Painting a nursery ideas
PAINTING THE NURSERY: 7 TIPS AND TRICKS YOU’LL WANT TO KNOW
All products featured on Nursery Design Studio are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Are you interested in painting the nursery? Here we are sharing the top tips and tricks you'll want to know before you paint the nursery.
If you are decorating a nursery and want an easy, inexpensive way to add color, interest, and even a bit of drama, look no further. Painting the nursery is at the top of the list to breathe new life into a plain room and transform the space into a beautiful nursery.
You can use paint in the nursery to create striking visual effects using the latest colors and trends. From moody dark greens to earth tones and light pinks-the choices and possibilities are endless. Similarly, there are many ways to use paint in the nursery, from all-over color to color block walls and mid-wall splits.
Ahead are the best tips you'll want to know when painting the nursery to bring your dream nursery walls to life yourself without hiring a pro.
First, take a look at some of these stunning nursery designs where nursery painting techniques and hues capture our attention.
10 HELPFUL NURSERY PAINTING TIPS
1.FIGURE OUT THE COLOR PALETTE
Don't rush in and start painting the nursery right out of the gate. Instead, first come up with your nursery design plan and color palette for the nursery.
2.CONSIDER THE LRV
When choosing the nursery paint color, consider the LRV or Light Reflective Value. It is how light or dark paint color will look on a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white). Remember, the higher the LVR, the more reflective the paint, meaning the glare can bother your little one.
3.TEST ON THE WALLS
Before painting the nursery, grab a few of the shades you are drawn to and test them on the nursery wall. Get paint testers from your local paint store and apply them onto sheets of white paper. Hang them onto each of the nursery walls you intend to paint. Observe them for a few days under different lighting conditions to help pick the best paint color for your baby's nursery.
4. PREPARATION IS KEY
Finding the perfect nursery paint color is one thing, but getting ready to paint the room is another story. Make sure the walls are clean and dry. If you added a wood accent wall, apply primer before painting.
5.FIND A PAINT THAT IS LOW-VOC or VOC
As always, when decorating a nursery, safety comes first. When buying paint for the nursery, look for low VOC or no VOC paint. Paint contains VOCs, which are emitted into the air and can cause harm.
6.CHOOSE THE RIGHT FINISH
When painting the nursery, choose the right sheen to avoid having to repaint the space. So higher the sheen of the paint, the more durable it is. Go with an eggshell finish that's durable and has a higher stain-resistance. Though it can be a bit shiny, you'll have an easier time keeping the walls clean.
7.GATHER THE RIGHT TOOLS
Having the right tools on hand makes painting the nursery a lot easier. Look for good brushes and rollers. Check to ensure the bristles work with the paint you are getting.
8. KEEP THE ROOM VENTILATED
Keep the room ventilated when painting the nursery. Make sure you open up any windows in the nursery to get the air to flow through the room. Bring in a fan or two to help push the fumes out.
9. START THE NURSERY PAINTING EARLY
No need to rush, but the sooner you start painting the nursery, the more time you have to air it out and get rid of any fumes before the baby's arrival. Generally, most expectant parents are busy decorating the nurseries by 20 weeks or so. Read this post for the complete nursery decorating timeline.
10.PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS
As with all things, the details are what ultimately elevates the design. Take your time when painting to finish out all the little details from edging and baseboards and doors.
10 Nursery Paint Ideas For An Adorably Soothing Nursery
Getting ready to welcome a new baby can involve some stressful preparation, but it’s also just a lot of fun! One of the most enjoyable parts is decorating the nursery. If you’re looking for the perfect nursery paint idea to go with your adorable nursery theme, stick around.
In this article, we’ll start by giving you a few tips on how to make your nursery both cute and safe. Then, we’ll give you 10 nursery paint ideas that anyone can do — no professional painting experience required!
Making Your Baby’s Nursery Both Safe And Cute
While there’s nothing cuter than adorable nursery decorations, your first priority is making your baby’s nursery a safe place for them to sleep, grow, and play. Luckily, it’s not hard to make your little one’s room both safe and cute!
Here are four basic ways to look out for your baby’s safety while decorating. You’ll need to choose the right crib, choose a safe crib mattress, keep decorations out of the crib, and arrange furniture well.
Let’s dive into what those things look like!
Choose The Right Crib
The crib is often the focal point of the nursery decorations and there’s nothing wrong with that! Just be sure you don’t sacrifice safety when choosing a crib. What sort of things should you look for?
- Check the width of the space between the slats — the slats should be no wider than two and three-eighths inches apart.
