If you’ve ever stood in a finished nursery (or any other room) and felt like something was missing, there’s a good chance it’s greenery. Whenever I design a nursery or kid’s room, I try to bring in at least one faux plant to elevate the space. Adding greenery is one of the easiest ways to add warmth and a natural touch to a room, even if it’s artificial. Keep scrolling for how to achieve this effect, the best faux trees and plants I use over and over, plus a few safety tips to keep in mind when using in nurseries and kid’s rooms.

Why use faux trees and plants in the nursery?

Faux trees help fill awkward corners and spaces.

Almost every nursery has at least one awkward corner. It’s a spot that’s not quite big enough for furniture, but still feels a little empty and unfinished. It’s usually between crib and dresser on adjacent walls, like in the image below. A faux tree is one of my favorite ways to fill that dead space. It draws the eye upward, adds some height and dimension to the room, and gives a blank corner a sense of purpose. It’s a simple addition, but it’s often the detail that makes a room feel complete.

In the nursery above, you can see how the faux fiddle leaf fig tree helps to fill an otherwise awkward corner. See the full reveal and all the sources from this nursery here.

Designer Tip: When using a faux tree or plant in the corner of a nursery, it often works best to pair it with a storage bin or large stuffed animal to give the corner more dimension and function.

Faux trees and plants make a space feel warmer.

Greenery is one of the only elements in a room that has an organic and natural feel, and that’s exactly why it makes such a difference. Our brains are wired to appreciate nature, so including it in a nursery makes the whole space feel more cozy and inviting. If a room ever feels a little flat or sterile to me, greenery is usually the first thing I reach for. It makes the whole space feel lived-in and welcoming. Keep scrolling to the very bottom of this post for the full list of the best faux trees and plants!

Faux plants quickly and affordably elevate your space.

If you look at any professionally designed space in a magazine or on Instagram, it’s likely that it includes some type of greenery or floral. Using expensive floral arrangements doesn’t really make sense in a nursery or kid’s room, but adding either a faux plant, larger faux tree or even a small faux floral arrangement adds instant sophistication to the space. If you don’t have space for a floor tree, try a smaller faux plant on the side table, dresser or shelf.

In the nursery above, we used a faux olive tree to help fill out the corner and paired it with a small storage bin. Then on the dresser, we also used a gorgeous pink faux peony arrangement to add sophistication to the space. See the full details of this pretty floral blush nursery here. These particular faux peonies are by far the most stunning faux florals I’ve ever used! They are pricier, but will last forever and can be used in any room.

Why use faux plants instead of real ones?

There are several good reasons I almost always recommend faux plants over real ones in a nursery or young child’s space:

Light. Most nurseries have blackout curtains or blackout shades to help baby sleep. Real plants need real light to survive, and a room that’s dark for daytime naps just doesn’t give them what they need. Unless you’re a plant wizard, it’s likely that a real plant will die without natural light.

Maintenance. Let’s be real, any extra maintenance while you’re caring for a newborn is a burden. Paying attention to real plants, watering them and pruning them isn’t something you need to deal with if you have a new baby at home.

Safety. Real plants come with soil and potentially toxic leaves, which can be a hazard for both children and pets. If you have a crawling or exploring child, they can try to get their hands into the soil or even put the leaves in their mouth. Real plants are just not something you want within arm’s reach of your little one. Faux plants let you get all the visual benefits of greenery with none of these concerns. See more safety tips below!

Are faux plants safe for babies and kids?

Faux plants are much safer than real ones, but they’re not entirely risk-free, so there are a few things to keep in mind.

Once your baby is mobile and crawling or pulling up on furniture, a larger faux tree can become something they’re curious about. Older babies and toddlers are strong enough to knock over a top-heavy floor plant. I always recommend keeping an eye on how your baby interacts with it as they grow. If you notice them starting to reach for the leaves or use the planter to pull themselves up, it may be time to move it out of their room. Another great thing about faux trees and plants is that you can move them anywhere in your home without considering the light changes!

