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Choosing a color for your nursery is a big deal. After all, this is a space you and your baby are about to spend a lot of time in! No matter what your personal style is, you want your child’s nursery to be a warm, comfortable environment for your growing family.
But where do you start? Pinterest and Instagram have proven there are endless nursery color schemes to choose from, and while it’s fun to look at totally outrageous, over-the-top nurseries, that’s not reality for most parents.
If you ask us, the best place to start is by choosing a color. Find a color that speaks to you and go from there. From pink to black and everything in between, here are nine nursery inspirations by color to help you get started.
Gender-neutral nursery colors
Gender-neutral nurseries have become increasingly popular through the years. According to Pinterest’s 2020 Top Trends Report, searches for “unisex nurseries” increased 527% from 2019 to 2020. It began with parents who wanted to decorate their nursery before learning the sex of their child at birth, but now many have decided to avoid gender stereotypes altogether. Whatever your reason for deciding on a gender-neutral nursery, you’re certainly not alone!
1. Black and White
For the first three months of a child’s life, they can see very little of the world around them. In fact, “newborns can only focus about eight to 12 inches from their face, and they see only black, white, and gray,” according to Bausch + Lomb.
It’s for this reason that many parents choose to decorate their nursery in a black-and-white theme. It’s simple and chic, and never goes out of style. You can also bring in other themes like Mickey Mouse or zebras, while still remaining true to the black and white look.
2. Yellow
If black and white is not your jam, yellow makes for a great choice when it comes to designing a colorful gender-neutral nursery. Cheerful and energetic, yellow is a genuinely happy color that can feel very comforting. Just be sure to choose a calming, softer hue, as a very bright yellow is said to agitate babies.
3. Green
According to color scientists, green is the most ideal color to paint a nursery (and a light to medium shade is considered very gender-neutral). From mint to sea green to moss and jade, these varying shades of green are thought to take the happiness of yellow and the calming sensation of blue to make for the perfect nursery color.
In addition, the color green “promotes concentration and soothes the mind, but it doesn’t motivate or inspire energy or communication,” Lee Chambers, a psychologist and well-being consultant, said in a survey conducted by Home Edit and reported by The Daily Mail. Meaning, a child will feel comfortable and at ease in a green space but they won’t be distracted at bedtime.
Baby girl nursery colors
If you’re having a baby girl and looking to go a more traditional route than a gender-neutral nursery, the following baby girl nursery colors make for beautiful options.
4. Pink
The color pink is a lovely choice for a nursery, and the most popular for baby girls. A pastel pink is especially calming and creates a delicate, feminine atmosphere for children.
“I chose a beautiful deep pink for my last baby’s nursery because I wanted to create a fun space that was all her own,” Susan W, a mom of three, told Mom.com “My first child was a boy and my second a girl, but they shared a room so I had kept it very gender-neutral. Once we moved to a larger home and had a dedicated nursery, I decided to go all out and really embrace the pink!”
5. Purple
Next to green, purple is another color that is thought to be ideal for a baby’s room. Balancing the intensity of red with the serenity of blue, it’s a beautiful mixture of energy. Not only that, but it’s the color of royalty, making it a great option for your little princess.
6. Rainbow
If you’re looking for a feminine color scheme but don’t want to be too tied down in one direction, a rainbow color scheme could be the way to go. By embracing all the colors of the rainbow, you can create a colorful nursery that’s both stimulating and inspiring. And if the traditional rainbow is not your style, consider a muted rainbow theme, which according to CafeMom, has become an increasingly popular trend.
Nursery colors for boys
For parents looking to create a more traditionally “masculine” space for their baby, you may want to consider the following nursery colors for boys.
7. Blue
When you think of a boy’s room, you tend to think of blue. After all, there’s a reason why the color is called “baby blue!” This classic option for little boys is deeply calming and helps promote a restful sleep for fussy babies. “[The color blue] invokes a sense of the body cooling, which helps when children fall asleep,” explained Chambers. “It's worth being mindful of the tone; too dark can become almost gloomy and uninspiring, but too pale reduces some of the benefits.”
8. Dark Green
While a light green can be very gender neutral, a darker green is more commonly associated with a boy’s nursery. For parents wishing to create a more masculine space that adopts the positive attributes of green, a dark green (like a hunter) would make for a great choice.
9. Brown or Tan
A brown and/or tan nursery lends itself to a very rustic, woodland vibe. Whether you’re designing a boy’s nursery or wanting to create a nature-inspired nursery, selecting a brown or tan color for the walls would be a great place to start.
