Choosing the right color for a baby’s nursery is an exciting part of preparing for the arrival of your new little one. The color you choose can influence your baby’s mood, stimulate their senses, and make the nursery a calming, comforting space. When deciding on a color, it’s important to consider your baby’s gender, the room’s lighting, how the color will look as your child grows, and your own personal preferences. Here are some popular nursery color ideas to help you choose the perfect hue.
Neutral Colors
Neutral colors like whites, grays, and beiges are always a safe choice for a nursery. These muted, soft colors create a calm environment and provide a cozy, peaceful backdrop for a sleeping baby. Neutrals are great if you want to keep things gender neutral or plan on using the nursery for future children. They also allow you to easily incorporate pops of color through bedding, artwork, and accessories.
Soft Gray
A light gray is one of the most popular nursery color choices for boys and girls alike. The soft, muted tone is both stylish and soothing. Pair gray walls with white furniture and pops of color in the bedding and decor. This sophisticated nursery palette will grow with your child.
Creamy White
Creamy whites like eggshell or ivory are warmer than stark whites and give a cozy, welcoming feel to a nursery. Babies bathed in creamy white surroundings will feel calm and comforted. White cribs and dressers allow the wall color to really shine.
Light Beige
For a laidback, earthy nursery, consider a light beige. The natural, sandy color is super versatile and pairs well with wood furniture and natural textiles. Accent with greenery, mossy greens, and touches of blue for a serene oasis.
Blue
For centuries, blue has been associated with baby boys. But blue is also a wonderful color choice for baby girls. The cool, tranquil shade elicits feelings of peace and relaxation – perfect for a nursery. Lighter blues work well in darker rooms, while brighter blues pair nicely with lots of natural light.
Baby Blue
A light, airy baby blue is a top choice for traditional boy nurseries. Nothing says “baby boy” quite like a pale blue. Sprinkle in navy accents, white furniture, and pops of bright colors for a playful, preppy palette. The light blue will maintain a calming presence as your little boy grows.
Robin’s Egg Blue
A soft robin’s egg or powder blue is cute and gender neutral. It works for boys or girls and allows you to get creative with accent colors. Mint green, corals, yellows and light purples all complement the tranquil blue shade. This color scheme will grow with your child through the toddler years.
Navy Blue
For a nautical, preppy nursery, try a classic navy blue. Crisp whites and reds pair perfectly with the deeper blue tone. Use navy in moderation on the walls and accent with white furniture, red pillows, and striped fabrics. The masculine color will suit your little sailor as he grows.
Pink
Pink reigns supreme in little girl nurseries. The sweet, feminine color represents childhood innocence and joy. From pale pink to fuchsia, find the perfect pink shade to welcome your baby girl. Accent pink walls with contrasts like white and black for extra pop.
Blush Pink
A soft blush pink evokes the soft skin and rosy cheeks of a newborn baby girl. Set against white furniture, the ballet-inspired hue feels dreamy and ethereal. As your daughter grows, blush pink will remain a darling, feminine choice.
Dusty Rose
Slightly deeper than a blush pink, dusty rose adds warmth and dimension to a little girl’s nursery. Pair with brass accents, natural wood elements, and emeralds or deep greens for a sophisticated glam nursery that your daughter can grow into.
Bold Pink
For a playful, whimsical feel, choose a bright fuchsia or hot pink. When balanced with plenty of white, the searing pink shade retains a sense of innocence. As your little girl grows, switch out accessories to transition the bold pink wall to a youthful “tween” space.
Yellow
Yellow is associated with happiness, warmth and optimism. What better color to surround your new baby in? Cheerful, sunny yellow creates an upbeat mood. Use bright shades sparingly and pair with gender neutral whites and grays.
Pale Yellow
A pale lemon or buttery yellow is warm and welcoming for a baby’s nursery. Use as an accent wall or all over for a bright yet cozy feel. Pale yellow works with almost any style from modern to traditional. Keep things fresh by pairing with white and green.
Mustard Yellow
For a playful, modern nursery, consider a muted mustard yellow. Offset the spicy shade with contrasting accents in navy, mint, or plum. Mustard yellow makes a bold statement tempered by its organic, mellow vibe. The color works for boys or girls.
Daffodil Yellow
A bright, happy daffodil yellow cheers up a dark room and makes a serious style statement. Use in moderation and temper the bold walls with simple white furniture. Pops of red or bright rainbow colors add playful accent. This sunny color palette will keep your child smiling.