As with anything in a nursery, this comes down to monitoring your baby’s behavior and adjusting the space as they grow. Use a good baby monitor and pay attention to their changing interests.

More Tips for Using Faux Trees & Plants:

Using a pot or a planter with your faux tree:

Most likely, you will need a planter or pot since most faux trees only come with a small plastic pot. For a nursery or kid’s space, you’ll want something larger and sturdier to hold the plant in place, and to add style! I generally recommend a pot that’s at least 10 inches wide, but you may want to go larger if your faux tree is over 6 foot tall. Ceramic or stone is best to add weight so it’s harder to knock over. Some retailers do sell pre-potted faux trees as well, so just read the description carefully before buying.

The best placement for a faux tree:

For a faux tree, an empty corner is usually the best spot since it fills dead space and doesn’t interfere with furniture placement or walkways. Just make sure it’s not within easy reach of the crib or any spot where baby will be crawling or pulling up once they’re mobile. For smaller faux plants, you can place those on any surface like a table, dresser or bookcase.

How to find realistic faux trees and plants:

To find the most realistic faux trees and plants, check the size of the leaves. A faux olive tree is going to have tiny leaves while a faux fiddle leaf fig tree will have large flat leaves. A general rule is that the larger the leaves, the more risk of a plant looking fake. That’s why I stick with smaller or thinner leaf trees like a faux olive tree, faux palm tree or faux eucalyptus tree. The other benefit of small leaves is that you can trim them! That doesn’t mean that a fiddle leaf or other larger leaf plant won’t look good in person, it can just be harder to tell online.

The best size for a faux tree:

It depends on your ceiling height and the size of the corner, but a 5-6 foot faux tree works well in most standard nurseries. For a smaller space, you can go down to a 4 foot size, and for spaces with high ceilings, you can even go up to a 7 foot height.

In the nursery above, we had a higher ceiling to work with so we added a taller faux olive tree in the corner (this one is 6 foot). The smaller faux plant on the side table balances the greenery in the space. See the full reveal of this nursery here.

The Best Faux Trees & Plants Nurseries & Kids:

Image 1: Faux Trees
1. Faux Olive Tree
2. Faux Kentia Palm Tree
3. Faux Eucalyptus Tree in White Pot
4. Potted Faux Shady lady tree
5. Faux Rubber Tree
6. Faux Silk Dracaena Tree
7. Faux Double Yucca Tree
8. Faux Japanese Quince Tree

Image 2: Small Faux Plants
1. Faux Hanging Pothos Plant
2. Faux Potted Pothos Plant
3. Potted Faux Orchid
4. Faux Leaf Plant in Pot
5. Faux Monstera Plant
6. Small Faux Peperomia Plant
7. Faux Trailing Leaf Plant in Pot
8. White Faux Hydrangea Arrangement
9. Small Faux Olive Potted Plant
10. Faux Pink Peony Arrangement

Designing a nursery requires so much thought and attention to detail for every single item in the space. If you need help with your own nursery or kid’s room design, check out our Virtual Design services. Also, check out our other popular nursery decor guides:

The Best Nursery Side Tables With Storage
The Ultimate Guide to Blackout Curtains
Best Mirrors for the Nursery with Tips and Safety

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, I only link items that I 100% recommend! You can view our Disclaimer here.

You know what nursery trend never gets old? Pink. I have been a nursery designer for over 18 years now, and pink has never gone out of style. How could it? So when this Virtual Nursery Design client said they wanted a pink nursery with floral wallpaper, I was excited to take on the project. This room did have one unique challenge to work around—it had gray doors, a warm wood floor and white molding. So already, we had 3 neutrals to work around.

