Looking for nursery ideas? What an exciting time! Is there anything more fun than decorating a nursery?! Choosing a color scheme, choosing our furniture, displaying the best books and toys are just some of the things that make this project so special. After all, a nursery is a space where you can be really creative and design the most imaginative room in your home.
Whether or not you want to wait to find out what gender your baby is or already know, the most important thing is that a nursery should be both fun and functional – but you also need to remember that how you and your child use the bedroom will quickly change. change, so the decor should also be easy to update. Check out these nursery ideas—and our tried-and-true advice—to get your design just right.
For practical advice, discover how to furnish a nursery and for more bedroom ideas, visit our section.
1. Pick a neutral nursery idea with pops of color
Credit: Colin Poole
A neutral nursery with pops of color is a great way to create a space that can grow like them. By keeping the background simple and adding color, you won’t be constantly repainted as they get older and their tastes begin to change. This is a great look if you also want to create a gender neutral nursery.
2. Go for a muted take on the classic pink nursery idea
Credit: Katie Lee
If you love the baby pinks and blues that are favorite nursery colors, why not update these color schemes with contemporary muted paint tones? Think duck-egg variations of blue and dusty, barely pink. Still sweet, but with a contemporary twist.
Get inspired by more paint color schemes for kids’ rooms and also check out our gallery of kids’ room ideas for girls.
3. Create a Scandinavian nursery with a white color scheme
Credit: The White Company
Do you at least want the illusion of peace and quiet in the nursery? There’s nothing like a classic all-white scheme for its ability to hold a room together and create a cozy, Scandinavian vibe that’s so easy to update. A contrasting floor keeps the room from looking faded.
Do you want to match the look in your own room? Don’t miss these Scandinavian bedroom ideas.
4. Create this fun nursery idea with graphic wallpaper patterns
Credit: Kasia Fiszer © Future
It’s amazing how quickly a baby’s room becomes a toddler’s room and play area, so why not furnish it with the future in mind? Choose bright, bold colors for a contemporary, fun feel and don’t be afraid to experiment with bold patterns – a mural will help create a graphic centerpiece.
Check out the latest wall mural design ideas for any room in your home.
5. Enjoy a pastel-colored nursery decoration
Credit: Fiona Murray
If your nursery is quite small or awkwardly shaped, you can visually enhance the space by painting the walls halfway through with a pretty pastel shade, as opposed to an otherwise neutral scheme. This makes the wall an attractive focal point. However, be careful not to use too many colors in a small, very small nursery, otherwise it will look crowded and not soothing.
Find out everything you need to know about wall decoration ideas in our design gallery.
6. Add mustard yellow
Credit: Jemma Watts
What a beautiful nursery! It is colorful yet subtle at the same time. We love the mix of the pale peach with the pop of mustard and that wallpaper? So cute! This space feels suitably stylish yet also creative and fun with the whimsical print and balloons on the wall.
7. Embrace Pink Nursery Ideas
Credit: Norsu Interiors
Love the baby pink shades but don’t want to commit to an all pink baby room? There is a simple solution: try a wall in pink, and keep the rest of the decor neutral.
Browse more pretty pink room ideas in our gallery.
8. Mix and match wallpaper and paint
Credit: Sanderson
Wallpaper is the easiest way to add a little fun and texture to an otherwise plain room; wallpaper also works wonders to brighten up a room that isn’t getting enough light – just be sure to choose a light-colored design.
Check out many more beautiful wallpapers for children’s rooms.
9. Combine wallpaper and curtains – to make the nursery look bigger
(Image credit: Scion)
Matching window treatments to walls can work very well in a nursery, where the same rules as the rest of the house don’t really apply. As long as your color scheme isn’t too crazy, an abundance of prints will look cozy and cute.
10. Choose a warm shade of paint in a north-facing nursery
Credit: David Giles
Pastels can look a bit dull and clinical in dimly lit rooms; a good way to compensate for a lack of sunlight is to paint your nursery in a sunny and warm shade; think a rich honeyed yellow or a tangy lemon hue. The bonus? It is also gender neutral.
11. Use Window Film in Ground Floor Nurseries
Credit: The Window Film Company
If your nursery is on the ground floor or overlooked, and you want to create a space that is private yet lets in natural light, window film is a great solution. Choose window film types that allow maximum light through – some types let through as much as 90 percent.
These beautiful window film ideas will give you plenty of inspiration.
12. Decorate a nursery with wall art
Credit: Stcikers4walls
To add a little interest to a neutral nursery decorating scheme without having to DIY, hang up some pretty prints. Easy as pie, and easily swapped out when your kid gets old enough to pick his own.
13. Create a fairytale atmosphere with a mural
Credit: Katie Lee
Surprise your new baby with an abundance of color and texture, and turn the nursery into a fairytale landscape with a mural. They come in a wide variety of patterns and colors, from bright and bold to more neutral palettes to photo-realistic scenes. Of course you can also paint yourself!
14. Have fun decorating with kids room wall decals
Credit: Stickers4walls
Want an easy DIY project for the nursery? Buy some nice wall stickers! They take minimal effort, but have a lot of impact. Keep in mind that it may be harder to take them off than to put them on, so be prepared to redecorate them eventually.
15. Color block for a multidimensional effect
(Image credit: Dulux)
Why only one or two colors in a nursery, when more will provide extra warmth and interest? The trick to color blocking in a nursery is to keep the tones of the different colors the same (for example, combine warm shades of pink, apricot and lilac, but avoid anything that is too cool). This makes the room feel quiet and spacious.
Find out how to color with these inspiring ideas.
16. Choose the right nursing chair
Credit: Wayfair
Choose a nursing chair that you’re comfortable with now, but that will fit into your home’s color scheme in a year or so when you no longer need it in your child’s room. We’re talking washable or removable covers in a neutral color that goes with everything.
Find the best nursing chairs for every schedule, style, and budget in our guide.
17. Invest in a good storage space for the nursery
Credit: Stickers4walls
Invest in a sturdy chest of drawers now, but choose one with built-in storage that’s flexible for the future. It can now hold diapers, but it won’t be long before you store toys in it.
Find great toy storage ideas for the nursery and book storage ideas to keep the nursery tidy.
18. Choose nursery furniture that suits your style
Credit: Rachel Manns
As you’ve (hopefully) come to discover while reading our nursery design ideas, designing a room suitable for young children doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your sense of interior style. For example, while some soft play equipment can look gaudy, there’s plenty in muted colors too.
19. Design a streamlined storage solution for the nursery
Credit: Skandium
It is a good idea to design a nursery that will suit your child as they grow up if you want to save money in the long run. Storage should be the focus of a nursery that is meant to stand the test of time.
Find more nursery storage in our buyer’s guide.
20. Add coziness with a canopy
(Image credit: Icon)
Canopies are all over Instagram right now and they are a beautiful thing to add to a nursery. They look great and add some texture and coziness to the room, but they are also good for creating the perfect sleeping space and even a den as your child gets older.
What should be included in a daycare center?
It can be a little overwhelming when you start designing a nursery, it’s wonderful to browse beautiful nursery ideas for decor inspiration, but what should you actually include. We’ve put together a simple checklist of all the essentials you’ll want to add to your nursery:
- a manger
- A mattress with a waterproof mattress cover
- Cot sheets and blankets
- A nursing chair
- A dresser or mat
- load
- Storage space for toys
- A soft light or sleeping lamp
- A speaker for soft sounds or white noise
- Blackout blinds or curtains
- a play mat
- A baby monitor
How do you determine a theme for a nursery?
If you need help determining an overall theme for the nursery, we recommend creating a mood board. Save photos to like them on social media and also in magazines. And look to the style you have in the rest of your home for inspiration, because while you want your nursery to fill as a fun, creative space for your child, you still want to work with the overall scheme of your home.