Green
Green is associated with renewal, harmony and growth – appropriate themes for a nursery. Green also represents nature, health and wellness. The color palette ranges from muted olive to vivid lime green. Determine the amount of saturation that fits your style.
Sage Green
A soft sage green is both peaceful and sophisticated. Coupled with cream furniture and natural wood accents, sage green exudes zen. This gender neutral shade will flow seamlessly into a “big kid” room down the road. Accent with pops of yellow or blue.
Mint Green
A refreshing mint green evokes childhood innocence and whimsy. Use as an accent wall or go all-over for a playful, youthful green palette. Mint looks great with red and pink accessories. Keep things playful for your little one’s early years.
Lime Green
Vibrant lime green makes a serious color statement. Temper the high-energy hue with neutral walls and simple white furniture. Use lime as an accent wall or on one piece of statement furniture. This fun color will spark creativity and imagination in your growing child.
Purple
Purple represents creativity, individuality and sophistication. While less common than pink or blue, purple makes a unique color choice for a nursery. Light purples feel sweet and playful, while deeper jewel tones add drama. Mix and match shades for a bold, creative palette.
Lavender
Sweet, romantic lavender is a feminine yet gender neutral nursery option. Pair with whites and natural wood elements for a dreamy, ethereal nursery. As your child grows, switch out soft purple accessories to transition lavender walls into a “tween” space.
Pale Lilac
Subtler than lavender, pale lilac reads as a soft neutral but with a hint of color. This versatile shade works equally well for baby boys and girls. Accent with bursts of contrasting colors through art, bedding and accessories to highlight the pretty purple walls.
Eggplant
Deep, dramatic eggplant makes a bold color choice for a nursery backdrop. Pare it with light furniture and linens to soften the saturation. Allow white molding to break up the dark walls. Then dress up the moody palette with bright pops of chartreuse or lime green.
Gender Neutral Colors
If you want to keep things gender neutral, versatile or plan to reuse the nursery, consider these gender-neutral color options:
| Color | Pairings |
|---|---|
| White | Any color |
| Gray | Pops of color |
| Beige | Wood tones, greens |
| Yellow | Gray, green, blue |
| Green | Red, blue, yellow |
| Purple | Gray, yellow, green |
Stick with light, muted palettes and use decor to infuse color personality and interest. This allows you to transition the space as needed.
Things to Consider
Here are some tips to ensure you choose the right nursery color:
Lighting
The room’s natural lighting impacts how colors appear. North facing rooms may require lighter shades to brighten things up, while south facing spaces can handle deeper, bolder hues. Be sure to view paint swatches at all times of day.
Space Size
Small spaces feel cozier with light, airy paint colors. Bold or dark colors can overwhelm a tiny nursery. Large rooms can handle dramatic shades but be sure to offset with lighter furniture and decor.
Mood
The color palette you choose impacts the mood and ambiance of the nursery. Soft, muted colors have a calming effect while bright, vibrant shades feel whimsical and playful.
Theme
If you have a nursery theme, choose a wall color to complement the style. For a woodland nursery, consider sage greens or sky blues. Pink and rose gold suit a girly glam theme. Let your creative theme guide shade selection.
Furniture
Coordinate the wall color with your nursery furniture. For white cribs, opt for a crisp contrasting wall color. For wood pieces, consider beiges, yellows or robin’s egg blue. Let your furniture be your guide.
Growth
Think about how the color palette will evolve as your child grows. Soft neutrals, muted blues and greens transition well from nursery to “big kid” space. Pinks and purples can be adapted with more youthful accessories.
How to Choose
Follow this process to land on the perfect nursery color:
- Set the mood – Calming, playful, gender neutral?
- Browse color palettes and schemes
- Order 3-5 paint swatches
- View swatches in nursery at all times of day
- Test samples on walls
- Decide on 1-3 final colors
- Paint!
Give yourself time to live with the paint swatches before deciding. This big choice deserves care and consideration!
Work in Progress
Remember, your nursery decor does not need to be complete before baby arrives. Focus first on basics like crib, dresser and nursing essentials. Add decorative touches like wall art, rug and accent pillows over time. Your color scheme will come together as you gradually personalize the space.
Conclusion
Choosing that perfect nursery color is an exciting step in preparing for baby’s arrival! Consider which hues best suit your child’s gender, the room’s size and lighting, and your own style preferences. Soothing neutrals, gentle blues and pinks, and playful yellows and greens are all great options for a baby’s first bedroom. Look for versatility too, so the palette will grow with your child. Follow your instincts and you can’t go wrong – soon baby will be cooing happily in their colorful new room!
