This girls bedroom wallpaper makeover began with two simple requests: pink walls and butterflies. The room had not been updated since the family moved in, so the project focused on creating a personal space for Olivia before work began on a new nursery. Soft color, a patterned feature wall and a few practical changes gave the bedroom a fresh start, while several furnishings and finishing touches remain on the to-do list.
Planning a girls bedroom wallpaper makeover
Olivia was away visiting family during spring break, giving the family several days to paint and install wallpaper. The goal was to make her room feel special and ready for her transition into becoming a big sister. Her two design requests—pink and butterflies—provided a clear starting point for choosing colors and a wallpaper pattern.
When planning a child’s room, it can help to begin with the elements the child cares about most, then balance them with finishes that can work as their tastes change. In this case, the butterfly design was chosen with the intention of keeping the room appealing as Olivia gets older.
Pink paint and a butterfly feature wall
The walls were painted Behr My Sweetheart, a light blush pink. Benjamin Moore Simply White was used on the trim, below the chair rail and on the ceiling. The trim and area below the chair rail were painted in semigloss, while the ceiling finish is flat. Picture-frame molding below the chair rail is planned for a future update.
The butterfly wallpaper was installed on one wall, above the chair rail. Limiting wallpaper to a feature area can make a bold pattern feel balanced and keeps the project more manageable than covering every wall. Before hanging wallpaper, measure the wall carefully and check the pattern repeat so you can estimate how much material is needed and align the design across drops.
The wallpaper pattern was selected to suit the room beyond the early childhood years. Using a single feature wall also leaves the other painted walls relatively simple, making it easier to change bedding, artwork or accessories later without reworking the whole room.
Flooring, doors and window shades
The door was painted Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, continuing the home’s dark-door look. Changing the doorknobs to bronze or glass is still under consideration, so that detail has not yet been finalized.
The old rug was removed, revealing hardwood flooring underneath. A smaller, soft rug is planned to make the area beside the bed more comfortable, particularly on cold mornings. When choosing a rug for a bedroom, consider its placement, size and how securely it sits on the floor.
Clearing out items that had been stored in the room made the opposite side feel more open. A dresser found secondhand is also due for a makeover, while warm bamboo shades have replaced the previous blinds. These updates add useful function without taking attention away from the wallpaper.
What is still on the bedroom checklist?
The room is partway through its update. The mattress and box spring are temporarily on the floor while a replacement bed is awaited; the previous bed had been bought secondhand and painted three years earlier. The remaining plans include furniture, lighting, textiles and wall decor.
Keeping a written checklist can make a room project easier to manage. It also helps separate completed work from items that depend on deliveries or later decisions.
- Paint walls Behr My Sweetheart in eggshell
- Paint trim and below the chair rail Benjamin Moore Simply White in semigloss
- Paint ceiling Benjamin Moore Simply White in flat
- Paint doors Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron in semigloss
- Hang wallpaper
- Hang bamboo shades
- Rip up old rug
- Move in new bed
- Move in nightstands
- Get a new textured rug
- Hang curtains
- Replace light fixture
- Paint dresser
- Consider hanging a ballet barre with a mirror
- Find wall art
- Find new bedding
Finishing the room over time
With the paint, wallpaper, shades and floor already addressed, the next steps are to bring in the new bed and nightstands, then add the rug, curtains, light fixture and decor. Completing a room in stages can make it easier to check how each piece works in the space before choosing the next one.
This girls bedroom wallpaper makeover combines Olivia’s requested pink and butterflies with practical updates that can evolve as her needs change. The feature wall establishes the room’s personality, while the remaining checklist leaves room to finish the space at a comfortable pace.
