1. Home
  2. Design Ideas

40 Baby Room Ideas for Decorating a Nursery You’ll Love

by Holly Antoine | Published 9/20/22

Expectant parents always look forward to designing the nursery. It is a fun project that can be as uncomplicated or detailed as you want to make it. It’s important to remember that a baby’s room is as much for the parents as it is for the anxiously awaited newborn, so the ultimate goal of any nursery design is to create a space that is welcoming, tranquil, serene, and above all, safe.

Both from an aesthetic and a practical point of view, you want to take great care in designing a nursery that suits all your needs. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room!

When it’s all said and done, the nursery is just another room in your house and should flow with the rest of your aesthetics and style, so while you can decorate a nursery in any style that you want, you will want to keep this in mind. Also, it’s important to remember that the nursery should be a comfortable place for grown-ups to spend time, too.

You will want to remember things like a comfortable chair for nursing and bonding, acceptable storage, and a changing table that takes some of the pain out of that merciless chore, but at the end of the day, a nursery should speak to you and put a smile on your face every time you walk through the door.

Nursery features Dream Big art on a pink ombre accent wall over a white Oeuf Sparrow crib and woven baskets on a light gray rug.
Photo Credit: Pure Salt Interiors

Check out these inspiring ideas that cover a multitude of different styles and decor tastes to help you create the nursery of your dreams that your newborn will indeed grow to love.

Neutral Nurseries

One of the biggest trends in the last few years is a neutral home decor palette; baby’s rooms are certainly not excluded from this. Neutral paints and furnishings allow for a baby to grow within the nursery without having to make changes to decor and style constantly. By keeping wall color, curtains, and other accessories pale colors such as creams, beiges, and greys, you can easily change smaller design elements without doing massive renos or makeovers as your baby grows.

A soft pale pink boho chic nursery features gold letters on pale pink wallpaper over a light beige wooden nursery crib and a white boucle nursery rocker with tan ottoman and round accent table on white and gray layered rugs.
Photo Credit: Little Crown Interiors

This nursery has a massive window that allows in lots of natural light and only further accentuates the light color of the walls, furnishings, and drapery. This is a bright space where any parent would love to spend their days feeding, singing, and reading to their newborn baby. This baby’s room feels like an extension of a living room so its comfy, cozy and welcoming.

Welcoming nursery is styled with macrame poufs placed on a gray rug at a round two-tone play table with white chairs. n ocean art piece hangs over an off-white couch topped with gray and purple pillows lit by turquoise blue cork lamps. A white crib sits in front of sliding glass doors covered in white curtains.
Photo Credit: Brandon Architects

Another great design element of a neutral nursery is that they are perfect for parents who want to keep the gender of their new child a surprise. They say that doing this is one of the best surprises of your life, so if you intend to go this route, creating a neutral space will be perfect for whatever gender you bring home from the hospital!

Lovely gender-neutral nursery boasts a black spindle crib placed on a blue arabesque rug beside a large giraffe plush. The plush stands in front of a bamboo roman shade layered under tan colored curtains. Four art prints are framed and hung from a tan wall over a French wooden nursery topped with a changing mat. A blue monogrammed pillow sits atop a tan linen glider.
Photo Credit: Sarah Hillery

This bohemian-neutral nursery is simple and minimalistic. Not much is needed here to create a gorgeous and stunning space. This uncomplicated feather mobile is an attractive focal point without going overboard.

Blond wooden nursery crib in a nursery fitted for a girl or a boy features Buff & Gold Stars wallpaper, a white nursery crib an a feathered mobile.
Photo Credit: RTG Designs

Modern and Simple

This space is clean and simple with a modern flare. The stunning fading watercolor wall design put a modern twist on a minimalist straightforward space. Even the mobile is simple and modern, making this nursery a perfect space for parents who just want simplicity.

Nursery features a gray crib on a pink accent wall and a light gray rocker on a white shag rug.
Photo Credit: JL Creative

Bright and Bold Wallpapers

For those who want a little more fun and color, bright and bold wallpapers will make quite a statement in your child’s nursery. Bold pops of color and bright elements create a fun and unique space that allows you to get creative and add your own personal style.

A lot of these wallpaper designs will transition quite nicely from baby room to childhood.

Girl's nursery features pink blue green yellow and gray wallpaper, a white nursery dresser with brass knobs and an ivory roll arm glider over a cream rug.
Photo Credit: Change & co

This wallpaper transitions quite nicely from nursery to little boy’s room and is perfect for the plane enthusiast parent who wants to instill in their little one a love for aviation.

