6 Best Colors for Painting a Nursery (2024)

To put it simply, there are a lot of considerations with home decor. What style sofa should I get? How big of a dining tabledo we need? And if you’re expecting a baby, you’ve likely given a bit of thought to what color you’ll paint the nursery.

Did you know that, according to color psychologists, using certain nursery colors, such as bright red or yellow, can affect babies’ moods, sleep patterns, and even how much they eat?Color can transform a room interiordramatically and for babies, you ideally want to choose a color on the spectrum that's equal parts calm, restful, and nurturing. We’ve sourced six of the best colors that hit all three for you to be inspired by.

1. Subtle Blues

Gentle and soothing, light and medium shades of blue are said to aid in relaxing both body and mind.

Blue can act as a salve to reduce anxiety and lower heart rate, and is also a cooling color which is good for helping babies calm down and drift to sleep. The following shades are are all excellent options:

1. Powder blue
2. Aqua
3. Pale turquoise
4. Duck egg
5. Periwinkle

2. Nurturing Greens

Bring nature into your nursery design by painting the walls a nurturing shade of green. Green has been given the thumbs up for nursery colors for its association with health and well-being, and is said to improve concentration and reading ability. Like blue, you should opt for a light to medium color for the greatest soothing effect.

Some standout shades include:

1. Sage
2. Apple
3. Olive
4. Moss
5. Mint
6. Sea foam
7. Aquamarine
8. Wintergreen

3. Cozy Pinks / Elegant Purples

Pink is a go-to choice for any baby's nursery, giving it a cozy and warm ambiance. Go with gentle tones that lean more neutral for the ultimate in soft comfort.

If you want something different, purple is also a playful alternative. Long associated with royalty, the right shade of pastel purple can transform a baby’s room into a fabulous contemporary space. Below's pink and purple tones are a great place to start:

1. Pastel pink
2. Peach pink
3. Baby pink
4. Lavender
5. Lilac

4. Earth-Inspired Neutrals

If you love earthy neutrals, but aren’t sure if they’re right for a nursery design, think again. Neutrals and clay tones are very calming and grounding for babies, giving their eyes a rest so they’re ready for sleep.

An earth-tone nursery based on the following colors also gives you the chance to introduce brighter details in your accessories:

1. Taupe
2. Light beige
3. Light tan
4. Chocolate brown

5. Soothing Whites

Creamy, white walls offer a perfect backdrop for a soothing haven for your little one. Go with whites with warm undertones instead of blues to avoid overstimulating your baby when they're trying to rest:

1. Soft ivory
2. Antique white
3. Pearl white
4. Cream
5. Vanilla

6. Contemplative Grays

Gray is the perfect modern neutral, and can be matched with almost any other colors to brighten it up. Used as a base, it means you don’t have repaint as your child grows up, and can simply swap out furniture and accessories. In terms of color psychology, gray is a calming color and promotes contemplation.

Light or medium gray is a sensible choice, and absolutely doesn’t have to be boring when paired with accents such as white, pink or purple pastels, green, gold etc. Walls clad in gray also make ideal backdrops for nursery themes or decals of stars, stripes, trees or animals. We suggest:

1. Light blue gray
2. Dove gray
3. Silver gray

There you have it, six best nursery colors to help narrow down the endless choices out there! When planning baby room decor take your time and do your research, and explore all the nursery design options. And if you want the perfect accent chair or sofa for snuggles and nursing, we've got you.

Author’s Bio: Angela Pearse is a blogger forZumperwho frequently combines travel with freelance writing. She’s passionate about Art Deco hotels, historical novels, Netflix, hiking and healthy living.