Nursery Color Schemes

Get ready for baby's arrival with a nursery color scheme that is soothing and cheery.

If you want to incorporate bold colors in a nursery, design a room with soft neutrals first. The soothing green walls and light-blue carpet tiles provide the perfect foundation for this nursery. The orange rocker pops in the corner, and colorful accessories and toys are bold yet functional accents.

HPDSN1005_nursery-after2_4x3

If you want to incorporate bold colors in a nursery, design a room with soft neutrals first. The soothing green walls and light-blue carpet tiles provide the perfect foundation for this nursery. The orange rocker pops in the corner, and colorful accessories and toys are bold yet functional accents.

By: Gina Hannah

Designing a color scheme for your new nursery is a fun way to get ready for baby's arrival. You'll choose colors not only for your walls, but also for bed linens, rugs, window treatments and accessories to build a look that creates the perfect environment for your new addition while also reflecting your family's decorating style.

The Coolest Wall Decals for Kids' Rooms

See All Photos

Shop This Look

Color brings personality to any room, and you want your baby's bedroom to be nurturing as well as cheery. For colors, you can go soft or bright, or you can use a combination of the two. Neutral shades can create a nice backdrop for a non-gender-specific nursery that will have more staying power than pastel shades well into childhood as your baby grows. A room with neutral walls can be brightened by color in rugs, window treatments and accessories.

Oranges, blues, greens, purples and yellows are good choices for sunny colors, and earth tones work nicely for either a little girl or boy. A girl's nursery with sage green walls and warm pink accents in curtains or an accent wall creates a pretty look that will last as your daughter enters grade school. Blue and green makes a great combination for a boy's room.

For a serene look, incorporate an analogous color scheme with shades that are next to one another on a color wheel. A monochromatic look, which uses varying shades of the same color, creates depth and serenity if you're using neutral or cool colors. Or imagine a nursery with creamy white walls and soft white bed linens and curtains. Vary the textures you incorporate into the nursery through rugs, bed linens and window curtains.

If you desire more energy from your colors, try a triadic color scheme, which uses shades spaced evenly apart on the color wheel. Some color combinations lend themselves to certain themes, particularly in a baby's room. Themes such as airplanes, animals or storybook characters are popular, but keep in mind these furnishings, wallpaper and coordinating colors may be quickly outgrown and need to be changed sooner than more flexible, simpler color schemes.

When pulling your look together, keep in mind that many designers advise against having more than five large areas of color. Too many wall colors can be distracting and cause visual tension. Also, too much red, such as red walls, can confuse a small baby, because their eyes see that color before others. The best colors for babies to wake up to are softer shades, such as blues, greens and pinks, because those colors develop at around the same time in a baby's eye.

Next Up

The Best Changing Table Dressers for Your Nursery

Make the most of your nursery's square footage with a multipurpose dresser that also doubles as your changing table.

HGTV's Kim Wolfe Called on Her 'Survivor' Bestie to Help With a Special Nursery Design

If you can survive on an island together, you can put a crib together, right?

How I Fit a Baby Into My Tiny NYC Apartment

When you live in a 750-square-foot space, every inch counts.

Inside Christina Hall's Most Personal Makeover from 'Christina on the Coast' Season 4

Christina's longtime BFF Cassie Schienle is ready to be a mom of two — thanks to this adorable nursery design by Christina. Take a tour and shop the look.

The Best Stylish and Safe Bassinets for Baby in 2023

Bring your newborn home to a sweet cradle that's pretty, practical and most importantly, safe.

12 Cute Wall Art Ideas for Nurseries and Kids' Rooms

Nest away with these fun signs, prints and posters fit for your little one's space.

What's Your Bedroom Personality?

Are you a nature lover or a tech-savvy genius? Take HGTV's quiz to find out what your perfect bedroom color match is.

20 Newborn Essentials & Must-Haves for New Parents

Don't let your registry get out of control with every product ever designed for infants. We've narrowed it down to the 20 absolutes you need before bringing your little one home.

The Best Pack 'n Plays of 2023

Provide your little one a safe place to snooze and play, at home or away, with our top playard picks.

10 Beautiful Playmats That Get Our Design Stamp of Approval

Baby's nursery just got a major style upgrade.

Go Shopping

Get product recommendations from HGTV editors, plus can’t-miss sales and deals.

On TV

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.