Cloud Mural Painting Ideas and Instructions for the Baby's Nursery Wall and Ceiling

Updated December 20, 2025 by Jan of Unique Baby Gear Ideas

A cloud mural on the wall or ceiling of the baby’s nursery is a beautiful way to create a light, open feeling, even in a small room. A painted sky filled with soft, fluffy clouds can visually lift the space and make the nursery feel calmer and more spacious.

Why Cloud Murals Work So Well in a Baby’s Nursery

A hand-painted sky can soften the whole mood of a nursery in a way that wallpaper rarely does. Cloud murals feel light, airy, and gentle, and they tend to “lift” the room visually—especially when the clouds continue up onto the ceiling. If you’re browsing inspiration and want a wider mix of styles beyond clouds, you can also explore the full collection of cloud mural and nursery mural ideas.

If your room is small, a cloud mural is one of those rare décor choices that can make the space feel more open without adding visual clutter. And if your nursery already has a theme—woodland, vintage storybook, classic Pooh, or even sports—you can still weave clouds into the background so the mural supports the theme instead of competing with it.

Are Cloud Murals Easy for Beginners to Paint?

Many parents are surprised to learn that a basic cloud mural can be a very approachable first painting project because clouds are naturally soft and imperfect. The goal is not crisp edges or perfect symmetry—the charm is in the hand-painted look. If you want to see how clouds appear in real nurseries (not staged showroom sets), the nursery photo galleries are a helpful place to compare different styles.

Why Simple Cloud Shapes Are Beginner-Friendly

Clouds are forgiving because you build them in layers: a soft background color, then lighter cloud shapes, then gentle blending to soften edges. A sea sponge (or a soft rag) helps create a natural, fluffy texture without needing advanced brush skills. If you’re painting in a baby’s room—especially in an older home—many parents also like to read up on basic paint safety and lead guidance before starting; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has clear information on lead in paint requirements and safety guidance.

How to Paint a Cloud Mural on the Wall or Ceiling

A simple way to plan your cloud mural is to start with the sky color first, then add clouds in clusters rather than spacing them perfectly across the whole surface. Most murals look more natural when clouds vary in size and density—some areas fuller, some areas open—like a real sky. If you’re painting a ceiling, working in small sections helps you keep edges soft before paint begins to dry.

Watch a quick cloud mural demo

This short demo shows the basic process and the “soft edge” technique that makes clouds look airy rather than like hard white blobs.

Step-by-Step: How to Paint a Cloud Mural in a Baby’s Nursery

Supplies You’ll Need

To paint a simple cloud mural, most parents use interior wall paint in a soft sky color, white paint for the clouds, a glazing medium (optional), a sea sponge or soft rag, painter’s tape, and basic rollers or brushes. Choosing low-VOC interior paint is a common preference for nursery projects.

Step 1: Paint the Sky Background

Begin by painting the wall or ceiling your chosen sky color and allow it to dry completely. Lighter blues tend to keep the room feeling open, especially in smaller nurseries or on ceilings.

Step 2: Lightly Map Cloud Placement

Before adding paint, step back and visualize where cloud clusters will look most natural. Many murals look best when clouds are grouped loosely rather than evenly spaced across the entire surface.

Step 3: Create Soft Cloud Shapes

Dip a damp sea sponge or cloth into white paint (or white mixed with glaze) and gently dab cloud shapes onto the wall. Use a light touch and build the clouds gradually to keep edges soft.

Step 4: Blend and Soften Edges

While the paint is still slightly wet, soften the edges by lightly dabbing around each cloud. Avoid hard outlines—clouds look most natural when their edges fade gently into the background.

Step 5: Let the Mural Dry and Assess

Allow the mural to dry fully before deciding if you want to add more clouds or adjust spacing. Many parents find that less is more, especially in a calming nursery space.

A beginner-friendly approach many DIYers use is mixing a small amount of white paint with a glazing medium (or using a lightly thinned white) so each layer stays soft. Start with a few cloud clusters, step back, and adjust spacing as you go. If you’re painting in a nursery, ventilate well, keep supplies out of reach, and allow extra cure time before moving furniture back into place.

Real Nursery Examples with Painted Clouds

Seeing clouds used in different themes makes it much easier to decide what fits your room. Below are real nursery examples that show how clouds can be simple and sweet—or part of a larger mural scene.

A garden-themed nursery can look extra whimsical when clouds float above the scene—especially when the mural includes a border (like a fence or trellis) to visually “ground” the artwork. See the full nursery here: garden nursery wall mural with painted clouds.

Clouds also work beautifully in themed nurseries because they soften busy murals. In this safari example, the clouds keep the top of the mural light so the animals and trees don’t feel too heavy. Full feature: jungle safari nursery wall painting with clouds.

If you want a more immersive look, you can extend cloud shapes up toward the ceiling line so the mural feels like it wraps the room. This example shows how clouds can add “air” around a focal character. See the mural: giraffe nursery mural with painted clouds.

Ceiling clouds are a gorgeous option when you want the nursery to feel dreamy and storybook-like. If you love classic themes, this is a lovely example of clouds used overhead without making the room feel busy. Full feature: Winnie the Pooh nursery with a painted cloud ceiling.

Clouds can be adapted to almost any nursery style because they’re essentially a soft background layer. This example shows how clouds can stay subtle and still add a special “sky” feeling to the room. See the nursery: painted clouds on the ceiling for a nursery theme.

