Decorating a Nursery? 10 Unique Baby Room Ideas

You’ll be spending lots of long nights in the nursery, so picking a relaxing paint color is an essential first step in the design process. Neutral shades like tan and cream are a timeless choice, but you can also opt for something a bit brighter, like forest green or navy blue, if you prefer a pop of color. Avoid colors like fire engine red since those may make it difficult to wind down in the room.

One of the easiest ways to spruce up your baby’s nursery is by painting a mural on one of the walls. Start by thinking about what theme you want for the room, and then use that as inspiration when designing the mural. For example, if you want to do a forest theme, you could paint three of the walls a soft green and paint mountains and pine trees on the other wall. If you want to want to do a “Good Night Moon” theme, you could paint a moon and stars on one wall and add some glow-in-the-dark stars to the ceiling. If you’re not artistically inclined and don’t want to pay a muralist, you can choose stick-on wallpaper instead.

Instead of just painting the walls and purchasing some generic furniture, you can make the process more fun by choosing a theme. Painting a mural is a great way to showcase your theme, but if you don’t want to go that route you can bring it to life with rugs, wall hangings, or even a personalized wall light set. When deciding on a theme, it’s helpful to think about how the room can grow with your baby over the years (as well as what can accommodate a baby brother or sister in the future). For that reason, it may be best to steer clear of patterns or motifs that are too babyish in favor of a look that can age more naturally with your child.

Hardwood floors are a gorgeous design choice, but floor-to-floor carpeting may be a better option for a nursery since it helps absorb sound and makes the space feel more cozy. If you don’t want to spend the money needed to carpet the entire room, you can buy a large area rug instead. Having a softer landing will also make it easier to check on your baby in the middle of the night without waking them up.

From wicker baskets to sparkly poufs to bearskin rugs, adding texture to the nursery is a great way to create visual variety and help the space feel more comfy and homey. Since you’ll be spending lots of time in the room, it’s nice to have textured pieces that can hold your attention, like a beaded wall hanging or a textured painting. Indoor plants, safely placed out of the baby’s reach, are another excellent choice since they add a splash of greenery and help the room feel more elevated.

Instill the love of reading in your child from a young age by putting a mini library in their room. You can hang several shelves and place some of your favorite books on them. (This method also doubles as decor and gives you a nice focal point.) Alternatively, you can purchase a playhouse and rotate some of your favorite books in and out of it as your child ages.

Lighting can make or break a room, especially in a place like a nursery where you’re spending lots of sleepless nights. To make it as easy as possible on your eyes, consider investing in soft lighting, which provides a nice glow and prevents you from stumbling around in the darkness during a middle-of-the-night feeding. You may also want to buy a night light and a small reading lamp so you can finish bedtime stories or dive into a book of your own as you’re rocking your baby to sleep. Fairy lights or kid-centric choices (such as mushroom lamps or dinosaur lights) are another fun option for your little love bug.

Mobiles are an important finishing touch because they help babies with their visual development. Regardless of what room theme you choose, you can easily find a mobile that matches your aesthetic. Some mobiles even play music to help lull your baby to sleep. If you’re feeling crafty, you can try your hand at making your own. Just use pompoms, ribbons, paper airplanes, or other paper cutouts to fashion the mobile of your dreams.

While you’ve likely been designing the nursery with the baby in mind, it’s important to make sure it feels comfortable and inviting for you too. Invest in a high-quality chair (such as a glider or rocking chair) and a footstool to ensure maximum comfort. You might also want to keep some books and blankets by the chair so you have a way to stay warm and entertained while you’re rocking your baby to sleep.

If you live in a small apartment or home, it’s important to maximize every square inch of space. For example, you might want to keep blankets and towels on a stylish ladder or rack in the corner so you can easily access them. You can also invest in items that serve double duty, such as a footstool that can hold diapers, a cubby base drawer where you can keep toys and books, or a crib with built-in storage. And consider springing for items that can be stowed out of sight when you’re done using them, such as a trundle bed. If you’re truly out of space, you can put furniture or other belongings into a self-storage unit until you’re ready to use them again.