First Nursery Mural
Meaningful design doesn’t have to scream to make an impact
Murals are funny because people often immediately picture giant statement pieces. Bold colors. Dramatic walls. Dynamic movement. Something loud and engaging enough to stop you in your tracks. But (and maybe this is the introvert in me) some of my favorite projects are actually the quieter ones.
My first ever nursery mural was designed back in 2022/2023 for my niece (and in-laws) who wanted the room to feel soft, peaceful, playful, and deeply personal; something that could evolve alongside this sweet girl as she grew from nursery years into childhood and beyond. Instead of creating one large focal mural, we leaned into something that almost felt like painted wallpaper: tiny hand-painted florals that felt whimsical, timeless, and intentionally subtle. What can I say? She’s very demure, lol.
What Cusotm Actually Looks Like
One thing I’ve realized over the years is that people are often surprised by how different my projects look from one another. And well, that’s intentional. In every type of art I engage with (whether that’s digital, physical, or through dance) I’ve never wanted to become the artist who creates the exact same aesthetic over and over again just because it’s recognizable or trendy. Through my personal experience, genuinely, the most meaningful projects happen when the design grows out of the people living with it. The most magic happens at the intersection of collaboration, because yes, I’m the expert in my craft, but you are the expert in your life.
For this project, the goal wasn’t a trendy nursery mural that would feel dated in two years. It was about creating an environment that felt joyful, gentle, and imaginative. Something that could grow with their daughter instead of being outgrown by her. So I’ll say it again, this is why collaboration matters so much to my process. I’m not walking into spaces trying to leave my fingerprint (foreshadowing alert), everywhere. I’m trying to help people uncover what already feels like them; help them make their own meaningful marks.
Building the Visual Direction
From the beginning, we kept coming back to words and phrases like:
flower field
peaceful
dreamy
playful
whimsical
soft joy
storybook charm
The final direction became a balance of all of those things. The florals are intentionally imperfect and hand-drawn. The use of bolder colors in smaller shapes on a white background gives the room breathing room. The color palette stays cheerful without overwhelming the space. The overall effect almost feels like a page from a children’s book or fabric pattern translated directly onto the wall. And because each floral was hand-painted individually, the mural naturally carries movement and variation that wallpaper simply can’t replicate. (Plus, we loved the half-finished effect of layered paint, another detail that’s difficult to replicate).
An Unexpected Meaningful Moment
Ironically, one of my favorite details from this mural wasn’t even part of the original design plan. During one of the painting days, my niece came by to visit. While I was working, Mom and I started joking about whether the baby’s handprint should somehow make its way into the mural. The joke slowly turned into a real idea.
We tossed around a few options, including creating a “growing wall” where future handprints could be added over time — but ultimately landed on something much softer and more integrated into the overall design. Hidden within the florals is a tiny handprint detail worked subtly into the mural itself. And honestly? I think that’s the kind of thing that makes collaborative artwork so special. Not because it’s perfect. Not because it was planned. But because it became part of the story. (Plus, I’m pretty sure it technically counts as my niece’s first painting, and the fact I got to facilitate it means more than words!)
Why Meaningful Design Matters
I think people sometimes underestimate how much our environments affect us. Especially in spaces like nurseries, where life is about to completely change. This mural wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about creating a room that felt comforting during 3:00 AM feedings, playful during the toddler years, peaceful during quiet moments, and filled with enough personality and softness to grow alongside the family living in it.
That’s the kind of work I always want to create. Work that feels personal. Work that feels lived in. Work that means something long after the paint dries.
In Closing
I think people sometimes underestimate how much our environments affect us. Especially in spaces like nurseries, where life is about to completely change. This mural wasn’t just about aesthetics. It was about creating a room that felt comforting during 3:00 AM feedings, playful during the toddler years, peaceful during quiet moments, and filled with enough personality and softness to grow alongside the family living in it.
Sadly, my in-laws are moving, and so the mural will most likely get covered up by the new family moving in. I’ll forever cherish it and credit it as the mural that really made me believe I could add this service to my business legitimately. It’s not lost on me how rare it is to feel so connected to your partner's family, and the fact that I have one who believes in me more than I do sometimes is something I’ll be forever grateful for.
This is the kind of work I always want to create.
Work that feels personal.
Work that feels lived in.
Work that means something long after the paint dries.
With Gratitude,