- Be sure you have the right size mattress to fit in the crib. You’ll want to make sure there’s not a big gap between the mattress and the inside of the crib.
- Finally, assemble the crib carefully and do a thorough check afterward for loose screws and sharp edges.
For more tips on choosing a crib and making it as safe as possible for your baby, read our article here.
Choose A Firm Crib Mattress
Your baby will spend a lot of time sleeping, so it’s of utmost importance that you plan for sleep safety. Part of keeping your baby safe while they snooze is choosing a firm crib mattress.
While a firm mattress might not sound comfortable to you, it’s the best way for your baby to sleep. A soft, plush mattress is simply a safety hazard.
For even more peace of mind while your baby is off in dreamland, opt for a firm and breathable mattress, like Newton Baby’s Crib Mattress. This mattress is firm enough to keep your baby safe, but it’s also comfortable.
Traditional mattresses are often rock-hard and wrapped in plastic. The Newton Baby Crib Mattress, on the other hand, is free of foam, glue, latex, and springs. It's also GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which means it exceeds the most rigorous 3rd-party emissions standards which test for off-gassing!
And, of course, it’s breathable, which means that if your baby rolls over in the middle of the night, they can breathe straight through their mattress.
Keep Decorations Out Of The Crib
Another aspect of sleep safety is keeping decorations out of the crib. Just as a plush mattress is a safety hazard, so are crib bumpers, blankets, baby pillows, and the like. They might be cute, but they aren’t safe for your baby to sleep with.
Save your decoration inspiration for outside the crib and keep your baby’s bed bare!
That doesn’t mean the inside of their crib has to be a total bore. Outfit your baby’s mattress with one of Newton Baby’s Breathable, Organic Cotton Sheets.
The organic muslin cotton provides a soft and gentle sleep experience as well as superior airflow, keeping your baby comfortable for better sleep.
Arrange Furniture Well
Lastly, keep safety in mind when laying out the nursery and arranging furniture. To avoid a mishap, place the crib at least arms-reach away from any blinds, curtains, or cords.
Additionally, think through what decorations you place above the crib. If you’re hanging something on the wall, be sure it’s completely secure.
Now that we’ve covered nursery safety, let’s get straight into some amazingly adorable nursery paint ideas!
10 Nursery Paint Ideas
With safety in mind, you can begin to dream up a nursery theme and the paint and wall decor to go along with it! No matter what theme you’ve chosen, we’ve got 10 nursery paint ideas to help you complete the look.
One last note before we give you our ideas. The ideas we have listed below will work with any color, so get creative!
If you think baby colors like pink, blue, and yellow are outdated, we’d suggest reconsidering. Any of these colors look great in both baby girl and baby boy nurseries.
On the other hand, your nursery doesn’t have to be painted with those “baby colors.” We love a bold black and white nursery, fun rainbow colors, or calming neutrals and earthy tones. It’s up to you!
1) Use Wall Decals
A wall decal is a big, removable sticker designed to add some character to a wall. Other than painting the wall the base color of your choice, using a wall decal requires no painting and very little skill!
With dozens (or hundreds!) of wall decals to choose from, you’re sure to find one that fits your nursery theme.
2) Work With Stencils
Stencils are easy to use and can really spice up a paint job!
You can find stencils that help you paint a pattern on an entire wall. Or go with a smaller stencil to add a design — like a tree, flower, or mountain — to one corner of the room.
3) Paint Your Baby’s Name Or Initials
Wall decals and stencils are both a great way to add your baby’s name or initials to the wall above their crib. Or, if you’re an artist, try painting it freehanded!
4) Create A Starry Night
Creating a magical, starry night on the ceiling of your baby’s room might be easier than you thought.
Paint the ceiling a deep blue, mixing in a bit of white paint on various areas for a lighter effect. Then use a variety of sizes of paint brushes to paint the stars on.
Your little one can wish upon a star every single night!
5) Paint The Ceiling
Speaking of painting the ceiling, a starry night sky isn’t the only option. You can take the paint-the-ceiling idea in any direction you want!
Stripes on the ceiling? Love it. Polka dots? Fantastic. An accent color? Lovely.
6) Use Painter’s Tape To Create Shapes
When it comes to nursery paint ideas, painter’s tape is your friend. And it’s not only for taping up the baseboards and such.
Use painter’s tape to don the wall with geometrical patterns, stripes, mountains, zig-zags…the sky’s the limit!
Paint the walls a base color. This will be the color of anything that you tape. When it’s completely dry, use painter’s tape to make your design. Then, paint the exposed parts of the wall with your second paint color.