How to Design a Nursery With Multiple Wood Tones

This problem is more common than you’d think! I often see clients whose inspiration boards have beautiful light wood furniture, but their home has a combination of things already and adding another wood tone would be overwhelming. That was the case in this nursery. Instead of shoving another wood tone into the space, we chose nursery furniture that still had the feel of a light wood, but with a grayish undertone. That way, it flowed with the gray doors. Because she also had white molding, we brought in some white details too, like the low white bookcase and white scalloped wall ledges. By creating balance with each finish, the eye doesn’t get stuck on something glaring that stands out.

Designer Tip: Adding textiles to break up woods also helps a lot! By using an upholstered crib, we’re not just looking at another solid wood piece of furniture.

Layering Pink Wallpaper With Other Pink Nursery Decor

As you can see, there are multiple shade of pink in this nursery. The client wanted the space to be versatile and able to transition over the years, so we didn’t want a baby pink wallpaper. Instead, we chose a soft mauve floral wallpaper with a sophisticated pattern. That way, she can enjoy the pink without it feeling too babyish. But the baby is a baby for now, so we also brought in some baby pink accents like the pink table lamp and pink side table. The touch of darker mauve in the scalloped border rug balances the wallpaper and anchors the room.

Look Up! A Nursery With a High Ceiling

One of the best features of this nursery is the high ceiling. While this can feel intimating, there are some tricks to designing a nursery with a high ceiling that take advantage of the space. First is the window treatments. The doors in this room are also quite high, so it was important to hang the curtains at a higher point than the doors. We chose custom length blackout curtains since we needed such a long length, and layered them over the client’s existing roller shades. We also used a woven scalloped chandelier with a down-rod so it didn’t feel dinky too close to the ceiling. The last detail is the wall mirror. If we had used a regular height wall mirror over the low bookcase, it would have been dwarfed by the tall doors, so we went with a beautiful scalloped gold wall mirror in a taller height.

If you’re looking into nursery curtains, check out my Ultimate Guide to Blackout Curtains for the Nursery.

Warming Up a Gray Nursery

Even though this nursery has gray accents, it doesn’t feel cold. The reason is because we made sure to balance the gray with warmer and natural tones to make it feel cozy. If you have a space with gray floors or doors, or just want to design a gray nursery, it will feel so much better with a few hints of gold, woven or rattan textures and some greenery.

Nursery Decor from This Design:

Blush Floral Wallpaper
Upholstered Storage Crib
Fluted Wood Dresser
Ivory Glider Recliner
Ivory Boucle Ottoman
White Scalloped Bookcase
Soft Pink Tiered Side Table
Gold Floor Lamp
Soft Pink Small Lamp  
Scalloped Woven Chandelier
Scalloped Wall Shelves
Gold Wall Name Sign
Custom Length Blackout Curtains
Full Length Arch Gold Mirror
White & Rose Throw Pillow
Woven Storage Bin
Large Plush Giraffe
Elephant Storage Bin
Duck Rocker
Mauve & Ivory Scallop Rug
Organic Crib Mattress
Faux Olive Tree
Faux Sheep Skin Accent Rug
Brass Wall Hooks 

Want your own Virtual Nursery Design? Take a look at our design services page—we have limited spots available to contact us soon!

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, we only link items that we love! You can view our Disclaimer here.

If you’ve been following our work, you’ll probably know that we use a wall mirror over the changing table in almost every nursery design. It’s not safe to hang a mirror (or anything glass) over a crib, so that option is out. Over the changing table, however, is a perfectly natural spot to hang a mirror as mirrors are often used over dressers, consoles and other similar types of furniture. Wall mirrors help reflect light and also to make a room feel brighter and more open.

Keep scrolling to see our favorite wall mirrors for the nursery and kid’s room! Plus, our tips for finding the right size and style wall mirror and installing it safely.

What size wall mirror should I get?

A little dinky mirror over a dresser just doesn’t look right. You’ll want a mirror that’s close to about 2/3 the size of the furniture underneath it. For example, if the dresser is 50″ wide, a 32″ mirror will look great. You can always go a little larger for a grander look! Also keep your ceiling height in mind. If you have a standard 8 foot ceiling and a standard 34 inch high dresser, you’ll want a maximum mirror height of about 40″. If you have higher ceilings, you can go with a taller mirror—just make sure you have at least 16 inches between the top of the mirror and the ceiling so things don’t feel cramped.