Nursery features Rebel Walls aero show wallpaper with vintage airplanes, a vintage black and white stripe nursery rocker, a brass crib, a gray rocking horse, a wooden elephant accent table atop blue and gray stars nursery carpeting and a green plaid window shade.
Photo Credit: Zoe Feldman Design

For the seasoned equestrian, create a space that your child will grow to love. A horse themed wallpaper creates a personal space that will pick up a vibe that is modern and edgy.

Contemporary boy's nursery features tan and black equestrian wallpaper, a blond wooden nursery crib and black and white art and a woven basket.
Photo Credit: Tali Roth Designs

Bright yellow was typically not used in a nursery in days of old. Parents often chose a pale baby yellow in the past, but out with the old and in with the new, we say! This bright yellow floral wallpaper creates a space that is bright and cheerful. Add in a modern mirror and you have a space that is ready to welcome your baby home.

A striking faux bois mirror hangs over a vintage white spindle crib in front of a green wainscot wall finished with lemon print wallpaper and green crown moldings.
Photo Credit: Sabbe Interior Design

Add a Little Color

If you want to make your nursery a space that feels childlike and fun, the best way is to add a little color. You don’t need to go overboard with massive splashes of color, either. Little pops here and there in smaller decor elements make it easy to make changes as your child grows.

Transitional gray boy's nursery features powder blue double closet doors with black handles, white toy shelf, gray wingback nursery glider, nursery hot air balloons mobile and gray plaid carpeting.
Photo Credit: Zoe Feldman Design

Contemporary Designs

For the more modern home design style, a contemporary nursery design may be more suited to your tastes. A nursery that is an extension of the rest of the home’s design style will suit and blend in nicely. Gone are the days of having to decorate your nursery in a traditional baby-like fashion. Modern and mature-looking nurseries are trending and can be another extension of your personal taste.

Contemporary blue and gray boy's nursery features black nursery crib, a gray French dresser, a light gray sofa rocker with green avocado accent table, a brown cowhide rug and a blue and gray wall mural.
Photo Credit: Black Lacquer Design

Modern and pretty, this gender-neutral nursery design leans toward a modular style. From the modern sleek furniture to the abstract art, this space is calming and serene while also having style and taste.

Charming gender-neutral nursery is lit by a rope chandelier hung over a gray diamond print rug, while walls are clad in minimalistic white and black wallpaper. A window dressed in white curtains is located next to a white wood and acrylic crib, as a large abstract art piece hangs over a daybed.
Photo Credit: Mrs Paranjape
A fiddle leaf fig sits on a blue jute rug in a stunning nursery boasting a white rocker topped with blue and beige pillows and paired with a round brown leather pouf. Baby animal art hangs from shiplap trim over a two-tone vintage style crib.
Photo Credit: Pure Salt Interiors

Calming Greys

Calming greys and whites can create a space that is both tranquil and peaceful, and these are all elements that are necessary for a baby’s room. By keeping the decor light and airy, your space will offer a serene, relaxing environment for you and your newborn to bond.

Lovely monochromatic nursery boasts a sheep mobile hung in front of an accent wall covered in white and gray horse print wallpaper and over a white crib. The crib is accented with a white ruffled skirt and placed on ivory carpeting. Stacked art hangs beside a window covered in a stripe gray roman shade.
Photo Credit: Marea Clark Interiors

A striped grey wall is a modern, stylish look and keeps with the calm serenity of the space. This allows you to have a little modern farmhouse style to your nursery without losing the peacefulness of the room.

A colorful vintage grid rug sits beneath a wood and lucite crib accented with a brown Hermes throw blanket and placed against a gray striped wall. A white glider is positioned in a corner in front of a brass floor lamp and a window covered in white curtains layered behind a white valance. Gray built in cabinets are stacked and finished with x-fronts.
Photo Credit: Brittney Ferguson Interiors

Moody Greys

You can try a darker grey if you want something a little more dark and moody. Sometimes calm and peace for certain people come in form of darker rooms with bold deep colors. This room has a modern contemporary feel but still allows for some fun with adorable baby furniture and accents.