Once your second paint color has dried, carefully peel the tape off and voila!
7) Opt For Polka Dots
Polka dots may be easier than other patterns to paint freehanded. So have at it!
Paint polka dots by tracing around a mug, mason jar, cup, or any other circular object that’s the right size. Or use a round sponge to make less defined polka dots.
Space them evenly over the whole wall or cluster a lot of polka dots at the bottom of the wall and spread them out as you work your way up.
8) Stick With Stripes
With painter’s tape and a laser level, stripes can also be relatively easy to paint! You may need to do some calculations, measuring the width or length of your wall to decide how many stripes you want and where to place them.
Big, bold stripes can be cute but classic, lasting your and your little one many years! For a more neutral nursery, white and gray is a fantastic color combination for big stripes.
9) Go Half And Half
Add interest to your paint job by painting the top half of the walls one color and the bottom half a different color. Once again, painter’s tape and a laser level are your friends!
Another way to go half and half with your paint job is to add chair rail moulding to the wall.
10) Hang Wallpaper
OK, this isn’t exactly a nursery paint idea, but it can involve paint.
Why not wallpaper an accent wall and paint the other three walls? Or find a wallpaper and curtains that have matching patterns to create a unique effect in the nursery.
Paint Away!
Deciding how to decorate your baby’s nursery can be lots of fun! As you’re coming up with ideas, remember to put safety first. Choose the right crib and a safe, firm mattress, like Newton Baby’s Crib Mattress.
And when you’re putting the final touches on the nursery, make sure to arrange the furniture well and keep all decorations out of their crib.
Otherwise, paint away however you want! With one of the 10 nursery paint ideas that we listed in this article, you’re sure to find something that suits your baby’s nursery perfectly.
examples of choosing different colors, interior photos
Finishing and painting the walls in the nursery is an important and crucial moment, since not all materials are suitable for children. Painting is the fastest and easiest way to cover: having prepared the walls for it once, you can only refresh or change their color in the future.
Painted walls are an inexpensive solution with a huge number of design options, limited only by your imagination
Pros and cons of painting walls in a children's room 9Ol000 Video: How to create a new design for a child's room with paint
Modern paint coatings are practical, reliable, safe and easy to clean. Painted walls are not afraid of felt-tip pens and handprints, all traces can either be washed off or repainted. Painted walls in one color will be the best background for all kinds of decoration. If desired, they can be decorated with vinyl stickers or painted with acrylic paints.
The paint allows you to decorate the walls to your taste, you just need to come up with a plot and choose the right color
The easiest and ideal option for choosing materials for painting walls in a children's room is to find paint marked "for children" or "kids". The paint used for the children's room must be water-based, non-toxic, and have environmental certifications.
It is strongly not recommended to paint children's walls with oil or alkyd enamel paints, as they contain harmful substances, they form a film on the surface of the walls that does not allow the walls to breathe, and also have a sharp and unpleasant odor, which very often causes allergic reactions.
Wall painting is often combined with other finishing materials, creating an original and unique interior
Choice of materials for painting
Wall paint in a children's room should have the following characteristics:
hypoallergenic;
- moisture resistant;
- breathability;
- resistance to external influences and mechanical damage.
The following types meet all the above requirements:
- acrylic;
- water-dispersion or simply water-based emulsion;
- silicone;
- latex;
- ecological paints.
Paints and varnishes without toxic components are suitable for painting the walls of a children's room.
- Acrylic paints dry quickly, have almost no smell, form a high-strength matte surface when dried, and are easy to clean.
- Water dispersion is odorless, dries very quickly, is breathable, easy to clean and inexpensive.
- Silicone paint is a very durable, modern material for painting walls. It is both waterproof and vapor permeable, which is why it is often used for bathrooms.
- Latex. Such paint fits well on the walls and holds firmly. The painted surface is very pleasant to the touch.
- Ecological paints are characterized by exclusively natural ingredients. The name itself indicates compliance for the decoration of children's rooms. The only disadvantage of such paints is the high cost.
Choosing a color palette
When choosing a color, it is important to pay attention to the dimensions of the room, the height of the ceilings and the degree of illumination.
For a small room or with windows to the north, it is better to choose light colors.
Cold shades look harmonious in sunny rooms. Northern bedrooms are best decorated in warm and light colors. To expand the space, you need to use light shades. If the room is not only small, but also dark, white walls are ideal.
White walls will visually enlarge the space of a small room.
