Room Design
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.
Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process
Updated on 02/26/24
Designing a nursery is a fun project for expectant parents that can be as simple or elaborate as you care to make it. While the ultimate goal of any nursery design is to create a safe, welcoming, tranquil spot for your baby to sleep, play, and grow, it's important to consider baby room ideas that cater as much to parents as newborns, both from an aesthetic and a practical point of view.
Your nursery design should flow with the rest of your aesthetics and decor. It should be a comfortable place for grown-ups to spend time in, too, with a chair for nursing and bonding, adequate storage, and a changing table that takes some of the sting out of that relentless chore. Most of all, a nursery should put a smile on your face, with decor that speaks to you.
Check out these baby room ideas in a range of sizes and styles to help you create the space of your dreams that your newborn will surely grow to love.
01 of 40
Add Eclectic Decor
This baby room from Little Crown Interiors has a modern eclectic feel and an effortlessly laid back style, with natural tones, a mix of furniture styles, and lighthearted wall decor like an oversized initial and kid-friendly art.
Continue to 2 of 40 below
02 of 40
Try a Rainbow Theme
A Beautiful Mess created a rainbow-tinted ode to joy in this sweet and simple baby room with a few easy DIY touches that anyone could emulate, like multi-colored painted knobs on the changing table storage drawers.
A patterned rug with a multi-colored geometric pattern adds a note of sophistication while remaining playful and fun.
Continue to 3 of 40 below
03 of 40
Create a Natural Feel
In this nursery from Dale Blumberg Interiors, classic Cole & Son black-and-white birch tree wallpaper lines the walls to create a forest feel. An oversized floor lamp and a stuffed giraffe add a touch of whimsy, while a few subtle pops of color on accessories and bedding add warmth to the neutral tones of the room.
Continue to 4 of 40 below
04 of 40
Add Geometric Wall Art
This colorful, dynamic baby room from Chango & Co. includes a geometric wall treatment in luminous shades of blue, green, and coral. A pale wood crib and arched bentwood bookshelf complement the refreshing, soft colors to create an all-around feel-good space.
Continue to 5 of 40 below
05 of 40
Incorporate Vintage Pieces
In this nursery from Erin Williamson Design, medium-toned gray walls create a calming backdrop for an eclectic assortment of whimsical vintage accessories like a wire hot air balloon-shaped chandelier, a thrift store pirate painting, a stuffed animal trophy head, a vintage rocking chair, and a red Persian-style rug.
When decorating a nursery, choose timeless accent pieces that can easily transition into a child's room once the crib is swapped out for a bed.
Continue to 6 of 40 below
06 of 40
Try a Black-and-White Look
Little Crown Interiors used a bold, graphic palette of black and white for this contemporary nursery. The design demonstrates that there is no reason a nursery can't be just as sophisticated as any other room in the house.
Continue to 7 of 40 below
07 of 40
Paint the Ceiling
In this light and airy neutral-toned baby room in shades of taupe and white, Sissy + Marley Interior Design painted a bold striped ceiling to add just the right amount of playfulness and whimsy. The paint treatment helps to bring the high ceilings down a smidgen to make the room feel more cozy.
Continue to 8 of 40 below
08 of 40
Add a Romantic Feel
This romantic nursery from Courtney Davey at Tuft and Trim is filled with traditional vintage-style furniture and lighting. Tree mural wallpaper and a soft pastel blue and white palette creates a dreamy backdrop for the room.
09 of 40
Choose Midcentury Modern
This nursery from Little Crown Interiors features midcentury modern-style baby furniture including a crib and changing table. The clean lines and rich wood tones flow seamlessly with the style of the rest of the house.
Continue to 10 of 40 below
10 of 40
Try an Animal Theme
Australian interior designer Nicole Rosenberg of Liberty Interiors created a fun, modern animal-themed nursery with graphic wallpaper, framed wall art, natural wood accents, and a mix of white, black and gray tones.
Continue to 11 of 40 below
11 of 40
Mix Bold Colors
Create a bold look in your baby room with a mix of bold and assertive colors. This space from The House That Lars Built includes saturated Kelly green walls, a vintage yellow and orange light fixture, green-and-white checkered curtains, and a checkerboard rug in shades of burgundy and scorching hot pink.
Continue to 12 of 40 below
12 of 40
Carve Out a Reading Nook
Create a cozy reading corner for bedtime stories. In this baby room from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, a dedicated reading corner includes a comfortable upholstered rocking chair, clear acrylic book display wall shelving, a stuffed animal trophy head to define the space, and a faux zebra rug.
