Create a Classic Neutral Nursery

A tiny 9x7 second-floor bonus room was transformed into a little boy’s nursery with careful space planning, a smart use of mirrors to reflect light, a mix of patterns and classic color choices.

Although the space was specifically designed for a 2-year-old boy, its color scheme works well for either gender. The use of taupe and black together can easily become masculine with the addition of dark green or brown, but accents of coral or tangerine keep the overall palette cheerful and gender neutral.

Rooms where little ones crawl around on the floor definitely require soft underfoot surfaces. A flat weave rug was used to introduce the color black into the room design, and since the large-scale geometric lattice pattern is not specific to children, it can be used later in any room of the house. Flat weave rugs get their name from being woven (resulting in a flat appearance) rather than knotted (resulting in a more plush, piled effect), and therefore they tend to be thin and lightweight.

Interior designers often use mirrors in small rooms to help reflect natural light and create the illusion of more space. A round mirror featuring letters of the alphabet was secured to the wall with safety anchors and a child-proof latch. The mirror helps keep the nursery bright and airy as it reflects natural sunlight streaming in through the window.