Contemporary boy's nursery features Fornasetti Nuvole gray clouds wallpaper, a white modern crib under art, a black nursery rocker, a white dresser, a round accent table and a rocking horse.
Photo Credit: Widell Boshchetti

Pretty in Pink

Pink is always a classic choice for a little girl’s nursery, and when it comes to a baby, the common shade of pink is a light blush or baby pink. This doesn’t mean that you can’t step outside of these bounds and create a pink space that speaks more to your preferred style. Remember, there are no hard or fast rules when it comes to creating a space in your home.

Nursery features a pink floral mural on accent wall with a gold mobile sits over a white wooden nursery crib with animal print bedding, baby blue curtains, a white wicker elephant hamper and a large white faux fur rug.
Photo Credit: Little Crown Interiors

Creating a gallery wall adds some texture and dimension to a pink wall. Pops of stunning gold look great on a blush pink backdrop, and you can add in some personalization with a large gold monogram.

Placed on a green trellis rug, a white French crib is positioned beneath gallery art hung from a pale pink wall lined with white beadboard trim.
Photo Credit: Studio Ten 25

This pretty pink nursery adds a contrasting touch of black to create a bold space with lots of character and even a more elegant, refined look.

Pink paint splatter curtains cover glass sliding doors and pair well with a black accent wall fixed behind a two tone bookcase placed on a cream diamond rug beside a black crib. Pink velvet pillows are placed on a white sheepskin rug positioned in front of a pink accent chair.
Photo Credit: Katie Martinez Design

A sweet vintage pink nursery — this space is perfectly designed for those parents that don’t want the traditional baby pink look. The vintage elements worked into this design create a more mature space, but it is still perfectly acceptable for babies.

Beautifully designed girl's nursery features a white metal vintage crib accented with a tassel skirt and placed on a gray rug beneath a pastel abstract art piece hung from a pink wall lit by a brass picture light. A gray tufted wingback rocker is topped with a pink pillow.
Photo Credit: Y. McFadden

A sweet canopy is such a girly and elegant touch to any nursery and only further elevates your style. The walls also exude a fun camo design that is light and not too overbearing to keep with the girly design of this baby room.

A white and pink canopy hangs from a white and pink wall above a lucite crib matched with pink crib sheets. The crib sits on a gray rug beside a giraffe plush doll.
Photo Credit: Dina Bandman

Pink, pink, and more pink! This nursery is exploding with a blush pink fanfare, and it’s the flawless spot for any little baby girl. This pink upon pink look is designed perfectly and will suit any parent’s dream for their baby. The sweet daybed provides a comfortable feeding spot or even a place for mom or dad to rest while baby sleeps.

Lovely pink nursery is lit by a pink lotus flower chandelier hung from a pink wallpapered ceiling matching pink roman shades. A white mid-century modern crib sits beneath a floral art piece hung from a pink wall. A light tan skirted daybed sits inf ront of a window and is complemented with pink buffalo check pillows and light pink bedding.
Photo Credit: Marea Clark Interiors

Sweet Baby Blues

Sweet and traditional, a nice baby blue with a simple and clean design aesthetic — this nursery is perfect for minimalistic and practical people who just want something sweet and simple. By now, you also may have noticed that a lot of these baby’s rooms have an oversized stuffed giraffe. These seem to be a common design trend. A stuffie that acts as decor while your child is a newborn but something that they can grow into and play with when they are older.

Gray nursery glider with a round ottoman in a nursery room painted in light blue with neutral furnishings.
Photo Credit: Collective Studio

If you want to break up a bit of the blue, try adding in a nice pop of yellow! This will allow you to add some charm and cheeriness to the place you lay your baby down to sleep.

Sweet yellow and blue nursery is clad in blue wallpaper and boasts windows covered in yellow grosgrain roman shades hung under a blue ceiling. A woven elephant stool sits on a blue rug beside a white vintage metal crib, while yellow and blue sconces flank an art piece hung above a blue daybed topped with yellow pillows.
Photo Credit: Madre Dallas

A Soft Purple

Typically we are told to stay away from purples, but when executed correctly, a mix of soft purple with an accent of a deeper purple can create a luxurious space for you and your newborn. The stunning crystal chandelier only furthers the elegance in this nursery and creates a space that will make anyone swoon.

White and purple nursery features a white French arch nursery crib on a gray trellis rug, an art gallery on purple medallion wallpaper, woven baskets and purple silk curtains.
Photo Credit: Atmosphere Interior Design

Minimalistic Nature

For nature and wildlife lovers, a clean and minimalistic space is designed here. The antler chandelier adds a unique touch without going overboard in this simple nursery design.