How high above the dresser should I install the wall mirror?

A good rule here is to install the wall mirror about 4-8 inches above the top of the dresser. However, there are two things to keep in mind. First, if you’ve got a changing tray on top of your dresser, you’ll need to account for that too. Make sure there’s enough space between the top of the tray and the bottom of the mirror. Second, this is assuming you have a standard height dresser and are of average height. You’ll want the mirror to feel natural to you, so if it’s not close to eye level for you, you can adjust it accordingly.

What color or finish should I look for?

Choosing the color or finish of your wall mirror is all about balance. Usually wall mirror finishes come in four categories: Metallic, Wood, Painted or Textured. I would suggest metallic if you have other metallic accents in the room, like a brass chandelier. Just go with the same metallic finish you have elsewhere in the room. The same goes for wood—if you already have other wood accents in the room, just go with a similar finish. If you want a pop of color, you can always go with something painted in either white or a fun color. Lastly, if you want to add some texture instead of sticking with a metallic or wood, something like a rattan wall mirror works really well. But again, it’s about balancing the other nursery decor in the room. If you bring in a color or texture with the mirror, it needs to also be elsewhere in the space.

How to install a wall mirror safely in a nursery:

Anything that’s hung on the wall in a nursery needs to be exceedingly secure. Wall mirrors are often heavy, so we always recommend using high security hardware, heavyweight wall anchors, or a French cleat if the mirror design will work with one. When in doubt, add more security! Once the mirror is hung, you want to try to jiggle it from side to side and from top to bottom to ensure that it does not move.

Other mirror safety tips:

Sometimes decorative wall mirrors will have sharp pieces or other decorative accents that can be a safety issue, so make sure the mirror is either rounded, or has a smooth rectangular edge. If you do choose something with more design elements, either don’t use it over a changing table or make sure it’s not sharp to the touch. And always, always monitor your baby while they are on the changing table!

Our Favorite Nursery Wall Mirrors:

Image 1:
1. Round Wavy Wood Mirror
2. Round Blue Mirror
3. Heart Shape Mirror
4. Gold Bow Mirror
5. Sage Green Flower Wall Mirror
6. Arch Gold Mirror
7. Natural Round Mirror
8. Wood Rectangle Wall Mirror
9. Vintage Arch Gold Mirror
10. Black Round Wood Mirror

Image 2:
1. Rectangle Rattan Wall Mirror
2. Round Natural Wood Mirror
3. Whitewash Coastal Rattan Round Mirror
4. Soft Pink Floral Round Mirror
5. Round Scalloped Wicker Mirror
6. Large Round Brass Mirror
7. White Scallop Mirror
8. Whitewash Wood Bead Mirror
9. Brass Double Wide Arch Mirror
10. Slate Blue & Gold Mirror 

Designing a nursery requires so much thought and attention to detail for every single item in the space. If you need help with your own nursery or kid’s room design, check out our Virtual Design services. Also, check out our other nursery decor guides:

The Best Nursery Side Tables With Storage
The Best Small and Mini Nursery Lamps
The Best Nursery Air Purifier
The Ultimate Guide to Blackout Curtains
The Best Convertible Cribs for All Stages

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, I only link items that I 100% recommend! You can view our Disclaimer here.

It has been so fun to see which nursery design trends have been coming back for 2026. One that’s been around for years and has been continuing to hold firm is wall paneling. The style and color is changing with time, but our clients still love a paneled wall! This client wanted a nursery design for her son to have dark blues, grays and neutrals with touches of brass. She already owned a set of traditional nursery furniture so she wanted to bring in those classic elements while balancing the design with some modern touches too.

Creating Accent Wall Paneling

When we started this design, the nursery already had a board and batten style wall paneling in navy blue. We wanted to soften the space and create something that worked better with her more classic nursery furniture, so we changed the board and batten wall to a more traditional wall paneling style. We also changed the color to a softer slate blue—still dark and bold but more sophisticated than a true navy.

