Transforming Clara’s Big Girl Room: The Art of Finishing Touches
There’s a unique thrill that comes with reaching the final stages of a room transformation—a feeling akin to a triumphant flourish after weeks of dedicated effort. This weekend, we hit that sweet spot in Clara’s big girl room, moving beyond the initial chaos of renovation and into the satisfying realm of “finishing touches.” After grappling with what felt like a perpetual “middle phase,” we’ve finally turned a significant corner, thanks to a few thoughtful updates that truly tie the space together. And yes, this was all meticulously planned amidst the furious installation, caulking, and painting of the board and batten for our upcoming reveal. So, let’s dive into the charming details, shall we?
Embracing the Home Stretch: Key Updates in Clara’s Room
Refreshing the Daybed: Comfort and Style
One of the most noticeable updates is the daybed’s fresh new look. We finally invested in a vibrant navy blue 100% cotton sheet set from Target, specifically for a twin bed. This simple change instantly revitalized the space, replacing the worn and faded old tan fitted sheet that had served us faithfully for nearly six years since we first acquired the daybed. The crisp navy provides a beautiful contrast and anchors the bed visually, contributing to a more cohesive aesthetic. While we were shopping, we also picked up a plush mattress pad, ensuring the daybed is exceptionally comfortable and “Clara-ready” whenever she decides it’s time to officially transition from her crib. We’re happily following her lead on that front, letting her enjoy her crib for as long as she wishes.
Optimizing the Rug Placement: A Design Revelation
Another subtle yet impactful change involved a long-overdue adjustment to the rug. We don’t know why it took us so long, but we finally rotated it the other way! This simple shift was a game-changer, revealing many more of its charming dots that were previously hidden beneath the daybed. Our initial thought was to orient the rug to create a gradient effect when walking into the room from the door. However, we quickly realized (a classic “duh!” moment) that the rug actually features a gradient on both sides. This means that by rotating it, we now enjoy both the inviting gradient and a more prominent display of the playful dots upon entry, significantly enhancing the room’s fun factor and visual interest. It just goes to show how minor tweaks can sometimes yield the most delightful design surprises.
Creative Storage Solutions for Kids’ Spaces
Beyond the daybed and rug, we tackled another item on our to-do list: adding essential storage baskets for Clara’s ever-growing collection of toys and books. These clever solutions were placed in the cozy corners on either side of the daybed, transforming previously unused space into functional, attractive storage. These aren’t just any baskets; they involved a touch of “customization” that turned into a delightful afternoon project. We opted for the same versatile $25 baskets from Target that we use throughout our home, which keen observers might recognize from other rooms or in the background of our Instagram posts.
DIY Painted Storage Baskets: A Budget-Friendly Project
To personalize these ubiquitous baskets and ensure they seamlessly integrated into Clara’s vibrant room, I decided to add a playful band of white along their bottoms. The aim was to introduce a touch of lightness, preventing the corners from appearing dark or shadowy and brightening the overall aesthetic. The process was surprisingly straightforward: I used a garbage bag to carefully tape off the upper sections of each basket and secured the bag with Frog Tape to achieve a crisp, clean dividing line. This preparation was key to getting a professional-looking finish without much fuss.
A few coats of Rust-Oleum Universal spray paint later, these humble baskets were transformed. This particular spray paint is a favorite of mine because it includes a built-in primer and features a comfortable trigger-finger mechanism, making application smooth and efficient. It saved us the trouble of extra priming steps and ensured excellent adhesion to the basket material. What truly impressed me was the ease of the project; I initially worried about paint seeping through the woven cracks when the baskets were upside down, but absolutely none did. This meant no messy cleanup or elaborate dipping methods, just a quick and satisfying update.
The result? These baskets now look incredibly spiffy and custom-made, adding a charming, personalized touch to the room while serving their practical purpose with flair.
Functional Corners: Maximizing Space with Baskets
The newly customized baskets have brought invaluable functionality to the previously unused corners beside Clara’s daybed. The basket on the right is now brimming with an assortment of her favorite toys, including stuffed animals, games, and puzzles—a treasure trove of entertainment neatly contained. Meanwhile, the basket on the left side of the daybed is dedicated to her cherished collection of books, making story time essentials easily accessible.
It’s incredibly satisfying to add such practical and aesthetically pleasing storage to these formerly empty spaces, transforming them into integral parts of the room’s organization. This thoughtful placement ensures that Clara’s playthings and reading materials are always within reach, encouraging independent play and reading habits.
