Two weeks before my due date, we’re finishing up a few remaining nursery tasks: painting the closet door a cheerful color, organizing clutter, adding more wall art, and making a last-minute decision about the curtains (we love a good switcheroo).
Clara had a big influence on the green closet door. She kept saying, “My baby will like a colored door like mine but not pink,” and since a bold green door was originally part of our plan back in January, we finally stopped hesitating and just went for it.
After hanging apple-green curtains and adding a kelly green sheet to the changing table, we worried a bright door might feel excessive. But we realized we still had some airy Ikea curtains from our last house, so we put those up to see how the mix would look. They used to hang on the deck sliders and happened to be convenient and free to try.
Although I regret the hours spent making the colorful curtains, they were inexpensive—under $10 each—so it felt wasteful to cling to them if they prevented a different element we were excited about. I also removed a fabric remnant I had used to mock up a green changing pad cover when we decided the bright closet door was irresistible.
We still think the curtains need a little finishing touch. I’d like to line them with blackout fabric and possibly add trim—black, brown, or even green—to clean up the edges. We also need a proper changing pad cover, which is on the to-do list.
To choose a green paint color for the door, we taped up several swatches and observed them in different lighting—early morning, afternoon, and at night with the lights on. The paint that worked best was Irish Moss by Benjamin Moore. It’s balanced: not too dark, not too light, not neon, and neither too yellow nor too blue.
I only needed a quart in semi-gloss for the door, though it took three coats to achieve smooth, even coverage. Bold hues often look rough for the first coat or two, then come together beautifully on the final coat. A tinted primer might have saved a coat, but I didn’t have one on hand, so three coats of paint did the job. I started with a brush, then used a combination of brush and small foam roller for the second and third coats to speed things up. We used the same approach on Clara’s door a few months ago, and it has held up well to heavy use.
Preparing the closet was mostly about organizing. I lined up shoes, placed empty baskets on the top shelf for future use, moved some extra toys to a bin on the floor, and transferred overflow items to the hall closet. The hall closet is larger and better suited for things we won’t need immediately, like a bumbo and a play table. The nursery closet will likely evolve—perhaps with cubbies, baskets, or a reading nook—but for now it’s nice to have a clean, usable space.
For art on the curtain wall, I used two simple wooden frames and made a pear shape on white foam core with pencil, then painted it with green and brown finger paint from Clara’s stash. We’ll probably swap it out later for a family photo or something the baby prefers, but it’s sweet for now.
Below that, I created a lettered piece that reads “Love You Forever.” Inspired by a handmade print I liked, I cut letters from black construction paper, roughly sketched them, and arranged them on another piece of white foam core. John suggested adding color to the V’s, so I used decorative paper and a glue stick to attach those accents. It took about fifteen minutes, cost nothing, and we both love the result.
Because Clara already has a print that says “You Are So Loved” in her room, it feels meaningful to echo that sentiment in our son’s room.
The wooden frames pair nicely with the stained tops of the built-ins and the dark hardware on the drawers, creating cohesion with other framed art and furniture across the room.
We also scored an adorable wooden rocker at a local thrift store for $15. It looks a bit fragile but easily supports Clara, and she’s convinced her brother will adore it.
Slowly but surely, the nursery is coming together. We’re leaning toward a plan for the wall behind the crib—after brainstorming and reading suggestions we might wait until the baby arrives to finalize it. For now, toys on the built-ins, elephants on the crib sheets, and the new green closet door have us more excited than ever to bring our little boy home.
Even though the room isn’t completely finished, we didn’t want to miss the chance to retake our family picture before the baby is born, a tradition we started with Clara. We revisited an image from January when we began the room and compared it with a recent photo—clearly the bump has grown substantially.
Looking back at how the room appeared before we moved in last summer makes the progress especially satisfying. There are still tasks left, but the space already feels much more ready for a baby.
Our current to-do list:
- Get a proper changing pad cover.
- Line the curtains with blackout liner and add trim (black, brown, or green).
- Tweak the wall behind the crib with wallpaper, a stencil, slatted wood, or an accent color (we have a tentative plan).
- Make a small woodsy cuckoo clock to match the aesthetic we created for Clara.
- Add an overhead light on a dimmer (we haven’t agreed on a fixture yet).
- Possibly paint the ceiling a soft color someday—maybe a sky blue to complement the green-yellow-neutral palette.
- Install sconces between the built-ins in a few years, likely when the crib is replaced with a twin bed and they can serve as reading lights.
Are you working on art, rethinking curtains, or painting something bold? We didn’t expect to fall in love with colorful doors, but once you start, they become contagious.