Designer Tip: When planning out any type of wall paneling, it’s always best to measure and tape it out to make sure you like the look. This is a project for pretty experienced DIYers only, so we generally recommend hiring a contractor to install wall paneling.

Balancing Traditional and Modern Design Elements

Since we needed to blend together different styles in this nursery design, we included some more modern and organic pieces along with the traditional furniture. The key to balancing different styles is balance. As you can see in the floor plan above, the arched crib and dresser are on opposite walls, so the traditional style is already balanced there. The neutral boucle glider, which is in between, is a more transitional style and has some texture. Then we brought in modern touches throughout the space like the round brass mirror, brass floor lamp, travertine side table and abstract artwork.

Mixing Plaid Patterns for a Preppy Touch

The client wanted to add a little preppy style to this nursery, specifically with plaid. We have three plaids in this space—the white and blue plaid wallpaper, the neutral plaid rug, and the beige plaid throw blanket. If you notice, none of them touch each other and they are all pretty soft so they don’t overwhelm the space. The light blue in the wallpaper brings in another dimension as well to balance the darker paneled wall. And of course, no preppy nursery is complete without a few teddy bear touches. We made sure to add a teddy bear art print and a sweet little plush teddy bear on the wall shelf!

Nursery Decor from This Design:

White & Blue Plaid Wallpaper
Arched Traditional Convertible Crib (similar)
Cream Boucle Motorized Glider
Linen Waterfall Ottoman
Faux Travertine Side Table
White & Gold Floor Lamp 
Wood Chandelier (similar)
Branch Book Shelf
Neutral Plaid Rug
Faux Sheepskin Washable Accent Rug
Round Brass Mirror
Bear Art Print 
Blue & Neutral Abstract Wall Art
Plush Alpaca Rocker
Blue Chambray Crib Skirt
Neutral Woven Storage Bin
Neutral Plaid Throw Blanket
Blue Storage Box
Plush Teddy Bear

If you’re looking for more slate blue nursery ideas, check out some of our other slate blue nursery designs and favorite products:

Neutral and Slate Blue Board and Batten Nursery
Our Favorite Slate Blue Nursery Decor
Preppy Blue and Neutral Nursery With Bear Accents
Blue Slate Nursery With Vintage Airplane Elements

Want your own Virtual Nursery Design? Take a look at our design services page—we have limited spots available to contact us soon!

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, we only link items that we love! You can view our Disclaimer here.

There have been two main nursery design trends I’ve been seeing so much of for 2026. One of them is a more traditional preppy look. It’s so fun to see what clients are into and what their inspiration is! I worked with this client previously on her son’s coastal bedroom and her daughter’s floral nursery. For the new baby, she wanted a more preppy aesthetic with a blue and red star wallpaper she was in love with.

Blending Preppy, Traditional and Modern Nursery Styles.

One of the challenges in nursery design is that sometimes a client will have a home in one style, but want a nursery design in another style. That is a very common issue I deal with all the time with my clients! For this client, she had a pretty modern home, but wanted her nursery to feel preppy and traditional. She also already had her crib, which was on the modern side, so we needed to blend all those styles together.

The key here is balance. We pulled in a more traditional blue dresser, but balanced it with a more modern wood nightstand on the opposite side of the room. The star wallpaper and gold chandelier both also have a more traditional style. The bear accents bring in that preppy style, and the cohesion of the blue color ties things together. The neutral plaid rug and glider are both pretty transitional and will work with anything!

Painted Molding in a Nursery

One of the fun accents in this nursery is the blue molding around the windows. Painted molding is a great way to add a pop of color, but there are a few ways to go about it. The opposite side of this room has a closet with large built-in doors. If we decided to paint the baseboard and doors blue, we would have also had to pull that blue onto the whole closet which would have been overwhelming in this space. So doing just the windows works perfectly (since they don’t connect to anything else).