Pastel colors and soothing shades are appropriate in a newborn's bedroom: cream, pale green, powdery pink, pale blue, light lilac. Gentle shades will promote a restful sleep of the child.
The right shades and decorations will create a favorable atmosphere in the baby's room
For babies from 2 to 5 years old, you can choose more saturated colors: green, orange, yellow, blue, pink and even red.
Little owners will be happy to take part in decorating the walls of their room
Calm shades of green, blue, turquoise or blue will help children of school age to concentrate. The walls of the teenage room can be decorated in light gray, olive, gray-blue, beige, brown. You can also choose bold and bright shades. For a girl's room, use black and white walls with a pink accent, and for a boy, orange is suitable.
A teenager's room is a place for self-expression, the design of which should be chosen by the owners of the room
What color to paint the children's room photo
Most often, the color of the walls in the nursery is chosen depending on the gender of the baby, but this is not always correct. There are many theories about the effect of color on the mental, emotional and physical state of the child. Therefore, the selection of a color palette should be individual.
Using paint of different colors, you can draw your favorite garden on the wall of the room with your own hands
Red shades are considered very intense - they can increase blood pressure, cause rapid breathing and heartbeat, and stimulate the brain. Such colors will not harm lethargic and inactive children. While for hyperactive children they are contraindicated, as they can cause nervous overload.
It's easy to decorate a room with simple patterns using stencils
Shades of yellow are suitable for preschoolers. In a sunny room, the child will concentrate better. Orange will bring a feeling of joy and warmth. Blue shades will relieve anxiety and worries, as well as increase interest in obtaining new information. Green tones will ensure a restful sleep and a good mood. With the help of pink shades, it is good to teach the baby to coziness and comfort.
Yellow is associated with the sun, warmth and summer holidays
Light gray walls will serve as an excellent backdrop for bright decor
Exquisite lilac hue makes the atmosphere very cozy and attractive
It is very important to think over and choose the right tandem of colors for decorating a nursery interior. So that the child does not feel depressed, less tired and in a good mood, the primary colors should not be too bright and saturated.
Children's room can become a space for joint creativity of the child and parents. There are many design options for the walls in the nursery: you can paint them in different colors, apply a pattern or ornament to the painted surface, make the wall velvet using special paints. The graphite wall looks very original, which the kid can paint with chalk on his own.
A slate wall is a great solution for preschoolers
One tone wall painting may seem like a boring idea, but it's very practical. Children grow up quickly, so decorating plain walls with special stickers will help transform, and, if necessary, change the plain space of a child's room. This option will help save money, while quite easily allowing you to reload the space of the children's room.
Nursery wall that children can decorate themselves with stickers or drawings
Adolescents change their interests, habits and priorities. Toys on the shelves are replaced by books and student supplies. The design of the room becomes aimed at creating a favorable environment for study and creative work. Some teenagers need a bright interior to keep themselves in good shape, while others need a calm palette for studying and relaxing after class.
Wall painting in white in a minimalist room
High-tech children's room with plain walls in light gray
Combination of gray surfaces with brickwork in a loft-style room
If the room has a small area, it is better to make it in light colors, and to add brightness, decorate the accent wall in rich and bright colors, the child paints the wall with acrylic paints on his own. So the teenager will be able to boast of an unusual setting in front of friends.
A combination of two or three colors of the rainbow will dilute the monotonous interior
Wall painting for a boy
Boys are constantly inventing or redesigning or rebuilding something. It is on the rapid change of shades and shapes that you need to pay attention. It is better to take calm tones as a basis. For example, you can use different shades of blue or cyan. Plain walls perfectly complement colorful illustrations, patterns or drawings.
Baby boy's room in pale blue
Wall theme for boy:
- fantasy scenery;
- heroes of famous cartoons and fairy tales;
- space travel;
- technology and its various elements;
- inhabitants of the seas and the underwater world, sailboats, pirates.
An accent wall in a boy's room can be decorated with photo wallpaper with a world map
Wall painting for a girl
Decorating a girl's room is not an easy task. Each element of decor should contribute to the formation of taste and the development of creative abilities. It is necessary to fill the space with tenderness, sophistication and mystery.
In a small room for a girl, you can choose white as the main tone, and highlight the role of an accent with soft pink.
Pink shades remain traditional, but the use of other colors is not excluded. The combination of different colors will bring enthusiasm and energy to the interior. If the girl is very active, then her emotional mood can be corrected with color.
Cute Animal Stickers to Decorate a Preschool Girl's Room
Girls Wall Themes:
- flower arrangements and colorful landscapes;
- princesses, fairies and all kinds of little animals;
- underwater world, little mermaids, fish, crabs.
