Choosing the right color for a baby’s nursery is an exciting part of preparing for the arrival of your little one. The color you choose can impact your baby’s mood, stimulation levels, and even sleep quality. When selecting a color, it’s important to consider the effect it will have on your newborn as well as your own personal preferences. In this article, we’ll explore the most popular nursery color options, look at the psychology and science behind how color impacts babies, and provide tips to guide you in selecting the ideal shade for your baby’s room.
Most Popular Nursery Colors
When it comes to picking a color for baby’s room, there are a few classic, popular options that parents tend to gravitate towards:
Pink – For a girl’s nursery, pink is a traditional color choice. Varying shades of pink can create anything from a soft, neutral palette to a bright, cheerful room. Light pink is soothing, while hot pink can be stimulating.
Blue – For a boy’s nursery, blue is the go-to color. Light blue is a calming, peaceful option, while navy blue can be striking and bold. Turquoise and aqua blues are gender neutral choices.
Neutral – Whites, grays, beiges, and browns create a neutral palette perfect for either a boy or girl. Neutral rooms provide flexibility to add accent colors.
Yellow – Cheerful, sunny yellow is a gender neutral color that creates a bright, uplifting space. Soft buttery or muted shades work well.
Green – Earthy green is tranquil and refreshing. Light sage greens are great gender neutral options. Darker greens can make spaces feel moody.
Purple – Traditionally feminine, purple rooms for girls range from romantic lavenders to regal deeper shades. Works for boys too.
Psychology of Color for Babies
The psychology and science behind how colors impact moods and feelings is an important factor when selecting a nursery color. Here’s an overview of how some top colors generally affect babies:
Blue – Blue is calming, peaceful, and theorized to lower blood pressure and heart rate. Blue light has been found to have a calming effect. Great for active babies.
Pink – Pink is soothing and calming. Some studies have shown it to have a positive effect on babies’ vital signs and sleep quality.
Yellow – Yellow is cheerful and uplifting. Dark or mustard yellows can stimulate and energize. Lighter shades relax. Good for fussy babies.
Green – Green is tranquil and refreshing. It’s considered a restorative color that aids relaxation. Deeper greens may encourage sleep.
White – White represents purity, innocence and simplicity. Natural white light aids circadian rhythms and sleep cycles.
Gray – Grays are soothing, neutral colors that don’t overstimulate. Soft grays help relaxation and sleep. Darker shades can be depressing.
Of course, each baby is unique. Observe your baby’s reactions to color and go with shades you find most calming.
Nursery Color Considerations
Here are some tips and factors to consider when selecting a color for your nursery:
– Gender – Think about colors that complement the gender if you know it. Don’t feel restricted – any color works for boys or girls.
– Activity Level – For calm babies, choose peaceful, relaxing colors like blues, pinks or neutrals. For active babies, go for stimulating yellows or oranges to help burn energy.
– Lighting – The amount of natural vs artificial light impacts how colors appear. Test samples at all times of day. Soft lighting suits bright colors.
– Size of Room – Dark colors tend to make small rooms feel smaller. Bright or light colors open up space.
– Furniture – Make sure the color you choose complements the crib, dresser, and other furniture in the room.
– Personal Taste – Consider colors and palettes that appeal to you. You’ll be spending lots of time in the nursery too.
– Future Uses – Think about how you may reuse the room down the road and if you want flexible, gender neutral shades.
Best Nursery Paint Colors
Based on the psychology of color for babies and general interior design principles, here are some of the best paint colors to consider for your nursery:
Light Blue – Sky blue, powder blue, and robin’s egg blue are calming for babies. These light blues aid sleep and relaxation. Gender neutral too.
Pale Pink – Ballet slipper pink, blush pink, and tea rose create a soothing feminine room. Studies show a positive effect on babies.
Mint Green – Fresh, relaxing mint greens work for either gender. Mint is restorative and helps encourage deep sleep.
Lavender – Soft lavenders are soothing and sleep-promoting. They create a gentle, dreamy sleep space.
Yellow – Buttercream, lemon chiffon and daffodil yellows energize and uplift. Great for fussy babies who need stimulation. Use soft shades.
Gray – Light grays like dove, silver, and pewter are sophisticated neutrals. They don’t overstimulate active babies.
White – Stark bright white represents purity and innocence. It aids healthy sleep rhythms. Keep lighting soft.
Beige – Warm beiges like latte, taupe, and sand are calming earthtone neutrals. They make soothing, zen-like spaces.
Nursery Color Combinations
Pair your wall color with accent shades throughout the nursery for a pulled together look. Here are some pleasing color combinations:
– Pink and gray – Blush pink walls with gray accents are sophisticated. Add in metallics for shine.
– Blue and green – Aqua walls with lime green and navy accents keep this gender neutral room stimulating for active babies.
– Lavender and mint – Soothing lavender walls with mint accents create a dreamy sleep sanctuary.
– Coral and yellow – Energizing coral pink walls with sunshine yellow details will delight and stimulate baby.
– Gray and yellow – Warm gray walls let daffodil yellow decor pop. The contrast delights babies’ developing eyes.
– Blue and brown -Rich navy blue on walls with chocolate brown accent furniture is bold yet still calming.
– Sage green and pink – Earthy sage green walls with blush pink patterns is a soothing combo for girls.
– White and green – Crisp white walls make verdant green decor stand out. Gender neutral and stimulating.
Conclusion
Your baby will spend many hours in their nursery, both sleeping and awake. Pick a soothing, calming color palette that suits your baby’s personality – whether that’s cool blues that relax or sunny yellows that stimulate. Focus on light, airy pastels versus bold dark colors to boost mood and relaxation. Consider pairing your wall color with contrasting accents for a livelier look. Most importantly, choose a color that delights you as well so you can happily spend time with your baby in their new room!