Teddy Bear Decor for That Preppy Nursery Style

There might not be anything that exemplifies the preppy nursery style like the classic teddy bear. The soft brown color, soft texture and classic appeal make it so perfect to add a preppy pop to a nursery. We included an adorable bear storage hamper, teddy bear rocker and a sweet bear artwork.

Designer Tip: Keep your theme minimal and add in themed accents in smaller ways that can be removed easily later.

Decor from This Preppy Nursery Design:

Blue Star Wallpaper
Blue Dresser
Light Wood Crib
Neutral Plaid Rug
Cloud Accent Rug
Neutral Boucle Glider
Neutral Storage Ottoman
Storage Side Table
Wood Wall Ledges
Neutral Table Lamp
Traditional Gold Chandelier
Natural Rattan Mirror
Red Scallop Dresser Lamp
Teddy Bear Art Print
Bear Storage Bin
Light Blue & Burgundy Throw Pillow
Faux Olive Tree
Ivory Planter 
Blueberry Crib Sheet
Teddy Bear Rocker
Blue & Burgundy Stripe Blanket

Want your own Virtual Nursery Design? Take a look at our design services page—we have limited spots available so contact us soon!

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, we only link items that we love! You can view our Disclaimer here.

Nursery lighting is one of the most important elements of the space, because after all, you need to be able to see! It is especially important to have flexible lighting options for your nursery design that can fit your individual needs. I love to suggest to my clients that they have a small table lamp in the nursery for when they need to sneak in there in the middle of the night without waking the baby. That way, you can just turn on the little lamp instead of all the overhead lights.

It’s also really helpful to have a small lamp by the glider for reading, rocking or feeding. Nursery lamps usually go on the side table by the glider or on the dresser (which has to be shared with the changing pad). For this reason, I usually suggest lamps on the smaller side. A piece under 20″ is ideal for those little spots. Here are some of my favorite small scale lamps, perfect any spot in your nursery!

The Ideal Nursery Lamp Size

When looking at a lamp online, it can be hard to know what the dimensions will look like in real life. It’s common for people to purchase a table lamp that’s too large for a changing table or nursery side table because a standard height table lamp might be too large for the nursery space. When in doubt, find a lamp already in your home and measure the width and height. You can even bring it into the nursery to see how it feels and adjust what you’re looking for from there.

The Best Nursery Lamp Height

For nursery lamps, I like to stay under about 22″ high, with 20″ high being the goal. Table lamps can go up to 28″ high, so check carefully when you are shopping online. That said, if you have an extra-wide dresser and a large mirror, you can definitely go up to a larger lamp size. See an example of that in this Gray and Lavender Nursery.

This adorable preppy small nursery lamp comes in lots of colors and shade options.

The Best Nursery Lamp Width

Lamp width can be just as important as the height, especially for the changing table. You can see in the roundup image that some of the lamps have smaller shades than others. If you have a small changing table, you might want to go for a lamp with a smaller shade, closer to 8-10″ wide. If you have more space, then you can go larger.

Safety Considerations for Nursery Lamps

Anything you put in the nursery can be at risk of being knocked over or pulled down. Table lamps are often made of delicate materials like ceramic or glass, so it’s important to keep an eye on your child. You won’t have to deal with these issues until your child is old enough to crawl, but it’s nice to know ahead of time what to look out for. Keep all cords hidden or secured, and if you notice that your child starts to grab toward the lamp, it might be time to remove it from the nursery.

If you’re short on space, an extra small nursery lamp like this mini scallop lamp will save space.

Our Favorite Small and Mini Nursery Lamps

1. White Modern Dome Table Lamp
2. Pink Scalloped Table Lamp
3. White and Brass Scalloped Table Lamp
4. Dark Green Glass Table Lamp
5. Bird Pattern Globe Table Lamp
6. Grass Green Wide Table Lamp
7. Textured Neutral Table Lamp
8. Slate Blue Scalloped Table Lamp
9. Pink Fluted Table Lamp
10. Taupe Rattan Scalloped Table Lamp

There is a lot that goes into nursery lighting, from small lamps for the dresser or side table, to figuring out which window treatments to use to control the natural light in the room. If you need help with that, check out our post on nursery blackout curtains.

