Meet our new nursery closet!
When we brought Arlo home, his first “room” was actually a converted closet in our one-bedroom loft. I still remember walking in a few weeks before his due date and finding that Jeff had transformed the only closet into a tiny space for our son. It was such a special little spot and, at the time, more than enough for us.
Two months after Arlo was born we bought our first house, and now, as we prepare for our second adoption, things look very different. We’re lucky to have an entire room for this next little one—surprisingly, it’s the biggest room in the house. With a newborn and a toddler coming soon, we’ve been trying to tackle as many projects as possible while we still have time. Most of the room remains storage for now, but the closet felt like a manageable project, so we focused on that and are excited to share the full reveal.
The Decor + Design
I’d had a vision for this space since finishing Arlo’s nursery. Instead of the bold, graphic look we used before, I wanted something summery, tropical, and full of sunshine—softer pastels and playful prints felt right. I wasn’t ready to commit to wallpaper for the whole room, but the closet seemed like the perfect place to add a big dose of pattern.
We worked with Chasing Paper and chose a palm pattern designed by Jordan Sondler, applying it to the walls and ceiling. The removable panels are high quality and a great option for renters or anyone who wants a bold, temporary update. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
Here’s where we started:
Sunburst Closet Doors
Inspired by the sunburst front door trend I’ve seen around Los Angeles, I reimagined that motif on our bi-fold closet doors after removing the original mirrored ones. After some deliberation, I painted the sunburst in a bright, cheerful yellow—classic sunshine that instantly lifts the space.
The sunburst treatment is a simple, high-impact makeover for bi-fold doors and gives the entry to the closet a playful, welcoming feel.
Making Kid Closets Functional
Children’s closets function very differently than adult closets, so we designed this one with a child’s needs in mind. Arlo’s original closet had no shelves, which led to items ending up on the floor or stuffed into corners. We also learned that we rarely need as much hanging space as we expect—folding is often more practical for kids’ clothing.
To address that, we focused on adjustable shelving and added extra drawers for overflow storage. We worked with Tailored Living to custom build the layout, and the result gives us versatile, efficient storage that will adapt as our kids grow.
One of my favorite small features is a pull-out valet hook. It’s perfect for prepping an outfit the night before or hanging a diaper bag or backpack while packing for an outing.
We collected baskets and crates to keep blankets, burp cloths, diapers, and wipes organized instead of piled on the floor. Having designated containers makes daily routines smoother and keeps small items easy to find.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
It feels wonderful to have the closet finished ahead of time. I know once life gets busy with two little ones, projects like this will be much harder to complete, so getting it done now is a relief.
Sources
Built-in drawers, hardware, shelves and hanging rod: Tailored Living
Wallpaper: Chasing Paper
Paint color: Dunn Edwards Radiant Sunshine
Pom pom baskets, rattan tray, open weave basket, lidded basket, colorful crates, door handles, bookends, yarn tassels, and small accessories were used to style and organize the closet.