pink can look at me,” which was the sweetest reaction and made the whole project feel worthwhile.
I like how the room balances playful and calm: patterned pillows, curtains, and the rug add energy, while white walls and furniture temper the overall look so it never feels too busy. From the closet opening you can see the opposite wall above the crib still needs artwork. Clara seems close to outgrowing the crib, so we might wait until she transitions before deciding what to hang there — the eventual furniture arrangement will help determine the right scale and subject for art.
A little candid moment from the shoot made me grin: I focused on a book and blurred an alligator toy, which made me want to chuckle about my amateur photo skills. Still, those imperfect images capture personality better than anything staged, and I appreciate the progress. Small details remain, like painting the little cracks where the wall meets the ceiling — we left those for now because we plan to install crown molding soon, which will cover them neatly.
All in all, the room feels fresh, cozy, and thoughtfully layered. The pink ceiling adds personality without overwhelming the space, and the white walls keep everything feeling calm and cohesive. What projects are you working on? Any playful ceilings or freshly painted rooms in your home?