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Beautifully Modern Nurseries That Skip the Pink & Blue

March 12, 2018

By: Lili Zarghami

For parents with a flair for modern design, creating a nursery for your little bundle of joy can cause a conundrum. Baby pinks and blues fill the nursery aisles, but you prefer a more broad color palette and aren't a fan of frills. What to do? Take a look through these decidedly modern nurseries that will fill you with ideas for a baby's room that matches your style.

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Ombré Mountains Pop Next to Natural Wood Crib

Photo: Rebecca Zajac. From: Rebecca Zajac

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Simple Furniture Choices

For a modern look in your baby's room, choose furniture with simple lines. The crib, shelves and even the reading lamp are unadorned and play well with the ombre mountain range. The bold, graphic mural adds visual interest and color and can easily be changed as tastes evolve.

Photo: Tessa Neudstadt

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Try a Monochrome Look

The monochrome color scheme of this nursery makes this room as serene as it is simple. White works well for any gender (although it's a brave choice for potentially messy little ones!) and doesn't take a ton of design know-how to pull off. Keep everything in the same narrow color range and add life and color with greenery and art.

Contemporary White Nursery With Multiple Patterns

Photo: Laure Joliet Photography

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Go for Bold Colors

Modern definitely doesn't have to mean black and white and gray. This playful nursery gets a kick of color through its geometric wallpaper, art, pillows and rug and still remains quite modern. The deeply saturated hues all complement each other and create a stimulating and fun space.

Sitting Room With Floral Roman Shade, Gray Armchair And Orange Throw

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Play With Unexpected Patterns

Midcentury modern-inspired fabrics and patterns help this nursery by designer Brian Patrick Flynn really stand out from the crowd. This space is a great reminder that there's no need to stick to expected fabrics and patterns, and stepping outside the box often creates stunning results.

Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg. From: Breeze Giannasio

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Add Animal Portraits

Animal portraits are definitely a hot trend in nursery art. Most little kids love animals, and these baby beasts make for an extra-cute addition that your babe will stare at for hours. The white backdrops in the portraits make them easy to use against a bright wall color like this turquoise shade.

Southwestern Nursery With White Crib and Pink Rug

Photo: Sarah Sweeney, Design By: Sarah Sweeney

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Choose Some "Grown-Up" Pieces

This sweet, modern nursery is full of baby necessities like a crib and rocker, but it's kept modern with the addition of a grown-up patterned rug and copper side table. Both pieces keep the nursery from feeling too sweet but are still cute as a button. When it's time to upgrade to a big-kid room, these essentials can stay.

Contemporary, Gray Boy's Nursery With Crib

Photo: Jacob Snavely. From: Chango and Co.

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A New Take on Themes

If you love the idea of a themed room, take a cue from Chango and Co. and update it in a modern and sophisticated way. In this example, they took the simple theme of cars and made it feel new by using framed, vintage-inspired prints from the same artist.

Midcentury Modern Nursery With Gray Dresser, Armchair & Yellow Accents

Photo: Christian Garibaldi. From: Karen B Wolf Interiors

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Sophisticated Colors

For the ultimate in modern nurseries, stick to a color scheme that's a bit more sophisticated. The go-to is black, white and gray with bursts of bright colors like yellow and turquoise. If your child grows and wants something more colorful, you'll be able to reuse the furniture in other places in your home.

Midcentury Modern Nursery Baby Room With Whale Wallpaper

Photo: karen wolf. From: Karen B Wolf Interiors

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Unexpected Chandeliers

Chandeliers in bedrooms have gone from a novel trend to a style choice that seems bound to stick around for awhile. So why not choose a stunner of a light for a modern nursery? It's a great way to add a functional and polished piece that's out of arm's reach in your baby's nursery.

Photo: Laura Metzler. From: Kerra Michele Huerta

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An Update to Gender Neutral

Green and yellow used to be the only color choices for gender-neutral nurseries. Not anymore. Whether you're waiting for a surprise baby or you just want a nursery that can be used again with another child, gray and white is a good way to go. The soft hues work well for a boy or a girl and can easily accommodate more feminine or masculine accessories if you want to add some.

HGTV Smart Home 2016 Orange Glider and Brushed Nickel Floor Lamp

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Add a Vintage Touch

For midcentury-modern parents, incorporate your sense of style in your baby's room by including some vintage accessories. Be careful about what you choose; anything too valuable could be vulnerable to sticky baby fingers. A lamp like this vintage-inspired swivel-arm makes for the perfect addition. If you're using real vintage, be sure the wiring is updated and safe, then enjoy this classic look.

Teal Nursery With White Dresser and Floor-to-Ceiling Bookshelves