A tan cowhide rug sits on off-white carpet in front of a gray wooden crib accented with a gray crib skirt and placed beneath a framed landscape art piece. The room is illuminated by a faux antlers chandelier.
Photo Credit: CH Designs and Interiors

Add A Statement Chandelier

While we are on the topic of chandeliers, the lighting that you choose for your nursery should be well thought out and selected. Choose a piece that will create visual interest and add a stunning focal point to the middle of your nursery. Don’t waste the opportunity to choose a piece that further elevates your design.

Welcoming nursery is illuminated by a beaded chandelier and features a modern white curved dresser topped with a changing pad and positioned under a rattan mirror. An acrylic accent table accented with a nickel and glass lamp is placed beside an off-white glider, while windows are covered in brown linen curtains.
Photo Credit: Kathryn Lily Interiors

Mid Century Modern

If mid-century modern is the feel of design style throughout your house, carry that through into your baby’s room. A mid-century modern nursery can exude a look that is elegant, cultivated, and full of taste. The deep rich browns look sophisticated when mixed in with bold and rich colors.

Vintage nursery features a burl wood dresser with pink tassel pulls, an oval wooden crib with colorful blanket, a white vintage nursery rocker accented with an Otomi pillow illuminated by a brass floor lamp, a mini window seat with blue cushion and a colorful rug.
Photo Credit: Jessica Helgerson Design

Eclectic Boho

Bold, bright pops of color and eclectic designs look great in a nursery. Don’t shy away from color and fun elements for your baby. A delightful teepee will be decor for now but will provide a joyful spot to play when your baby grows.

Eclectic red and blue boy's nursery features a white wooden crib placed beneath tassel art hung from a white wall lined with black crown moldings framing a white and gray wallpapered ceiling. The crib is flanked by a red rocker and ottoman and a yellow and blue teepee.
Photo Credit: Mel Bean Interiors

Exposed Brick

If you got it, flaunt it! We are swooning over this exposed brick in this attic nursery. It provides a gorgeous contrast to the light and airy wallpaper design. The rattan rocking chair picks up the color elements in the brick to complement the space so nicely.

Gender neutral attic nursery features a red brick wall, rattan nursery rocker and a built-in window seat with whimsical pillow.
Photo Credit: Kira David Design

Deep and Dark Colors

Rich deep forest green is not the traditional color that comes to mind when you think about a baby room but in the right setting and designed correctly; you can create a space that is rich, luxurious, and earthy and will leave you with a modern nursery that is an extension of your already exquisite tastes.

Forest green nursery walls and ceiling complement a white mid-century modern dresser placed behind a pink and blue vintage rug positioned beneath a blond wood crib.
Photo Credit: Jean Stoffer Design
Green and white boy's nursery features a gray wingback glider with a white tufted pouf, a pedestal accent table, a cream rug, a green valance box over white curtains, green and white forest wallpaper and a white ceiling fan.
Photo Credit: Residents Understood

Chic and Classic

A chic look with classic undertones, this stunning nursery creates a unique space that is not only cozy it downright gorgeous. The vintage botanical wallpaper will help lead this little girl into a grown-up big girl bedroom. The other element to consider is that with nurseries like these if you are thinking resale value, these rooms are super easy to transition into a different style of space.

A brass lantern illuminates a stunning pink, white, and gray nursery. Pink curtains hang from a brass rod beside a gray French crib placed in front of a black and white floral wallpapered wall and beneath a pom pom mobile.
Photo Credit: Carolyn Leona
White and pink girl's nursery features a pink accent wall with a white French toddler bed atop a cream knitted rug, illuminated by a white feather ball chandelier and a white slipcovered nursery glider with a round leather ottoman.
Photo Credit: Pure Salt Interiors

Twin Nursery Designs

If a baby is a blessing, then having two means double the blessings and the supplies and furniture. For a nursery for twins, you want to make sure that your space is well laid out and practical, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style and taste. There are plenty of options for decor when it comes to twins.

This nursery keeps things simple with blue and red — a stunning mature primary color look. Simple white matching cribs keep this room easy on the eyes with clean and classic lines.

Spacious twin nursery design features a navy blue awning stripe rug, white wooden nursery cribs and a white glass front cabinet.
Photo Credit: Coats Homes

This contemporary and modern nursery design is perfect for the set of boy and girl twins. Each baby has its own designate crib with silhouette art, and the cribs are festively adorned with a cute banner. The bright and fun colors make this space perfect for both of them.

