Creating a Cozy, Jungle-Inspired Room for My Kids

Hi Friends,

My middle daughter finally outgrew her crib— there were some mixed feelings — sadness that she’s growing up and happiness to see who she’s becoming. The room was originally designed for my oldest when we moved in, but it no longer fits her personality, and definitely not her sister’s. Since they both love animals, we decided on a jungle theme! I found some really cute quilts from Crate & Kids that inspired the whole design.

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I purchased her bed frame from Ikea to match her sister’s and painted it with leftover Melange Paints (+ the stain blocking primer). It’s held up wonderfully on her older sister’s bed for the past three years, so I knew it would be perfect here too.

Next, I painted their ceiling a dark green (Essex by Benjamin Moore, Gildan version) in eggshell. It took two coats, and an edger worked beautifully for the borders—no drips, no unevenness, and I didn’t even need tape!

I did a little finishing work next: filling holes, repairing drywall, and caulking the trim (whoops, I never did that when we moved in!). These small touches give a polished, finished look that makes such a difference.

For the walls, I went with Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams (Behr version). It took about three coats over the old pink scallops, but just one coat over the previous white. To make the ceilings feel taller, I extended the dark green down about six inches onto the walls. I measured from the ceiling (not the floor!), drew a level line, taped it off, and did a light coat of white first. Two coats of Essex green followed—any spots that bled were easily touched up with a small kid’s paint brush.

Finally, I added a rug, curtains, and butterflies (the highlight of the room!) to give it more depth, texture, and coziness. (Amazon list here) Seeing the girls’ faces light up as they explored their new space made all the painting, taping, and touch-ups worth it—even the neck pain from looking up at that ceiling!

This makeover isn’t just about decorating; it’s about creating a space that grows with them, reflects who they are, and reminds them every day to explore, imagine, and care for the world around them.

Keep growing, caring, and spreading kindness,

-Sydnie