How To Pick The Right Colors For A Modern Nursery, Design Ideas, Tips

Picking a color to decorate the room of an individual seems to become a far trickier task as the crowd gets younger! While most adults have very little problem in identifying a color that they love and surrounding themselves with it, kids are obviously far more fickle. When it comes to infants though, the task of picking the right color for their nursery is a question that many new and expecting parents grapple with across the planet. Obviously, we no longer live in days when parents stuck you in a room with plain walls and then moved you up to your sibling’s room over time!

Pops of orange and yellow coupled with a bold blue backdrop

The color of the toys, crib and decor for the nursery gets pondered over quite a bit, and companies have often spent millions in trying to figure out which colors infants love the most. From painting a nursery and choosing a theme to bedding and blankets, color determines the overall appeal and the style of the nursery. So, what do the experts say? Does color really affect your little one? And if it does, what are the best colors to use in the modern nursery? Read on to find out more –

Your Kid Loves Royalty

The science behind the correlation between color and human behavior is neither exact nor definitive. But it does give us a few color pointers on bedroom design for little ones. As in the case of adults, studies have shown that infants absolutely love purple more than any other color. Trumping even the widely used cooler blues and gentle pinks, purple draws their attention instantly and keeps them interested for longer periods of time. Plus, it’s easy on the eyes. Luxurious, serene and stylish, purple is probably the perfect choice for a gender neutral nursery as well.

Gorgeous use of purple in the modern nursery

by Rad Design

Lighter shades of purple bring a sense of serenity to the nursery

by Red Leaf Interiors

Beautiful modern nursery in purple with hints of pink and green

Mind Your Reds!

There is little doubt that kids and even older infants are instantly attracted to red. But the color still needs to be used sparingly in the nursery to ensure that the space is not too glaringly bright and energetic. The lively appeal of red might mean that your little one will not get as much sleep as he needs once he starts getting older because the room is far too exciting! Combine red accents in the nursery with a more soothing neutral backdrop to ensure the color does not stand out prominently. Yet infuse the nursery with a touch of red to keep it bright and lively. With red, less is more.

Red Roman shades and rug in the nursery keep the space elegant, simple and lively

by Lutron Electronics

Subtle pops of red are both bright and interesting

Sparing use of energetic red in the nursery in the form of accent seating

Blue – The One Constant

Much like yellow, blue is another popular color across the spectrum. Don’t be too surprised if the toddlers at your home are happiest when surrounded by light, gentle blues. Maybe it is our evolutionary instinct that drives this love for the color of the ocean and the sea! Regardless of the reason, blue is a safe choice in a nursery, and you cannot go wrong with the color. A tone-on-tone approach with blue gives the room a sense of sophistication and ensures that there is visual contrast.

Stylish nursery combines different shades of blue with dark browns

by Avalisa Design

Bright and elegant nursery brings together blue and yellow with pops of orange

Darker shades of blue and stripes usher in a touch of sophistication

by Steffanie Danby Interiors

David Hicks Hexagon Wallpaper in the nursery is not a bad way to get your little one started on interior design!

by Lucy McLintic

Bright Yellow and Bubbly Orange

More than color itself, studies have found saturation and hue to be the defining factor in the appeal of a shade to infants. Both yellow and orange are warm colors that look good when used as an accent wall in the nursery and the inviting appeal of these colors can be combined with soothing neutrals to create a trendy, invigorating space. Orange is often neglected because we do not stumble across it in the real world as often as reds, greens, blues and yellows. Yet after blue and purple, a splash of orange is probably the most ideal color choice for the nursery.

Brilliant use of orange along with black and white rug in the nursery

Soothing and stylish blend of yellow and gray in the bedroom along with Chevrom crib bedding

Orange accent wall in the small nursery steals the show

Dashing yellow wallpaper for the vintage modern boys' nursery

by Niche Interiors

Bright orange decor additions look amazing in a nursery with a cool, neutral backdrop

Yellow and white stripes breathe life into the modern nursery

Femininity of Pink

Even though pink is often associated with girls’ rooms, it is actually an ideal addition to the boys room as well. Looking beyond the clever marketing of the color, pink is a color about tranquility, beauty and sensitivity. In fact, behavioral scientists have observed that children under detention at the San Bernardino County Probation Department in California seem a lot less violent and more well behaved after being put in custom-crafted 8-foot by 4-foot rooms clad in pink! Do not hesitate to add pops of pink to the boys’ nursery as well.

Pink and blue nursery is both exquisite and soothing

by Liz Carroll Interiors

But make sure that there is not an overload of light pink in the baby girl’s nursery by adding other bright colors and wall decals. Since the Disney Princess theme is so popular, a few rainbows and some shiny stars help add excitement to the trendy pink nursery.

Fabulous pink nursery perfect for your baby girl

by Annette Tatum

Use of intricate pattern and love birds decorative pillows compensates for the lack of bold colors in this chic pink nursery

Little Love for Green

So what are the colors that those cute little guys and girls do not fancy all too much? Surprisingly, green stands out as the most frequently used nursery color to which infants and toddlers are not really drawn. Maybe because it is all too common in nature, they find an environment filled with green a touch too bland. Obviously, green still has a place in the nursery, but not as the protagonist. White is another color that should only be used as a background, and all white nurseries are definitely a no-no. Grey and beige are other colors that should be used sparingly, regardless of how trendy they might be in the eyes of interior designers and fashionistas.

Beautiful wallpaper and the antique painted horse in the corner steal the show in this nursery

by Dvira – Interior Design Toronto

Combining green with hits of pink in the nursery

by AFK Furniture

Gray in the nursery works well as a backdrop when combined with warm colors like yellow

by Alykhan Velji Design

Dynamic Styles and Sounds

By now we hope that you have a clearer idea on which color is more simulating for your little one and which hues find the balance between serenity and liveliness. For those still unsure, remember that your kid will probably remember nothing about his early years and will spend most of the time in dreamland anyway. Color psychology is at best, a peripheral aid that helps make their lives far more pleasant and comfortable. Research has shown that sounds play an even more important in creating a soothing and ideal nursery. So, think of ergonomics, peaceful ambiance and proper lighting as much as colors and themes to create the perfect nursery.