Nursery Colors for Boys

When you think of a baby boy's nursery, it's natural to think of classic blue, but don't stop there. From cheery bright hues to classic neutrals, you have a wide range of color choices to design the perfect baby boy's room.

Neutral paint on the room's walls will give you a wide range of options for accent colors and accessories. Neutral colors will also allow for easy decor changes as your baby boy grows older.

For a look that is warm and nurturing with a bit of cheer, paint the walls a warm cocoa and add touches of orange and turquoise.

Green is also a good choice for walls, with tints ranging from palest mint to bright lime to deep forest green. Green looks rich and soothing with brown, beige and other neutrals. Create a strong color contrast with lime green paired with black and white accents.

Purple can also work in a boy's room, but you may want to steer from very pale shades or those with a hint of pink. Pair a deep shade of purple with grey or taupe in wide stripes on the walls.

And, yes, there's blue, which can range from the palest powder blue to cobalt. Paint walls a deep ocean blue and complement them with accessories in sky blue and dark navy. For more contrast, pair blue with bright green. Lighter shades of blue look good with brown. Soft shades of blue on the walls look great with bare wood furniture or pieces painted black or white. Deeper shades of blue will pop against crisp white or black furnishings.

For a strong mix of colors that works well, particularly with muted shades, paint a striped or argyle pattern with blue, green, beige or grey. This look will have more staying power than a "themed" room of airplanes, trains or another motif painted on the walls. You can bring those elements in with accessories, from lamps to pillows to artwork, which are much easier to change your child's tastes develop.

After choosing wall colors you love, consider the furnishings you'll put in your baby boy's room. Solid wood and black-painted furniture can provide a strong visual anchor to the room's decor if you're using neutral or brighter shades on the walls.

Whatever colors you choose, opt for a satin or semi-gloss finish on the walls to provide better durability and easier cleaning for those times when that growing boy arms himself with crayons to express his own color tastes.

See Also: How to Choose Paint Colors