Happy shopping!

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, I only link items that I 100% recommend!*

So far, it seems like this year has been client after client that I’ve worked with before. Repeat clients are always the best because I’ve already gotten to know their family and their style, and they’ve gotten to know how I work. It’s a win-win! Last year, I designed a pretty blush nursery for this same family. This time, she wanted to design a kid’s room her mother-in-law’s home since they spend most summers there. The house is in another state and has a much more coastal style than their New York apartment, so it was fun to work with her on something completely different.

Designing a Kid’s Room That’s Also for Guests

Since this kid’s room is in a shared home, we wanted to make sure that it could also function as a guest room for the rest of the year. The space needed to function fully as a children’s room, but also have an elevated design and be comfortable enough for other adults. We started by finding a wood bunk bed to fit the coastal theme, but that had clean lines and high quality. The other foundational items of the room, like the fluted dresser and linen blackout drapery, are also neutral in color and style to keep things soft and serene.

Designer Tip: When designing a shared space for kids and guests, keep the foundational items neutral and add in smaller decor for the kids that’s easily removable when adults need to stay in the room.

An Elevated Coastal Kid’s Room to Flow With the Home

Another challenge with this kid’s room was that it’s the first room you see when you walk into the home—right off the entry. It has glass French doors so anyone can see into the room. So not only did the space need to be multi-purpose, but it also needed to be sophisticated enough to blend with the rest of the home since it’s part of what everyone sees.

Designer Tip: Add storage bins with lids or storage benches to quickly toss kid’s toys into when guests come over. It’s also a great way to teach kids how to clean up on their own.

Layered Decor for a Subtle Coastal Theme

We wanted to make sure the kid’s had some fun coastal decor, but that it also made sense for the home. We picked out some cute coastal pieces like the scalloped coral wall mirror, rattan sea shell wall hangings, and the wood fish wall hangings, and then blended those with the more neutral aspects of the room. The bedding on the bunk bed is all neutral and light blue, but then with a few fun coastal theme pillows.

Designer Tip: Not sure how much thematic decor to layer in? I usually suggest creating a balance in each vignette of the room. For example, you can use non-themed bedding but then add coastal themed pillows, or a regular dresser with a themed lamp. Not everything has to be overtly themed either. Color, pattern and texture can lend themselves to a theme, especially for coastal, so rattan and blues will already inherently have a coastal feel.

Kid’s Bedroom Decor from This Design

Wood Bunk Bed
Bleached Wood Fluted Dresser
Lacquered Linen Nightstand
Cloud Accent Rug
Gray Area Rug
Neutral Stripe Linen Curtains
Scallop Nightstand Lamp
Rattan & Blue Dresser Lamp
Coastal Chandelier
White Coral Mirror
Seagull Canvas Art
Wooden & White Stripe Fish Wall Decor
Neutral Storage Bin
Light Blue Bedding
Faux Eucalyptus Tree
Neutral & Blue Stripe Throw Blanket
Neutral Fringe Shell Throw Pillow
Neutral Throw Blanket in Oatmeal
Rattan Shell Wall Hangings
Neutral & Brown Shell Throw Pillow

Want your own Virtual Nursery or Kid’s Room Design? Take a look at our design services page—we have limited spots available so contact us soon!

*This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry, we only link items that we love! You can view our Disclaimer here.

Designing a nursery is one of the most exciting parts of being an expecting parent. The nursery is a space for you and your baby that will hopefully be relaxing, functional and, of course, safe. When you have your heart set on a color scheme, one of the easiest ways to add that color to the nursery is with paint. But painting a room can feel daunting. It’s hard to know which exact shade to choose, which walls to paint, and what type of paint to get. We’ve put together our top tips to make painting your nursery a breeze!