Contemporary nursery for fraternal twins boasts side-by-side white and brown cribs placed on a colorful geometric rug beneath silhouette art pieces hung from a wall clad in blue geometric wallpaper lined white board and batten trim.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Harris Design

Small Design Elements to Include

It’s important not to forget the little things, especially for decor. Sometimes the smaller elements of design make the biggest impact, and here are a few design elements to get you started on things you may wish to include in your nursery.

Animal Print Wall Art

Don’t forget that just because it’s a baby’s room doesn’t mean that they don’t like wall art. Animal prints have been a baby room staple, but they have certainly taken on a more modern look. The traditional symmetrical hung animal art is still a classic choice but with a more modern flare.

Bright blue crown moldings and baseboards accent an ivory painted wall holding a gallery of framed baby animal sketches over a cream and black bone inlay dresser in a wonderfully styled nursery.
Photo Credit: Paige Pierce Design

Inset Bookshelf

The one thing you do not want to leave out in your baby’s room design is a spot to read to your child and rock them to sleep, and it’s especially handy to have books right nearby. Consider working into your nursery design an inset bookshelf. This will free up space in the room from having a standard clunky bookshelf and give you more room to be with your newborn.

We really love how this one has a roll-up curtain that you can close if you don’t want all your stuff on display.

A white boucle chair sits in a modern nursery next to an alcove fitted with a tan cushion located beneath white shelves covered in a gray rolling curtain. A gray chair rail separates gray pinstripe wallpaper and gray gray patterned wallpaper.
Photo Credit: Tali Roth Interiors

Pegboard

While a pegboard might not be the traditional nursery accessory that you think about — you may be thinking it’s more suited to craft rooms and offices, it can most certainly be put to practical use in a baby’s room. Babies need a lot of stuff so it’s important to keep your nursery organized as well as pretty.

Boy nursery peg wall organizer on a mustard yellow nursery wall features vintage wood toys and fun accenting decor.
Photo Credit: Collective Studio

Here is a quick list of other baby essentials that you will want for your nursery:

  • A good quality crib – this is going to be the spot your baby sleeps every night so you want to make sure that it’s not only pretty but, most important, that the quality is there.
  • Storage for diapers, sheets, etc – a good quality storage cabinet is desirable for a nursery. You want to make sure that you have sufficient storage space for all your needed items that you don’t want out in the open.
  • Feeding chair – for late-night feedings, you will want a spot to sit with baby. A comfy rocker or glider is most common and comfortable.
  • Change table – a spot to change baby, so you don’t have to leave the room is another crucial item that should not be forgotten
  • Comfy pillows for parents – when having to tend to baby at night, you may want some comfy pillows for yourself while feeding, etc.

Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ

When should you start doing baby room?

Just in case the baby decides to arrive a little early and before you may be too uncomfortable, you want to try to have the nursery fully ready to go by the time you are 36 weeks pregnant.

What colors are best for baby rooms?

Since looking at this list of ideas, we have proven that there are no hard and fast rules regarding what color is best for your baby's room. However, you want to consider the vibe and feel you want for your nursery. If it's a calm and serene space you are after, it's best to stick with neutrals or light colors.

What colors are calming for babies?

When it comes to calming colors, the best are soft greys, pale pinks, earthy neutrals, and creamy whites. This will ensure that your nursery is a place of peace and tranquility.

Should I keep the room dark for baby's naps?

A dark, quiet environment can help encourage your baby to sleep. But you don't have to paint your nursery a dark color. A good set of black-out curtains will help with daytime sleeping.

Holly Antoine

Holly Antoine is a Home, Lifestyle and DIY content creator. After leaving behind an 11-year career in the dental field to pursue her passion for design and decor, she developed her own branded site, HollyGrace.ca, where she shares her love of home design, decor, DIYs and inspires others to get creative and build[...]

You might also like

Hello

SUBMIT PROJECT

Let's connect

What's hot

    About

    Decoist is a web magazine that brings you the daily bits of architecture, furniture and interior design.

    On Decoist we feature all sorts of ideas to make your bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens or offices look prettier. We bring you furniture and lighting ideas, houses everyone would dream of and luxury properties that defy the world crisis.

    GET TO KNOW US

    DECOIST

    LET'S CONNECT

    © 2009 - 2024 decoist.com - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy