Hello! I’ve been doing some updates in my 2 year old son’s room. The funny thing about these updates is that they are things I wanted to do since before he was born! But I figure, better late than never! This week I focused on the wall that his changing table is on.
Here is the before:
There are two projects I most wanted to complete- paint the changing table topper and replace the map with new art. For the changing table, I did grapple with the fact that Don is 2 and will be potty changing soon. But, I figure that if he ever has a younger sibling, I’ll appreciate having it painted. And I’ve hated the wood for so long, might as well have exactly what I want even if it is only for a few months.
inspiration
image via Sarah Richardson
I love how in this nursery the crib and the changing table topper are the same green color. Don’s room is full of mint accents so I decided to paint it mint.
how to paint laminated furniture
supplies
- primer
- paint in your color of choice- I used the mint paint from Don’s crib- Sea Glass by Martha Stewart– get it at Home Depot. They can mix it with Glidden paint
The only issue with painting the topper is that it is laminated furniture. If you just put paint right on it, it will easily scratch off. Here is how to paint laminate so that it will stay.
I started off with spray painting the topper with white primer. Because the laminate is shiny, paint won’t stick. This makes it so the paint sticks and helps you not have to do as many coats of paint.
Once the primer was dry, I gave the topper a few coats of paint in the mint color. I didn’t bother painting the bottom since the changing pad will always cover it.
After letting the paint dry overnight, I re-installed the changing topper (it screws into the back of the dresser).
It was already looking so much better! Now, time for the gallery wall!
how to create a gallery wall
To hang a gallery wall, I like to gather all of my pictures and lay them out on the floor in the same pattern that they will go on the wall. I always choose a starting place or reference point for where the first piece will go. For this wall, it was the monkey picture that will go right over the top of the tower on the rights side.
To make a cohesive wall, I like to use all art from one artist. These pieces are all from displate.com. They are printed on a metal plate and hang with a magnet! Here are the exact pieces I used if you love them too:
These are super easy to hang (which I love!). All you have to do is adhere the magnet to the wall roughly in the center of the picture. So much easier than using a nail!
Once you have your gallery wall laid out how you like it, take a picture so that you can reference it as you hang the art.
Start with your first piece of art that you are hanging with the reference point. I like to work from one side to the other. To hang the pictures, I hold up the piece of art and then place my finger where the nail or, in this case, the magnet will go. I put down the art with my other hand and then put the nail/magnet where my finger was. Basically, if I’m not hanging art in a grid I like to avoid using a measuring tape #lazy.
Keep adding on the pieces of art until you have a complete gallery wall! Reference your picture as you go so that you get the spacing you’d like. What I LOVED about using the magnets is that there is room to move the art a little in all directions. Basically, I really appreciated the flexibility of being able to get the placement of the pictures exactly where I wanted after the magnet was up.
after
I brought Don in after everything was up and he loves the animals on the wall! He did ask me why that monkey was wearing a dress- haha! Aren’t kids so funny?
Visually, this wall is so much lighter than it was before. Getting rid of the black frame and the wood color makes this wall look so much more airy.
I am all about adding whimsy to a space and what could be more whimsical than a bunch of animals dressed up?!
Want one more look at the before and after?
Pretty much, I love how it all came together! Here’s to finishing a project 2 years in the making! Using the art from Displate was awesome and I’d totally suggest them is you want an easy hanging solution. They have tons of options (if adorable animal portraits aren’t your thing) 😉 . I’m hoping that these tips are helpful to you! If you are wanting more posts with tips on gallery walls, I also have a post on how to add interest to a gallery wall. If you want to try out doing a ledge gallery wall, I have a post on styling those too. And lastly, here’s a post on how to do a gallery wall on your stairs.
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This post was sponsored by Displate. All opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Diana Lopes says
Your wall art is so cool! Here I have some watercolor paintings that I painted myself, but they’ve been there forever, I’m thiking of renewing it and this was so inspiring (so thanks for that!). Btw, Don is the cutest!!
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Thanks Diana! I bet your watercolor paintings are beautiful! If you’re sick of them, you should switch them out! You’ll be amazing at what a difference new art can make 🙂