Furthermore, we appreciate the inherent flexibility of this layout. Should Clara’s needs evolve as she grows older—perhaps needing a spot for an alarm clock or a glass of water by her bedside—these baskets can easily be replaced with nightstands, adapting the room to her changing stages. This forward-thinking design ensures the room can mature alongside her, offering longevity and versatility.
Personalized Art & Meaningful Decor
Beyond functional updates, we’ve also infused Clara’s room with deeply personal and meaningful art pieces. For those who caught a glimpse of this new art project and requested details, we’re thrilled to share the story behind it now.
“Love” Art: A Sentimental Touch with Dominoes and Scrabble Letters
You might recall our exciting find: a collection of red dominoes and vintage Scrabble letters spelling “love” from Uncommon Objects, a unique secondhand store in Austin (a treasure hunt we chronicled here). When I discovered them, I instantly envisioned them as meaningful art for Clara’s big girl room. Their colors perfectly echoed the existing palette, and I knew they held the potential for easy yet profoundly sentimental decor. The dominoes are arranged to display doubles of 1, 4, and 3. This isn’t random; “143” is a classic pager code for “I love you,” where each number represents the count of letters in each word. Above this heartfelt numerical message, the Scrabble letters spell out “LOVE,” emphasizing the message and serving as a constant reminder of the boundless affection we have for our little “bean.” It’s a subtle, unique piece that tells a beautiful story.
Framing with Flair: Upcycling an IKEA Frame
When it came to actually framing this special piece, our first thought was to use what we already had. We grabbed an old IKEA frame from our stash (yes, we always seem to have a stack of unused frames!) and removed the glass insert. This was our budget-friendly alternative to purchasing a new shadowbox. We firmly believe that not everything needs to be perfectly enclosed; sometimes a glass-less frame allows the art to breathe and feel more approachable. This approach perfectly aligns with our philosophy of utilizing existing resources and being resourceful, proving that beautiful decor doesn’t always require new purchases.
A Heartwarming Collaboration: Clara’s Personalized Name Plaque
Another delightful project that added a personal touch to the room was one I shared with Clara herself. We created a custom wooden wall plaque with her name, which now hangs proudly above the framed Peruvian poncho, itself positioned above her play kitchen. This beautiful plaque was a homemade gift from an insanely talented and generous reader we met at one of our signings—how incredible is that?!
When I asked Clara what colors she wanted for it, her immediate answer of red came as no surprise, given that red and pink have been her absolute favorites for quite some time. So, we enthusiastically brought out some red craft paint. We had a grand old time painting it together; I primarily assisted with the harder-to-reach corners and smoothed out the strokes, while she joyfully covered everything else. The project only took about fifteen minutes and, to my astonishment, just a single coat of paint. Yet, Clara talked about our little art session for the rest of the day, highlighting how much she cherished the collaborative experience.
This heartwarming project reinforced our desire to engage in more crafts together. It was a wonderful opportunity to simply focus on something fun with her, and I absolutely adore watching her confidently wield a paintbrush. These moments of shared creativity are truly invaluable.
Evolving Play Zones: A Room Designed for Growth
It’s incredibly rewarding to witness how Clara’s big girl room has evolved into a dynamic space offering a multitude of activities as she grows. From her dedicated play-kitchen corner, where culinary adventures unfold, to the fun games and toys neatly stored in her closet, every element is designed to foster imagination and development.
The recently added toy and book baskets further enhance the room’s play potential, keeping her favorite items organized and accessible. Additionally, the strategically placed hooks on the wall provide a practical and decorative spot for her hair clips, headbands, and necklaces, encouraging a sense of order and personal care.
The Daybed: A Hub for Imagination and Rest
Despite all these exciting new features, one of Clara’s absolute favorite activities remains “fake-sleeping” in her big girl bed. It’s the cutest thing imaginable, complete with convincing fake snoring—a performance that truly needs to be witnessed firsthand! This endearing ritual highlights how even simple elements of a room can spark boundless imagination in a child. The daybed isn’t just a place to sleep; it’s a stage for her creative play, a comfortable spot that invites both rest and imaginative adventures.
Clara’s Charming Tea Party Nook
And how could I possibly overlook her other beloved spot: her charming little tea-party table? This is a constant hub of activity, always occupied by a rotating cast of dolls, stuffed animals, or even an impromptu meeting of a dozen tiny plastic creatures. The vibrant pop of color from the red chair-backs adds a lively touch, though I doubt the various stuffed and plastic attendees notice. It’s a testament to the power of imaginative play that this small nook consistently buzzes with life and creativity.
