Looking for nursery room ideas? What an exciting time! Is there anything more joyous than decorating a nursery?! Deciding on a color scheme, picking our furniture, putting the prettiest books and toys on display are just a few of the things that make this project feel so special. After all, a nursery is a space where you can get truly 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 main thing is that a nursery should be both fun and functional – but you should also remember that how your child and you use the bedroom will change quickly, so its decor will need to be easy to update, too. Check out these baby room ideas – and our well-tested advice – to get your design just right.
For practical advice, find out how to design a nursery and for more bedroom ideas head over to our feature.
1. Choose a neutral nursery room idea with pops of colour
A neutral nursery with pops of color is a great way to create a space that can grow as they do. Keeping the backdrop simple and adding in color will mean you aren't constantly repainted as they get older and their tastes start to change. This is a fab look if you are wanting to create a gender-neutral nursery too.
2. Go for a muted version of the classic pink nursery idea
If you are a sucker for the baby pinks and blues that are the go-to colors for nurseries, why not give these color schemes an update with contemporary, muted paint shades? Think duck-egg variations of blue and dusty, barely-there pinks. Still sweet, but with a contemporary twist.
Be inspired by more paint color schemes for kids' rooms and check out our girls' nursery ideas gallery too.
3. Create a Scandi nursery with a white color scheme
Want at least the illusion of peace and tranquility in the nursery? Nothing beats a classic all-white scheme for its ability to hold a room together and create an easy-going, Scandi ambiance that's so easy to update. A contrasting floor will prevent the room from looking washed out.
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
It's amazing how quickly a baby's room becomes a toddler's bedroom and play space, so why not decorate it with the future in mind? Choose bright, bold colors for a contemporary, fun, feel, and don't be afraid to experiment with eye-catching patterns – a mural will help to create a graphic centerpiece.
See the latest mural design ideas for every room in your home.
5. Enjoy a pastel nursery decorating scheme
If your nursery is quite small or awkwardly shaped, enhance the space visually by painting half way up walls with a lovely pastel hue, in contrast with an otherwise neutral scheme. This will make the wall an attractive focal feature. Be careful not to use too many colors in a small very small nursery, though, or it will look busy not restful.
Find out everything you need to know about feature wall ideas in our design gallery.
6. Add in mustard yellows
What a gorgeous nursery! It's colorful and 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 and yet creative and fun too with the whimsical print and the balloons on the wall too.
7. Embrace pink nursery room ideas
Like the baby pink shades, but don't want to commit to an all-pink nursery? There's a simple solution: try out one wall in pink, keeping the rest of the decor neutral.
Browse more pretty pink room ideas in our gallery.
8. Mix and match wallpaper and paint
Wallpaper is the easiest way to add a bit of fun and texture to an otherwise plain room; wallpaper also works wonders for cheering up a room that doesn't get enough light – just be sure to pick a light-colored design.
See lots more gorgeous wallpapers for children's rooms.
9. Match wallpaper and curtains – to make the nursery feel bigger
Matching window treatments to walls can work really well in a nursery, where the same rules as the rest of the house don't really apply. So long as your color scheme isn't too crazy, an abundance of prints will look cozy and cute.
10. Choose a warm paint shade in a north-facing nursery
Pastel shades can look a little dull and clinical in rooms that get little light; a good way to compensate for a lack of sunlight is painting your nursery in a sunny and warm shade; think a rich, honeyed yellow or a zesty lemon hue. The bonus? It's gender-neutral, too.
11. Use window film in ground-floor nurseries
If your nursery is on the ground floor or overlooked, and you want to create a space that is private but still lets in natural light, window film is a great solution. Choose window film types that let in maximum light – some types let in as much as 90 per cent.
These wonderful window film ideas will give you plenty of inspiration.
12. Accessorise a nursery with wall art
To add a bit of interest to a neutral nursery decorating scheme without having to DIY, hang a few pretty prints. Easy as pie, and easily swapped when your child gets old enough to choose their own.
13. Create a fairytale atmosphere with a mural
Delight your new baby with a riot of color and texture, turning 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. You could of course paint you own too!
14. Have fun decorating with nursery wall stickers
Want an easy DIY project for the nursery? Get yourself some lovely wall stickers! They take minimum effort, but have lots of impact. Just be aware that taking them off might be harder than putting them on, so be prepared to redecorate eventually.
15. Color block for a multi-dimensional effect
Why have just one or two colors in a nursery, when more will create added warmth and interest? The trick to color blocking in a nursery is keeping the tones of the various colors the same (for example, combine warm shades of pink, apricot, and lilac, but avoid anything too cool). That way the room will feel calm and spacious.
Find out how to color block with these inspiring ideas.
16. Pick our the right nursing chair
Pick a nursing chair you'll find comfortable now – but can fit into your home's colour scheme in a year or so's time when you no longer need it in your child's room. We're talking washable or removable covers in a neutral, go-with-anything shade.
Find the best nursing chairs to suit every scheme, style and budget in our guide.
17. Invest in a good nursery storage unit
Invest in a sturdy changing table now – but pick one that has built-in storage that's flexible for the future. It might hold diapers now but it won't be long until you're stashing toys in it.
Find great kids' room toy storage ideas and book storage ideas to keep the nursery neat.
18. Choose nursery furniture that suits your style
As you've (hopefully) come to discover while reading through our nursery design ideas, designing a room fit for young children doesn't have to mean sacrificing your sense of interior style. Although some soft play equipment, for example, can seem garish, there's plenty out there in muted colours too.
19. Design a sleek nursery storage solution
Designing a nursery that will suit your child as they grow is a good idea if you're looking to save money in the long run. Storage should be central to a nursery intended to stand the test of time.
Find more nursery storage in our buyer's guide.
20. Add cosiness with a canopy
Canopies are all over Instagram at the moment, and they are a lovely thing to add to a kid's room. The look great and add some texture and coziness to the room, but they also are good for creating the perfect nap space and even a den as your child gets older.
What should you include in a nursery?
It can be a tad overwhelming when you start to design a nursery, it's lovely to scroll through gorgeous nursery ideas for decor inspiration but what do you actually need to include. We've put together a simple checklist of all the essentials you will want to consider adding to your nursery:
- A crib
- A mattress with a waterproof mattress cover
- Crib sheets and blankets
- A nursing chair
- A changing table or mat
- Drawers
- Toy storage
- A soft light or sleep lamp
- A speaker for soft sounds or white noise
- Blackout blinds or curtains
- A playmat
- A baby monitor
How do you decide on a theme for a nursery?
If you need help deciding on an overall nursery theme we would suggest making a mood board. Save pictures to like the look of on social media and from magazines too. And look at the style you have going on in the rest of your home for inspiration, because while you want your nursery to fill like a fun, creative space for your kid, you still want to work with the overall scheme of your house.