Continue to 13 of 40 below
13 of 40
Add a Cosmic Element
This cosmic-inspired baby room from Leclair Decor has a simple neutral palette of black and white, patterned textiles, and framed prints of the moon keeping watch over the crib.
Continue to 14 of 40 below
14 of 40
Hang Patterned Wallpaper
The baby room in this Hudson River, NY Colonial from Becca Interiors has a vintage feel, with its printed wallpaper, velvet armchair, and aged palette of muted yellows and browns.
Continue to 15 of 40 below
15 of 40
Hang a Gallery Wall
This spacious baby room from Chango & Co. was designed to grow with the child. The designers chose black-and-white wallpaper that creates a dynamic feel and a modern changing table that will easily transition into a dresser.
A gallery wall of graphic prints anchors low-slung shelving that is perfect for toys now but will last throughout childhood once the toys have been swapped out.
Continue to 16 of 40 below
16 of 40
Try a Jungle Book Theme
This baby room from Kim Gordon Designslooks like a jungle book come to life, with walls covered in vividly illustrated wild animals and lush flora. Natural wood and rattan furniture are a perfect complement that keeps the focus on the animals.
Continue to 17 of 40 below
17 of 40
Pair Pink and Orange
The salmon pink ceiling in this nursery from Christina Kim Interior Design creates a warm rosy glow while a bright orange sideboard and geometric pattern rug add punch. The Venetian mirror is the kind of timeless investment piece that will become a signature element of the room as it changes and grows with the child.
Continue to 18 of 40 below
18 of 40
Try a Woodland Theme
Cathie Hong Interiors used a soothing palette of green, white, and natural wood tones to create this comfortable modern nursery. Wallpaper sketched with woodland creatures, framed palm prints hanging over the crib, a patterned rug, a comfy armchair, and a bear-shaped hamper add just the right touch of whimsy while maintaining a serene and airy feel.
Continue to 19 of 40 below
19 of 40
Stick to Neutrals
This nursery from Mindy Gayer Design Co. sticks to a neutral palette of creamy shades of white and soft shades of black to create a serene gender-neutral feel. Plenty of textural elements add softness and interest, from the pompom wall hanging to the round Moroccan rug.
Continue to 20 of 40 below
20 of 40
Accent With Bright Yellow
This light and airy nursery from Chango & Co. has a white-on-white aesthetic that is calming and easy on the eyes. Textural and colorful accents like a neon yellow wall sconce add warmth and personality.
Keeping the overall baby room white allows you to make small changes like adding colorful accent pieces that have a big impact without renovating the entire space as the baby changes and grows.
Continue to 21 of 40 below
21 of 40
Hang Multicolored Wallpaper
In this cheerful baby room from Little Crown Interiors, multi-colored confetti wallpaper covers the walls, providing a rainbow of accent color choices to pull from when decorating the rest of the room that can be changed up when the room needs a refresh without starting from scratch.
Continue to 22 of 40 below
22 of 40
Choose a Coastal Theme
One approach to decorating a nursery is to keep the design consistent with the rest of your home's decor, maintaining a sense of cohesion that also makes it easier to adapt the room as time passes.
In this coastal baby room from Chango & Co., white painted shiplap walls, a curvy overstuffed armchair, light wood crib, and natural woven elements create a fresh and calming space for babies and parents alike.
Continue to 23 of 40 below
23 of 40
Channel Barbie Pink
This theatrical nursery from Forbes + Masters embraces the power of pink, from the bubblegum pink ceiling to the curtains, rug, and bedding. Hints of dark gold add a royal touch, and contrasting gray calms things down a bit.
Continue to 24 of 40 below
24 of 40
Choose an Alphabet Rug
This compact nursery from Cathie Hong Interiors sticks to a clean neutral palette of whites and grays, with pale wood accents, and a few graphic touches on the alphabet rug and illustrated wallpaper, to keep it interesting and playful.
Continue to 25 of 40 below
25 of 40
Add Poetic Details
This baby room from The House That Lars Built has pale robin's egg blue walls, a floating sailboat suspended from the ceiling, and a hand-painted pear tree and little red bird mural in an unexpected corner, the stuff of childhood dreams.
Continue to 26 of 40 below
26 of 40
Add Boho Design Touches
A Beautiful Mess added boho design touches to this laid back nursery design. The mix includes a patterned rug and wallpaper, a colorful wall hanging, a Moroccan leather pouf, and a tall wicker giraffe keeping watch by the window.
