Preparing Your Home for Baby: The Nursery Painting Checklist Every Expecting Mom Needs

There's something about that positive pregnancy test that makes you immediately start mentally redecorating. Suddenly the guest room, or let's be honest, the room that's been collecting Amazon boxes since 2022, has a new destiny, and it involves tiny furniture and the perfect shade of sage green.

But before you start pinning nursery inspo at 2 a.m. (been there), there's a surprising amount of planning that goes into painting a nursery the right way. And by "the right way", I mean safely for you and baby, on a timeline that doesn't leave you panicking at 38 weeks, and with a result that actually looks as good as the Pinterest board promised.

Here's everything I wish someone had told me before I dove in.

Start Earlier Than You Think (Seriously)

The biggest mistake I see moms make, and one I made myself, is waiting too long to start the nursery. First trimester you're exhausted and nauseous. Third trimester you can barely bend over to tie your shoes, let alone tape off baseboards. That sweet spot in the second trimester, somewhere around weeks 20 to 28, is prime time.

Starting early also gives you a buffer. Paint needs time to fully cure and off-gas, even the low-toxicity stuff. Most experts recommend having the room painted and well-ventilated at least two to four weeks before baby arrives. So if your due date is in June, you probably want the painting wrapped up by early May at the latest.

And if you're anything like me, you'll change your mind on the color at least once. Build in time for that too.

Choosing Safe Paint: What Actually Matters

This is the part where the internet can send you into a full spiral. VOCs, zero-VOC, organic, non-toxic, what does it all actually mean?

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals found in traditional paints that release fumes as the paint dries and even for a while after. That strong "new pain" smell? That's VOCs. For a nursery, you want to minimize exposure as much as possible, especially since babies spend a lot of time in their rooms and their little lungs are still developing.

When shopping for nursery paint, go with a zero-VOC or low-VOC formula. Look for GREENGUARD Gold certification, which tests specifically for chemical emissions in indoor environments. Benjamin Moore Natura, Sherwin-Williams Harmony, and Behr Premium Plus are all solid options that are widely available here in Tampa Bay.

A quick heads-up for Florida moms specifically, our humidity can affect drying times pretty dramatically. A paint that says "dry in 4 hours" might take six or seven here, especially in summer. Keep the AC running and consider a dehumidifier in the room while the paint cures. I learned this the hard way when I leaned against what I thought was a dry wall and walked around with a sage green shoulder for the rest of the day.

Pick a Color That Grows With Your Kid

I know the temptation is real to go full themed nursery. And if your heart is set on a blush pink cloud mural or a deep navy accent wall, absolutely go for it. But from a practical standpoint, choosing a versatile base color can save you from repainting again in two or three years when your toddler decides they're "over" bunnies.

Soft neutrals, warm whites, muted greens, and gentle blues are all colors that work beautifully for a newborn and still feel appropriate for a preschooler's room. You can always layer in personality with removable wall decals, art prints, or a fun accent wall that's easier to paint over later.

Color psychology is worth a quick mention too. Cool blues and greens tend to promote calm and better sleep, which, let's be real, is what we're all chasing. Warm yellows can feel cheerful but might be overstimulating in large amounts. That dusty sage or soft lavender you keep seeing everywhere on Instagram? There's a reason it's popular, it's calming without being boring.

My biggest tip: grab a few sample pots and paint large swatches directly on the wall. Look at them at different times of day, because that gorgeous Florida sunlight streaming through your windows at 8 a.m. will make a color look completely different than it does under overhead lighting at 9 p.m. We almost went with a gray that looked perfect in the store but read almost purple in our east-facing nursery. Swatches saved us.

The DIY vs. Hiring a Pro Conversation

Real talk. Painting a nursery yourself can be a wonderful nesting project. There's something deeply satisfying about physically preparing a space for your baby. My husband and I painted our first baby's room together and it's honestly one of my favorite memories from that pregnancy.

But it can also be stressful, physically demanding, and if we're being honest, the results aren't always what you envisioned. Cutting in around trim and ceilings takes a steady hand. Getting even coverage without roller marks takes technique. And doing all of that while pregnant, on a timeline, in Florida heat? It's a lot.

For our second baby, we decided to hire it out. We'd just moved to a new house in South Tampa and the nursery needed a full repaint plus some drywall patching. A friend from my TBMG meetup group recommended Brothers Colors Painting and they had it done in a day. I was honestly a little annoyed at how much better it looked than our DIY job the first time around, but mostly just relieved I didn't have to spend a weekend on a ladder at 26 weeks pregnant.

Whether you DIY or hire someone, no judgment here. Both are completely valid, and both can result in a beautiful room for your little one.

Your Nursery Painting Checklist

Here's a simple checklist to keep you on track. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge, whatever works for your nesting brain.

8 to 12 Weeks Before Due Date:

● Decide on your color palette and pick up sample pots

● Paint large swatches on the wall and check them in morning and evening light

● Choose your paint (zero-VOC or low-VOC from a reputable brand)

● Decide if you're going DIY or hiring a painter

● If hiring, get quotes and book early. Good painters in the Tampa Bay area get booked up fast heading into spring and summer

6 to 8 Weeks Before Due Date:

● Clear the room completely

● Clean walls, patch any holes or imperfections, and sand smooth

● Tape off trim, windows, and ceiling edges

● Paint! Start with primer if needed, then your color coats

● Allow proper drying time between coats and add extra time for our Florida humidity

4 to 6 Weeks Before Due Date:

● Remove tape carefully and touch up any spots

● Ventilate the room thoroughly. Open windows, run a fan, keep the door open

● Let the room air out for at least two weeks before moving furniture in

2 to 4 Weeks Before Due Date:

● Move in furniture, set up the crib, and start decorating

● Do a final sniff test. The room should have zero paint smell

● Take a moment to just stand in the doorway and soak it in. You built this space for your baby. That's pretty amazing.

A Few More Tips From a Mom Who's Been There

Don't skip the primer, especially if you're painting over a dark color or working with new drywall. It makes a noticeable difference in how the final color looks and how many coats you'll need.

If you're going DIY, invest in decent brushes and rollers. Cheap rollers shed little fibers into the paint and leave a texture that no amount of touch-up will fix. I still have a wall in my hallway that haunts me.

For accent walls or patterns, use a level and splurge on quality painter's tape. FrogTape is worth the extra couple of dollars over the generic stuff.

And finally, try not to stress about perfection. Your baby genuinely does not care if the edges are razor sharp. They care that they're warm, fed, and loved. The nursery is as much for you as it is for them, so enjoy the process and give yourself grace.

Happy nesting, mama. You've got this.