The Best Nursery Paint Colors

The good news is, there is no best nursery paint color. The world is your oyster! Color is one of the most expressive tools we have in interior design, and I love to encourage my clients to explore it however they see fit. That said, there are some guidelines for painting the nursery that I always recommend:

In the soft blue nursery above, a soft blue hue makes the custom cabinetry feel perfectly integrated. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Lake Placid.

Choosing the Right Nursery Paint Color

Decide on a color family and sample, sample, sample. Paint is one of those things that you just have to try out first. The swatches you get from the store don’t cut it. Paint colors will change as they dry, will look different under various lighting, and can even look different depending on which wall(s) you choose within the room. I always recommend getting a few shades mixed at your local paint store (ask for the sample size) and paint them in your actual space. You can read more about some of our favorite paint colors in this post.

This gray and lavender nursery above was a great example of why it’s important to sample. The terracotta tiles on the outside of the house cast a very slight warm hue into the room. That’s why these walls actually look a bit lavender/mauve, but they are actually a very neutral gray! Paint color: Sherwin Williams Light French Gray.

In the Bold Green Nursery above, our client wanted to go all out and paint all the walls, including the doors. Since there was plenty of natural light, the space didn’t feel too dark. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Cushing Green.

Choose your sheen level. Paint comes in multiple sheen levels from fully flat to high gloss. For the nursery, I usually suggest an eggshell finish which has a slight sheen. Flat paint looks really nice as well, but doesn’t clean as easily. If you’re also painting an attached bathroom, you can go up to satin or semi-gloss since it’s more moisture resistant.

In this butterfly themed nursery, a super subtle shade of pink with a mauve undertone makes the room glow. Paint color: Dunn Edwards Windmill.

Nursery wall paneling is so popular, and this stunning soft sage green color creates a serene backdrop in this earthy nursery. Paint color: Sherwin Williams Rainwashed.

Always choose zero VOC paint. Paint is made of chemicals, and chemicals can release VOCs into the air. Most major paint brands have a zero VOC formula that has significantly less fumes, so make sure to ask for that. Even if you’re using zero VOC paint, it’s still a good idea to air out the nursery as much as possible and use an air purifier as well. Check out ECOS Paints or Clare Paint for some great non-toxic options.

In this traditional floral girl’s nursery, a soft mauve wainscoting balances the delicate floral wallpaper. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Kept Love Letters

This Southern inspired nursery has more of a monochromatic look with the walls, curtains and crib all in the same soft green color family. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Arctic Gray

Take advantage of the job. If you’re going to be painting anyway, it can be a good time to refresh your baseboards and molding, or even do touch ups in other areas of your home, especially if you’re hiring someone. This can also be a good time to do any drywall repair that will need painting afterwards.

For this modern black and white nursery, we wanted a clean fresh white with no yellow or green undertones. Paint color: Sherwin Williams Pure White

Warm woods look gorgeous against cool sage green in this modern beachy nursery. Paint color: Benjamin Moore Sage Wisdom

Keep any extra paint. Nurseries are prone to messes. Plus, since they are transitory in nature, you’ll be moving furniture around every few years and likely to ding your paint here and there. If you have extra paint, keep it! It will come in handy when you’re ready for those little touch ups. If you don’t have any left or don’t want to store it, take a photo of the label (including the brand, color and sheen level), so you can always go get more if it’s needed.

This blue board & batten nursery uses paint as an accent on the molding. We tested out several colors first, and the winner was clear! Paint color: Sherwin Williams Tradewind

Paint is a great way to totally transform your nursery design! One last tip—beware of what I like to call, “empty room syndrome.” The nursery will likely be empty when you paint it, and if you’re choosing a non-neutral color, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Once you get your furniture, window treatments, art and other decor in the space, the color will recede more into the background.

If you’re ready for help with painting your nursery, or anything else, check out our Virtual Nursery Design services!