If your nursery theme is playful, clouds can be a flexible background that supports bolder colors and whimsical elements. Full feature: cloud mural in a baby Seuss nursery.

Even themed nurseries like sports rooms can look calmer when the ceiling is softened with a sky effect. Clouds can balance stronger colors and keep the room from feeling too “busy” at bedtime. Full feature: sports nursery with painted clouds on the ceiling.

Cloud Murals on Nursery Walls vs Ceilings

If you’re deciding between a wall mural and a ceiling mural, think about what you want the clouds to do for the room. A wall cloud mural is often the simplest starting point because you can stand back and adjust the spacing as you go. A ceiling mural can feel magical and immersive, but it’s physically more demanding and works best when you can take your time.

When a Wall Cloud Mural Makes the Most Sense

Choose the wall when you want a soft focal point behind a crib, a reading corner, or a changing area. Clouds also look lovely on an accent wall paired with simple wall décor—framed art, a name sign, or a mobile. If you’re also refreshing the nursery’s overall look, you may like these nursery wall décor ideas for coordinating the mural with the rest of the room.

When Painting Clouds on the Ceiling Works Best

Ceiling clouds are a great option when the room has good natural light or when you want the nursery to feel like a “sky” above baby’s crib. If you’re painting on the ceiling, many parents prefer a lighter blue than they’d use on a wall, because the ceiling color reflects more light into the room. Soft, layered clouds usually look more natural than evenly spaced, identical shapes.

Painted Cloud Murals vs Decals, Stencils, and Wallpaper

A hand-painted cloud mural is beautiful, but it isn’t the only way to get the sky look. Decals and stencils can be a smart choice in rentals, in rooms where you need a quicker update, or when you want a clean look without drying time. If you’re already enjoying DIY projects around the nursery, you may also like the ideas in DIY nursery décor projects.

When to Choose a Hand-Painted Cloud Mural

Choose paint when you want a one-of-a-kind finish that blends into your wall color and has that soft, hand-done charm. Painted clouds can be scaled to fit any room size, and you can keep them minimal or build them into a full mural scene.

When Cloud Decals or Stencils Are a Better Fit

Decals and stencils are a practical choice when you want the cloud look but need less mess, less prep, and easy removal later. They’re also a great option if you want consistent shapes or if you’re adding clouds to just one small area.

Cloud decals are a quick way to soften a wall, especially above a crib or changing table.

Stencils can give you a painted look with more control over shape and spacing.

Choosing Colors for a Nursery Cloud Mural

The classic cloud mural palette is soft blue with white clouds, but you can adapt it to your nursery style. A pale “sky” shade feels gentle and open, while a more muted gray-blue can look especially calm in a vintage or neutral room. If you’re working with a themed nursery, it can help to pull one color from bedding or wall décor and echo it subtly in the mural’s background.

Soft Blue and White for a Classic Sky Look

Soft blue and white is timeless and instantly reads as “sky,” even with the simplest cloud shapes. If you’re worried about the mural feeling too bold, choose a lighter sky shade and keep clouds more spaced out near the ceiling line.

Neutral and Gray-Toned Cloud Murals

Gray-toned clouds on a creamy or very pale background can look beautiful in a gender-neutral nursery, especially when paired with natural textures like baskets, wood furniture, and soft linen bedding.

Adding Subtle Color Without Overstimulating the Room

If you want a hint of personality, consider a soft blush at “sunrise,” a whisper of warm beige, or a barely-there lavender haze—kept subtle so the mural still reads as calm and restful.

Creative Cloud Mural Ideas for Baby Nurseries

Once you have the basic cloud technique, you can get creative in ways that still feel soft and nursery-appropriate. Some parents add a gentle rainbow, tiny stars, or a few simple silhouettes (birds, balloons, or treetops) so the mural ties into a theme. Others keep clouds purely atmospheric and use wall art or mobiles as the focal point instead.

If you’re collecting more décor inspiration for the rest of the room—especially for wall styling around the mural—these nursery wall décor ideas can help you coordinate the mural with framed art, shelves, and lighting without overcrowding the space.

Cloud Mural Alternatives for Busy Parents

If painting isn’t realistic right now, decals, stencils, and wallpaper panels can still give you that soft sky effect—often in an afternoon. Many parents choose decals above a crib or along the top border of a wall, then keep the rest of the room calm with layered textiles (throws, pillows, and rugs) and warm lighting. The best choice is the one that fits your schedule and still makes the nursery feel like a peaceful place to land at the end of the day.

When you’re ready for more real-life inspiration, you can always return to the baby nursery picture galleries to compare mural styles and see what feels right for your space.

Hi, I’m Jan — the creator of Unique Baby Gear Ideas. I love helping expecting parents discover nursery décor inspiration and creative photo shoot ideas that make every stage of pregnancy feel beautiful.

Over the years, I’ve helped thousands of parents choose safe, stylish nursery furniture through hands-on reviews and real-world testing.

The suggestions I share here come from years of hands-on experience styling nurseries, reviewing maternity gowns, and learning what makes each photo session shine.

All articles and images on Unique Baby Gear Ideas are personally reviewed and edited by Jan Bay. Modern creative tools may assist with design or drafting, but every final page reflects my own voice, experience, and editorial judgment.