Designing your baby’s nursery can be a challenge. You can always go with a Disney character or a favorite cartoon, but there are many more options out there for your baby’s special room. Whether you know the sex of your baby or you’re waiting to be surprised, these ideas can give you a starting point for a room that will be as comforting for your baby as it is pleasing for you.
Black and White
Black and white is a great choice for the surprise; it works for either a girl or a boy, and you can add in last-minute color accents once the baby is born. Look for a crib set in black rather than brown, then extend the theme with black and white bedding in stripes, polka dots, or a toile pattern. Choose an accent color such as green, aqua, or red. Pick curtains that are black and white or that include your accent color as well. Wall hangings can be simple black-and-white prints, framed and hung symmetrically, or larger full-color prints that will bring a splash of vivid life into the space. Once your baby is born, you can add in a few blue or pink accents (a throw blanket on the rocker, photo frame, changing pad cover).
Jungle/Rainforest
A jungle or rain forest theme also works great for either a boy or a girl. Choose a soothing green as your foundational color. It works with a crib that’s white, black or natural wood. You can paint all the walls or only one accent wall in green, and choose bedding that carries out the jungle theme either by reinforcing the green color or incorporating animal or jungle motifs, such as palm trees and parrots. Look for simple, colorful line drawings of jungle animals that you can frame and hang; as your baby gets older, he will enjoy looking and then learning the sound each animal makes.
Other Nature Themes
A nature theme can focus on a particular part of nature according to your taste: choose from garden, beach, forest or another point of nature that is soothing and inspirational. For a garden theme, your base color could be green to reflect the grass and foliage, or it could be pastels reminiscent of flowers. A beach theme can draw on sandy yellow and soft blue, with accents of palm-tree-green in the curtains, lampshades and bedding. The forest theme can be slightly darker but still baby-appropriate; think tans, mossy greens, and light blues.
World/Travel
If you’ve collected artifacts on your travels, then a world and travel theme would be perfect. You already have the materials;, you simply need to create a unified display that works for your baby as well as you. Pick a large map as the centerpiece of the room; frame it and hang it prominently, but out of baby’s reach. Choose two colors from the map for your foundational and accent color, and let those determine what your bedding and curtain choices are. Hang travel artifacts high on the wall and create displays on shelves or inside cabinets. You can frame postcard collections and your own photos for additional art.
Urban
An urban theme is great for the minimalist baby room. Choose black, white, and silvery gray as your main elements; the furniture should be sleek and streamlined. Let your wall art be a focal point and include a few vivid prints that draw the eye with splashes of color, such as primary red and blue. You could paint a city skyline on one wall, and use galvanized crates as holders for diapers, clothes and other baby essentials. Curtains should also be spare and sleek; go with simple blinds or roman shades rather than pleated or fluffy window coverings.
Victorian
For baby girls, Victorian is a great theme; you can do pink and floral but not in an overly sweet way that your baby princess will too quickly outgrow. Pink is an important color, but don’t overdo it. Instead, paint walls in a complementary color such as light green or airy, sky blue. Pick bedding with a floral theme that incorporates both pink and your wall color. Simple lace curtains are a great choice for a Victorian theme. Extend the feel with framed prints of angels, gardens and Victorian-era children.
