Deciding on the right colors for your baby’s nursery can be an exciting and rewarding experience. The colors you choose can help create a warm, inviting, and stimulating environment for your little one during their first years of life. When picking nursery colors, there are a few key factors to consider, such as the overall mood you want to create, gender neutral options vs gender specific colors, coordinating colors with decor and furniture, and choosing tints and shades that are soft and calming for a baby. With so many potential color combinations to work with, it can feel overwhelming to settle on just one color scheme. Here’s an in-depth look at the best nursery color options to help guide you.
The Mood You Want to Set
One of the first steps in choosing nursery colors is deciding what type of mood or atmosphere you want to create in the space. Here are some of the most common moods that work well for nurseries and the colors that can help achieve them:
Calm and Relaxing: For a serene and peaceful nursery, stick to soft, lighter tints of colors like light blue, pale yellow, light green, lavender, soft peach, and light neutral tones like beige, eggshell, or cream. These lighter hues naturally evoke feelings of calm and relaxation.
Playful and Cheerful: Create an upbeat, playful nursery with colors like light yellow, soft peach, mint green, sky blue, and pale tints of coral, salmon, or melon. For an even more vibrant effect, use these colors on an accent wall.
Warm and Cozy: Promote feelings of comfort and coziness with warmer neutral wall colors like cream, oatmeal, light tan, or soft dove gray paired with accents of peach, yellow, sage green, or terra cotta.
Whimsical and Dreamy: Capture a whimsical nursery theme with soft pastel colors like lavender, light yellow, mint, robin’s egg blue, and pale pink. Metallic accents in rose gold, silver, or gold can add to the dreamy effect.
Gender Neutral Themes: Stick to gender neutral nursery colors like shades of white, gray, yellow, green, or brown. Use colorful prints and patterns sparingly for subtle pops of color.
Gender Specific Color Themes
In addition to setting a mood or style, some parents choose to decorate the nursery based on their baby’s gender reveal. Here are some of the most popular gender specific color schemes:
For Girls:
– Shades of pink – blush, coral, carnation, rose
– Purple and lavender tones
– Soft yellow and mint accents
– Metallic rose gold and copper
For Boys:
– Navy blue, royal blue, light blue
– Shades of gray and black
– Olive green, sage green, lime green
– Metallic silver and gunmetal
However, there are no real rules – use any colors you love regardless of gender. Red, orange, turquoise, and teal can work well for either gender.
Coordinating with Furniture and Decor
When selecting a color palette, it’s important to consider how well the colors will coordinate with key nursery furniture pieces and accessories. Here are some examples of coordinating colors:
| Nursery Furniture Color | Coordinating Wall/Accent Colors |
|---|---|
| White crib, dresser, bookshelves | Gray, yellow, green, blue, peach, lavender |
| Espresso or black crib, dresser | Light blue, sage green, cream, yellow |
| Natural wood crib, dresser | Light green, robin’s egg blue, peach, yellow |
| Gray and white prints and patterns | Yellow, sage green, peach, sky blue |
Aim for colors that complement but don’t necessarily match the furniture exactly. The goal is to create a coordinated, not overly matchy-matchy, look.
Calming Colors for Baby
Since babies spend so much time in their nursery during the first year, it’s important to choose colors that are soft, calming, and promote relaxation. Here are some of the best options:
White – Clean and crisp white evokes a soothing, airy feeling. Use white on walls, the ceiling, and nursery furniture. Add pops of color with accessories and prints.
Light Gray – A light gray nursery is both stylish and calming. Gray works beautifully with accent colors like yellow, mint green, purple, or peach.
Light Blue – Ranging from sky blue to powder blue, light shades of blue naturally create a peaceful mood.
Pale Yellow – Buttery yellows and lemon chiffon yellows keep the nursery bright but not overstimulating.
Lavender – With its calming aromatherapy associations, soft lavender purple brings gentle relaxation to the nursery.
Mint Green – Mint is a restful shade of green that works well for either boys or girls. Pair with white or gray for contrast.
Peach – Subtle peach is soothing and romantic. It coordinates nicely with gray, yellow, or aqua blue.
Stimulating Accent Colors
While lighter tints of color are ideal for large surfaces like walls and furniture, you can use brighter, bolder shades in smaller nursery accents. Vibrant accents stimulate baby’s developing vision and are easy to swap out as their tastes change. Some stimulating accent colors include:
– Jewel tones like sapphire, emerald, ruby red
– Electric brights like neon yellow, lime green, hot pink
– Deep hues like navy blue, chocolate brown, deep purple
– Vibrant rainbow colors – great for decor, art, toys
Use stimulating colors sparingly on lamp shades, curtains, rugs, blankets, wall art, mobiles, toys, books, and storage bins.
Which Colors Are Easiest for Baby to See?
A newborn’s vision is still developing, so choosing colors with high contrast will make it easier for them to focus. Here are some examples of easy to see color combinations:
– Black and white – high contrasting colors
– Navy blue and peach – complement each other well
– Gray and yellow – soft but visible contrast
– Green and purple – vibrant complementary colors
Newborns also see high intensity, warm colors like red and yellow most clearly. By 2-3 months, their vision improves and they begin to distinguish cooler hues like blue and green more easily.
Color Psychology for Babies
Color psychology suggests that different hues can impact mood, feelings, and behaviors. While reactions are somewhat subjective, here is some insight on what different colors may signify for babies:
Red – Stimulating, energetic, may increase heart rate and breathing
Orange – Uplifting, creative, encourages socialization and communication
Yellow – Cheerful, optimistic, boosts mental activity and self-esteem
Green – Calming, stabilizing, promotes feelings of safety and relaxation
Blue – Serene, order, may lower heart rate and blood pressure
Purple – Soothing, mystical, encourages imagination and creativity
Use this as a general guide, but choose colors based on your own instincts and baby’s unique reactions. Monitor their moods and behaviors in the space.
Creating Layers of Color
Don’t feel like you need to stick to just one or two colors in the nursery. Layering multiple colors adds visual interest and allows you to incorporate more colors you love. Some ideas for adding color layers:
– Neutral wall color (ex. gray), with pops of color in decor
– Colorful patterned rug layered on top of solid colored floor
– Brightly colored curtains layered over a muted wall color
– Vibrant art above subdued furniture pieces
– Paint or wallpaper accent wall or focal point
– Multi-colored storage bins, books, toys, decor items
Layer in colors gradually until you achieve the look and mood you envisioned. Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and textures too.
When to Avoid Certain Colors
While personal preference is key, there are a few colors that may be best avoided in baby’s immediate surroundings:
– Red – In large doses it may feel too stimulating
– Neon bright colors – Can appear abrasive and overstimulating
– Brown – Could feel drab and dark
– Large doses of black – May feel stark and dreary
Use touches of these intense colors in decorative accents only. Keep large furniture and wall surfaces lighter and more calming.
Nursery Color Schemes By Theme
If you have a specific nursery theme in mind, here are some suggested color schemes that coordinate well:
Woodland Forest Nursery
– Walls: light sage green and creamy white
– Accents: navy blue, red, dark green
Boho Chic/Eclectic Nursery
– Walls: blush pink, terra cotta, mustard yellow
– Accents: teal, olive green, purple
Classic Teddy Bear Nursery
– Walls: robin’s egg blue and light taupe
– Accents: red, sage green, coral
Hot Air Balloon Nursery
– Walls: pale blue and light gray
– Accents: reds, yellows, oranges, stripes
Camping/Adventure Nursery
– Walls: mustard yellow and navy
– Accents: red, lime green, burnt orange
Mix and match nursery themes and color schemes until you find your perfect combination. The colors you choose can make a big impact on the nursery’s mood and style. Follow your instincts to pick colors that excite you, appeal to your sense of design, and promote rest and relaxation for baby. Don’t be afraid to experiment with fun, bold hues – a coat of fresh paint is an easy way to revive the space as baby grows. With the endless color possibilities, you’re sure to find a palette you’ll love.
Conclusion
Choosing nursery colors is an exciting part of preparing for baby’s arrival. The key is finding soft, calming hues that also reflect your personal style. Focus on light tints of colors like white, gray, yellow, green, blue and purple for large surfaces. Then, liven it up with vibrantaccent colors in decor, bedding, and artwork. Consider the mood you want to set, choose gender neutral or gender specific shades, coordinate with furniture, and layer in colors for visual interest. Use color psychology as a loose guide and allow your intuition to lead the way. With an almost endless spectrum of colors to work with, you can create a nursery space that’s both soothing and stimulating for baby during their first year. Trust your own color preferences to pick a palette you’ll enjoy just as much as baby!