A Pink Nursery with a Playful Twist—and a Small Dining Room Update

From my daughter’s home: a playful bug-themed nursery, the prettiest paint color, a small but meaningful dining room update—and why decorating is my love language.

Hello! I am back from my visit to Maryland.

I missed last Saturday’s blog post because I was otherwise engaged—it was the morning of Poppy’s 3rd birthday party, complete with toddler friends, pink-frosted cupcakes, stuffies in party hats, and a floral necklace-and-earring craft.

After the celebration was over, I shifted into my role as visiting designer and general handy-Mim, and the rest of my visit was focused on “work.”

Our family’s sweet new addition will be arriving in about a month, so I painted the nursery walls, rearranged furniture, hung artwork, a mirror, and a curtain rod, and helped Zoë put together the crib and bookcase.

And as a bonus, I took on a quick little decorating project in the dining room using things they already had on hand. It was an unexpected offshoot of the nursery redesign (I’ll explain…), which made it all the more fun.

Of course, this is all a labor of love for me, so none of it really feels like “work.” Well—except for painting. I appreciate the transformation it makes, but I don’t enjoy the task itself. It is always a messy one for me.

Everything is done now, though, and I’m excited to share it all with you—the prettiest paint color, a fun bug theme, a mix of new and old furniture, and the special grouping we created in the dining room.

Plus, a few thoughts on why home design is really so much more than just a pretty room.

The nursery design all began with a midnight deep dive on Pinterest…

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The Nursery Design

I wrote a bit about Zoë’s home and aesthetic in my last blog post. She has a restrained Scandi style—light woods, tans, and greens, with plentiful houseplants and an amazing wooden bowl collection.

So when Zoë told me she wanted to paint the nursery pink, I was surprised. How to make pink work in their home? I was definitely up for the challenge.

I started as I often do, with a basic Pinterest query—this time, “pink nursery.” The initial results were underwhelming—overly sweet or just plain boring. But I kept searching and eventually landed on an adorable West Elm crib sheet adorned with colorful bugs. I loved their playful look, which I knew would temper the girlishness of the pink walls.

From that sheet, everything started to come together. West Elm had a green-and-pink floral rug and curtains, which introduced a second color—one that would connect this room to the green used throughout the rest of the house.

I refined my search to include “green” and “bugs” and kept pinning into the wee hours. Pinterest is not just a place to save links, but also a visual board to see how things play together. I tend to pin generously, then edit later.

The next morning, I texted Zoë the link to the nursery Pinterest board. I wondered if I had gone down a late-night rabbit (or bug) hole, and whether, in the clear light of day, she would think I was crazy. Fortunately, she and Sam both gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Now to choose the exact shade of pink.

The Prettiest Shade of Pink

Pink walls are having a moment. In fact, dare I say pale pink is the new neutral?

So when Zoë said “pink,” I immediately thought of a warm, whispery blush of a color—a “ballet pink,” fitting, since Zo danced all the way through high school.

Choosing the exact shade, though, proved a bit overwhelming. There might be more pale pinks than there are whites. I finally narrowed it down to three, and together Zoë and I chose Benjamin Moore Tissue Pink—not too saturated and leaning more peach than pink. An old article in House Beautiful, which deemed it “the most flattering color,” sealed the deal.

When it came time to actually start putting paint on the walls, I was a bit nervous. I had never painted a room pink and worried it might be too much. Yes, me—afraid of color. And of course, I wanted Zoë and Sam to love it too.

As I began painting over the existing beige walls, it didn’t look all that different at first—a good sign that the new color wouldn’t be a shock. The more I painted, the more I fell in love.

By the time I had finished, I was trying to figure out where in my own home I could use Tissue Pink. (Alas, nowhere…) It’s one of the prettiest colors—fresh, warm, and calming. While it is perfect in a nursery, it’s not just for kids. It would be lovely in a bedroom, living room, or bathroom. I’ve even seen something similar used in the kitchen, on both walls and cabinets.

If you are looking for a clean but cozy neutral, I highly recommend you check it out.

Let’s pull the space together now!

Pulling It All Together

Zoë took my last day there off from work so we could set everything up together. Seeing the vision become a reality is always my favorite part of the process.

Below is everything that went into the room, along with shopping links.

Furniture

Loveseat: Instead of a traditional glider, we incorporated the Crate and Barrel Willow II 54″ Slipcovered Chair and a Half, originally purchased for Poppy’s nursery in their previous home. It’s a nice petite size, has a slipcover for easy cleaning, and pulls out into a twin bed.

Ottoman: Namesake Crawford gliding ottoman with a green-and-white checked cover. A generously sized piece that pairs well with the chair and a half.

Crib: The same light wood Jenny Lind–style crib that Poppy has in her room—a classic.

Dresser: A vintage pine dresser that I was no longer using. They’ll add a pad on top for diaper changes. I always think it’s nice to incorporate an old piece or two into a nursery for added character.

Bookshelf: A Montessori-style bookshelf from Etsy in natural birch. With books displayed face-out, it encourages little ones to choose their own. This one also includes two storage cubbies on the bottom.