Continue to 27 of 40 below
27 of 40
Try a Black Accent Wall
In this clean, modern nursery from Little Crown Interiors, a palette of black, white, and gray is softened with pale wood furniture and a touch of greenery. A matte black accent wall adds depth to the room and creates a soothing backdrop for a gallery wall above the crib.
Continue to 28 of 40 below
28 of 40
Try a Hand-Painted Mural
In this New York City garden apartment baby room from AHG Interiors, a hand-painted mural featuring animals and hot air balloons adds whimsy and enchantment to an otherwise cookie cutter space.
Continue to 29 of 40 below
29 of 40
Choose Landscape Wallpaper
In this twins' nursery from Forbes + Masters, wrap-around forest scene wallpaper creates a storybook atmosphere that adds whimsy to the neutral-toned space.
Continue to 30 of 40 below
30 of 40
Add a Play Tent
This baby room from Mel Bean Interiors uses a play of patterns from the wallpapered ceiling to the rug and bedding. Black accents on the windows and around the ceiling border add graphic interest. A black play tent and tassel wall hanging over the crib adds playfulness.
Continue to 31 of 40 below
31 of 40
Try Horizontal Stripes
In this baby room from Mindy Gayer Design Co., a taupe-and-gray palette includes bold horizontal striped wallpaper that makes the room feel wider and larger.
Continue to 32 of 40 below
32 of 40
Lift With Silver Tones
This traditional nursery from Jules Interiors has a tonal palette of pale gray walls and silvery accents that give the space a lift. Framed animal portraits add a touch of whimsy.
Continue to 33 of 40 below
33 of 40
Pair Blue and White
This spacious nursery from Mindy Gayer Design Co. has soft blue-and-white printed wallpaper, white textiles, and a baby-sized table and chairs that will come in handy for playtime as the child grows.
Continue to 34 of 40 below
34 of 40
Add Southwestern Style
In this sunny nursery from McCall Dulkys of Interiors By McCall, coral paint on the wainscotting, a natural wood crib, and a tall fate-tempting cactus give the room an easy breezy Southwestern-inspired feel that feels fresh and modern.
Continue to 35 of 40 below
35 of 40
Include Soothing Browns
In this animal-themed baby room from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, animal-themed art, wall sconces, rugs, and toys create a nursery jungle atmosphere rendered in calming sepia tones of brown and white.
Continue to 36 of 40 below
36 of 40
Accessorize With a Juju Hat
This neutral-toned baby room from Leclair Decor has an airy feel, with soft gold printed wallpaper, a tall vase of branches, and a white feathered juju hat decorating the wall above the crib.
Continue to 37 of 40 below
37 of 40
Create a Minimalist Feel
This minimalist nursery from Cathie Hong Interiors features soft shades of white and furniture with clean, simple lines. Decorative accents such as framed illustrations, wood toys, and a pink table lamp on the changing table warm the space.
Continue to 38 of 40 below
38 of 40
Add Wainscoting
This simple nursery from The Posh Home features navy painted wainscotting around the lower half of the room, graphic patterned wallpaper on top, and a framed giraffe print hanging over the crib.
Continue to 39 of 40 below
39 of 40
Choose Dark Florals
In this baby room from interior Claire Staszak of Centered by Design, dark floral wallpaper in shades of black, pink, and red is paired with crisp white paint, elegant furniture and lighting, and framed ballerina art above the crib to create a sophisticated and refined nursery feel.
Continue to 40 of 40 below
40 of 40
Add Wall-Mounted Storage
Sissy + Marley Interior Design carved an adorable book nook out of a corner of this New York City baby room. A whimsical toy trophy head mounted on the wall defines the space, wall-mounted shelving displays books, and two tiny stools stand by waiting for baby to grow tall enough to use them while looking adorable in the meantime.
What are the must-haves for a baby room?
Must-haves for a baby room include essential furniture such as a crib, changing table, and a rocking chair or glider for feeding and bonding. Add a soft area rug for the baby to play on, sufficient storage, and window treatments such as roller shades and/or curtains to help your baby fall asleep. And don’t forget to decorate the walls with paint, wallpaper, or framed art or decor hung securely on the wall.
How do you layout a baby's room?
The layout of your baby's room depends on the proportions and dimensions of the room. Place the crib away from windows whenever possible to keep your baby away from drafts and direct sunlight. Place the rocker or glider close to the crib for a quick transfer once the baby has fallen asleep. Leave as much open floor space as possible so that you and the baby have space to play (don’t forget to add a large soft area rug).
Is a crib or bassinet better for a newborn?
According to Verywell Family, either a crib or a bassinet is safe for a newborn if you choose one that adheres to current safety regulations and you make sure to follow safe sleep guidelines.