Designing a nursery for twins comes with double the joy — and double the design decisions. My husband and I knew we wanted a space that felt calm and serene, yet whimsical and imaginative. Something that celebrated childhood magic while also tying back to our love of art and Paris.

We had a few ideas, but when we found out it was twins…and both a boy and a girl, we were suddenly stumped. Most of our ideas either felt too feminine or too masculine, and now we had to find a balance between the two.

After toying with a handful of ideas, one night it suddenly clicked: Monet’s Water Lilies. It felt like the perfect blend of color, light, and softness — a world where our babies could dream and grow surrounded by beauty.

 

The Inspiration: Paris and Monet’s Water Lilies

As an art history major who lived in Paris, the Orangerie Museum has always been a touchstone for me. Monet painted more than 250 versions of his Water Lilies, and at the Orangerie, they envelop you on every wall in two oval-shaped rooms.

The idea of immersing our twins in that same imaginative, dreamlike world felt right (it’s also apt that my profile photo on Facebook has been me looking at the Water Lilies for the last 6 or so years). 

Our first thought was to cover every wall of the nursery, Orangerie-style, in Monet wallpaper. But when we got the quote, reality (and closet doors) set in.

Side note: Did you know that when purchasing wallpaper, you have to measure out the entirety of the space — including sliding doors, closet doors, and windows where the wallpaper will be cut out from. I *get* it, but it seems so wasteful.

So instead, we created giant murals using wallpaper from Rebel Walls and framed them in gold. We built the frames ourselves with railing from Lowe’s and painted them gold for a museum-like aesthetic, and the works of art feel very intentional and grand.

Most people who come into the nursery are amazed to learn it’s wallpaper and thought we actually painted murals on the wall.

DIYing The Walls

To balance the drama of the murals, we added pre-made wainscoting from Lowe’s along the bottom half of the walls, patched, and finished them with chair rail. Then came paint: a soothing mint tone (Green Trellis) paired with crisp Night Blooming Jasmine white.

Together, the palette nods to both Monet’s gardens and the lightness of Parisian interiors.

Nursery DIY Items:

• Wainscoting available here
• Green Paint
• White Paint
• Gold Spray Paint
• Framing for Paintings

Anchoring the Space: The Furniture

For the essentials, we mixed practical new pieces with family heirlooms.

Changing Table + Dresser

• Graco Teddi 6-Drawer Dresser – Classic, functional, and roomy enough for twin essentials.
• Rocking Chair — another family heirloom passed down.
• Twin Arm Gooseneck Floor Lamp with Natural Raffia
• Mustela Liniment for changing (French diaper cream)
• Peanut Changing Mat

Cribs

• Sage Green Crib Sheets — we got these from Babylist via our registry, but these are similar.
• Rosy Pink Crib Sheets
• Crib Mattress
• Namesake Emma Regency 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs – Elegant with subtle French flair, and practical since they’ll transition as the babies grow.

Personalized Blankets

• Personalized Girl’s Baby Name Blanket in Pointelle
• Personalized Boy’s Baby Name Blanket in Pointelle

Playtime & Imagination Corners

We wanted to surround them with things that sparked their creativity and play from day one. Some favorite details:

• Bow Mirror: Vintage – family heirloom; similar here
• Playmats – We rotate between the Lovevery Play Gym and the Lorena Canals Water Lily Organic Play Mat (a sweet echo of Monet’s lilies).
• Bookshelf – A secondhand find we painted (pro tip: prime before painting — little hands and books will peel if you don’t!). It’s filled with French children’s books, kid classics, and of course, a few art books.
• Toys & Books We Love:
  • Bambino Block Trolley
  • Children’s Book of Art
  • What Is Color? The Global and Sometimes Gross Story of Pigments
  • Suki Stacking Tower
  • Alphabet Puzzle
  • Sophie the Giraffe (a French classic!)
  • Valentine Koala, Mon Cheri Dog
  • Colette the Duck
  • Gradient Dominoes from The Getty Museum Shop
  • Bernard Bear by Mon Ami
  • Pink Retro Phone
  • The Met Claude Monet: He Saw the World in Brilliant Light

Handmade Magic: The Frog Mobiles

One of the most sentimental touches hangs above the cribs: two hand-stitched frog mobiles, made by my mom. Inspired by the lily pads in Monet’s paintings, they float gently, a reminder of love stitched into every detail.

This kind of personal, handmade layer makes a nursery feel truly one-of-a-kind.

Designing for Twins: Function Meets Flow

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out crib placement. Our initial plan didn’t work once we accounted for door swings and the armoire. After a few trial runs, we found a layout that allowed both symmetry and flow.

For twin parents, functionality is just as important as beauty — think ample storage, thoughtful circulation, and double-duty furniture. That balance makes the room feel both magical and livable.

Vintage Armoire – Passed down in our family, we reimagined it with added bars so it doubles as a mini boutique-style closet.

Making an Impression(ism)

Monet’s Water Lilies aren’t just beautiful — they’re immersive. He painted them later in life while his eyesight was failing, yet they glow with light and endless depth. They invite the viewer into imagination, serenity, and wonder.

That’s exactly the feeling we wanted for our twins: a space that grows with them, where they can nap, play, and dream surrounded by art. It’s not about creating a “perfect” nursery; it’s about infusing everyday moments with inspiration.

Designing this nursery wasn’t just about furniture and paint — it was about layering art, history, and family into a space where our babies can grow. From the gold-framed murals to my mom’s handmade mobiles, every choice has meaning.

Just like Monet’s brushstrokes blurred into gardens of color, our nursery is a blend of past and future, art and play, beauty and function. A place where two little lives can bloom.

Want more French baby essentials? See this post!

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