Storage unit: Home Depot Seabrook White 3-Tier Storage Unit with natural baskets (currently on order). It will sit next to the dresser to hold diapers and other supplies.

Decor

Curtains: West Elm Pink Chicken Spring Floral Blackout Curtains. These are on backorder until early June, so I didn’t get to see them in place. They will add a sweet pop of pattern.

Rug: West Elm Flower Garden Washable Rug—a soft green accent with a pretty floral design that plays off the bug theme.

Bedding: Organic Little Garden Bugs crib sheet—the one that started it all. So cute!

Mobile: A gift from me. It was a bit of a splurge, but the detail is beautiful and it fit the theme perfectly. How could this Mim resist?

Wall art: West Elm papier-mâché ladybug wall art, along with downloadable insect prints from Etsy. We had the prints done at Staples, and the simple oak frames are from Amazon.

Quilt: Cutie Crawlies Quilt from Urban Baby Co. Who knew there were so many cute bug-themed things out there?

Mirror: Natural wood scalloped wall mirror from Target. Zoë had originally purchased a vintage wood and bamboo mirror, but I convinced her she needed something a bit more playful. This one fit the bill perfectly. (And don’t worry—the other mirror found a home in the living room, where it looks great.)

Shopping Links

A Quick Little Dining Room Decorating Project

When I was in Maryland for Thanksgiving last year, I helped Zoë and Sam design their dining room. And at Christmas our family enjoyed many meals gathered around their FB Marketplace table, seated on Wayfair chairs. (I shared some photos and shopping links for this space here.)

Zoë was still on the hunt for a sideboard, though—preferably something with a bit of vintage character.

Since I had provided a new dresser for the nursery, she had the idea to move the one it was replacing into the dining room and repurpose it as a sideboard. With its double-wide proportions and rustic modern look, we agreed it was worth a try.

It turned out the perfect sideboard had been sitting in their home all along.

We immediately got to work styling the “new” piece. Zoë had a large lamp with a wooden base that she had picked up with the dining room in mind last fall. It makes a real statement and provides soft ambient light. We moved a couple of houseplants from elsewhere in the house and elevated one on top of a book.

Then I had the idea to create a small drinks grouping. Out came a wicker tray and some special hand-etched glasses they bought while on safari in Kenya for their honeymoon. Sam grabbed a few bottles of liquor. And then, for the perfect finishing touch, Zoë placed a traditional beaded Dawa drink muddler stick in each glass.

In about 30 minutes, using pieces they already had on hand, we created a cozy new focal point—one full of meaning and unique character. Decorating with new pieces is always fun, but sometimes getting creative with what you already have is even more rewarding. And it doesn’t cost a single penny.

Which leads me to a few more thoughts on decorating and home…

So Much More Than a Pretty Room

As I mentioned, Zoë and I spent a day pulling the nursery together. When Sam and Poppy got home that evening, our plan was to do the big reveal. But Poppy was feeling toddlerish, and Zoë thought it might be better to wait.

When she wandered into “baby sister’s” room as I was making a few final adjustments, though, her mood immediately shifted. She engaged with everything we had done—telling us what she did and didn’t like, and bringing in a few things from her own room to add to the decorations. Sam came up, and the three of them snuggled together on the loveseat, talking about the coming addition to their family.

As I stood there watching them, I couldn’t help but think about what this room—and the items so carefully chosen—will really come to mean. Pale pink walls to calm and brighten spirits after long, sleepless nights. A comfortable seat for dozing, reading, or quiet conversations. Playful bugs and bright colors to bring delight. A soft rug for floor play. Books within easy reach of small hands to spark a growing mind.

Yes, I love a space that is visually pleasing, but decorating is so much more than that. It’s about creating spaces that support people in good times and in hard ones—but mostly in the everyday. Each object chosen with care. Decorating truly is my love language.

This Week Into Next

It was full-on spring in Maryland. The trees were leafing out, flowers in full bloom, and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Delightful!

And then, of course, I returned to typical April weather here on the Maine coast—chilly, in the low 40s, gray, and still very brown. Needless to say, it was a bit of a letdown.

But the next morning, when I looked a little more closely, I noticed the field had started to turn green and a few early spring blooms had broken ground.

Today, while I was out and about, I picked up a small pot of miniature daffodils and replanted them in a small vintage blue-and-white tureen. They bring a bit of spring cheer to the coffee table.

I’m getting ready to head out again—Minnesota next week for Mira’s first birthday. So I have another birthday crown to sew, this one in a sweet strawberry print. Poppy once again opted not to wear hers, even though I chose a shimmery pink-and-purple fabric and let her decorate it with big jewels. Ah well. Toddlers will be toddlers, and Poppy certainly knows her mind.

One last thing before I sign off for the week: Libby Cameron’s book Notes From a Decorator’s Life arrived, and I can’t wait to dig into it. Her coastal Maine home was a huge inspiration when I was imagining how I wanted my own to look and feel. If you love classic New England style, it would be a wonderful addition to your library.

I’ll be joining you next week from St. Paul. Until then, be well.