Today, it appears Clara’s adorable penguin, dressed as a chihuahua (more on this lovable character here), is enjoying a rather unconventional yet “nutritional” breakfast of eggs, cookies, and ketchup. You know, the usual gourmet spread for a discerning toy. This little scene perfectly encapsulates the joy and whimsical spirit that permeates Clara’s room.
Regarding the navy sheets, they look absolutely delightful paired with the heart-shaped pillow (a sweet Joss & Main find from a while back). Clara also continues to be captivated by her birdcages, especially the cool shadows they cast at night. We’re so pleased we chose these unique 3D objects to fill that bare wall space instead of opting for more traditional framed art. They add a whimsical dimension and sense of wonder. For now, we’re holding off on adding fun toys, faux birds, or butterflies inside them, as we need to ensure she doesn’t try to scale the wall like a monkey. So far, so good on that front—haha!
Whimsical Wall Decor: Beyond Traditional Art
Speaking of non-framed art, we’ve all been thoroughly enjoying the flash card shelves positioned above the dresser. As you can likely tell, we’ve swapped out some of the original flash cards for a rotating display of other fun and intriguing objects that Clara loves to examine. With a bounty of flash cards readily available in her toy basket for hands-on play, these shelves offer a perfect elevated spot for more “delicate things.” This includes metallic prints of a rhino and an aardvark that we discovered at a local art fair, alongside a few cool pop-art Clara prints generously gifted by a reader named Jenna during one of our tour stops. Looking ahead, I’m eager to incorporate some of Clara’s very own artwork into this evolving display, making it even more personal and reflective of her burgeoning creativity.
Curated Play: Thoughtful Toy Display and Organization
We’ve also carefully curated a few more of Clara’s favorite toys from her nursery, bringing them into her big girl room. These include her charming wooden stacking tree and her beloved lettered blocks. A clever addition to her desk is a lightweight metal red bowl (originally white from IKEA, which I spray-painted for a pop of color). I particularly love that it’s unbreakable, unlike a ceramic alternative, making it perfectly suited for bringing the blocks down to the floor for play sessions. Interestingly, sometimes not having all her toys strewn across the floor makes them even more enticing to her, prompting more focused and deliberate play.
The Journey Continues: What’s Next for Clara’s Room?
So there you have it: a delightful collection of updates that have brought Clara’s room closer to completion. From custom-painted baskets and a collaborative name plaque to fresh new sheets and homemade domino art, combined with an influx of engaging toys, games, and books, the room is genuinely starting to feel like a cohesive, lived-in space rather than a “room in progress.” It’s incredibly satisfying to see these pieces fall into place, creating a truly special environment for Clara. While we’ve made significant strides, a few final tasks remain on our trusty to-do list:
paint the room(discover the transformation here)cut down our old den side table to make a play table(see the DIY here)bring in a dresser (we’d love to find something secondhand)(our dresser hunt here)make/hang some curtains(get the details on Clara’s curtains here)add a rug(the story of rolling out the pink carpet)make a frame collage full of animals Clara loves, and even some Clara art(more on that here)paint the backs of the chairs along with her play table(the chalking it up process here)hang our postcard ledges and fill them with favorite flashcards(living on the ledge)install a new light fixture(choosing the perfect shade)hang a few 3D objects that we have in mind for wall decor (how’s that for cryptic?)(putting a birdcage on it)turn the junked up closet into an actual clothes closet/reading nook(a quick closet changeout)get a new set of sheets for the daybed (most likely in navy) along with a cushy mattress padadd accessories like more toys, storage bins, personalized art, etc- refinish or paint Clara’s new dresser (which we found here)
- add crown molding (along with tackling the other un-crown-molding-ed bedrooms on this side of the house)
- paint the closet and the ceiling a fun color (perhaps a soft coral or a calming blue?)
Celebrating the Transformation: A Room Filled with Love
We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed following the daily evolution of this room over the past month or two, much like we chronicled the creation of Clara’s nursery back in the day. Ah, the memories! As much as I adored her little nursery in our first house—it was always my favorite place to be—I honestly think her big girl room in our current home has captured my heart even more. It’s reassuring to know that the excitement of decorating children’s rooms isn’t just a “first-love” phenomenon; I genuinely thought I might never feel the same level of enthusiasm again. Turns out, it’s a joyful adventure every single time! Haha!
What creative projects were you all tackling this past weekend? Anyone else elbow-deep in board and batten installations? We absolutely cannot wait to share the full, glorious reveal on Wednesday!