The wall at the head of the bed is very popular. You can make it an accent by decorating it in bright colors, and at the same time not worry that the child will be overexcited and will not be able to fall asleep.
Bright bedroom of a modern girl of school age
If you approach the interior design creatively, taking into account the peculiarities of a child's development, then the most ordinary room can be turned into a mysterious world of children's dreams.
Video: How to redesign a child's room with paint
Photos of interesting wall painting ideas in a child's room
A selection of wall designs for different children's rooms:
how and what color to paint a room
The tradition of decorating a room girls in pink shades, and a boy in blue, fortunately, have long been in the past. Today, painting the walls in a children's room does not involve banal combinations of colors and the creation of an interior that would emphasize the individuality of the child.
All about painting the walls in the nursery
Features of the material
Choosing a color
- For newborns
- For preschoolers
- For schoolchildren and teenagers
Choosing paint
Design ideas
- Unlike wallpaper, the painted surface is not afraid of drawings with felt-tip pens, watercolors and pencils.
- Easy to care for and washable. In extreme cases, you can remove traces of creativity simply by painting over a layer on top.
- The paint is not afraid of moisture and will not peel off like wallpaper.
But there are also disadvantages. In the event that there are many flaws and irregularities on the surface, preparation will be needed. Alignment sometimes becomes a lengthy and complex process.
Pexels
In an effort to create a stylish interior, adults, alas, often forget about the main thing - about the child himself. Maybe in the photo the dark options for painting the walls in the nursery look stylish, interesting, but they hardly make a three-year-old kid happy. Moreover, psychologists claim that color affects not only mood, but even the development of children. Therefore, it is so important when designing to take into account their age.
Pexels
For newborns
Scientists have found that up to two months the baby does not perceive colors, he sees only black and white and perceives the contrast: dark - light. Color perception develops gradually, and is finally formed only by 7-9 months. At this age, the baby begins to see the world in an adult way.
The first shades he perceives are of the red spectrum: red, yellow and orange. The baby responds best to them. However, at this stage it is not necessary to paint the walls in bright colors, they can be made more neutral. And dilute the calm range with a catchy pattern that the child will consider.
For preschoolers
According to the works of psychologists, of the entire spectrum, the most favorite among children is the same red, in second place is yellow. At the same time, blue and green lose much to them in popularity.
What colors are completely rejected by children? Black, brown and gray are dark, gloomy, they are rarely used by kids and in drawings. It should be noted that both boys and girls took part in the studies.
So what color to paint? Definitely in bright: orange, yellow and even red. The latter, no matter how strange it may sound for an adult, has a calming effect on children. But, if you are not ready for such an interior, the same accent color will come to the rescue, for example, in the play area.
Instagram @fedorova_diz
For schoolchildren and teenagers
The answer to the question of what color to paint the walls in the children's room, in this case, is quite obvious - let the student choose himself. Are you afraid of an extraordinary decision? You can cheat by first compiling a palette of shades you like. And the daughter or son will be able to choose from it. This will make it much easier to find a compromise.
- It is advisable to repaint every 2-3 years to refresh or change the shade.
- When choosing a shade, consider the orientation of the apartment in terms of its degree of illumination. In sunny rooms, both warm and cold shades are allowed. In the northern and poorly lit, it is advisable to choose warmer ones, with a touch of ocher. Thus, the lack of natural light will not be noticeable.
- A classic rule of any design: to expand the space, use light shades. For very small rooms, tones close to the white spectrum are suitable.
Instagram @arca_designspb
The first and most important rule is to choose a good paint that will be safe for the child. Today, manufacturers offer so many options that choosing from this variety is not so easy.
- The main criterion is environmental friendliness. As a rule, it depends on the solvent. So, substances with a base consisting of gasoline or turpentine cannot be used for a child's room. The most reliable is the marking "For children" indicated on the package.
- It is also important to choose washable formulations. In this case, it will be easier for parents to wash the drawing.
- Choose the paint of well-known companies from conscientious sellers. Firstly, this will ensure the quality of the material, and, secondly, it will reduce the chance of acquiring a fake.
- Of the variety of compositions presented for children, only paints for interior work are suitable. Last resort - universal. The fact is that the exterior emulsion may contain toxic substances that do not affect the body in the fresh air, but cause allergic reactions indoors.
- In addition, the wear resistance indicator is important - how resistant the material is to mechanical stress.
- Finally, moisture resistance and vapor permeability matter. These are different characteristics. The first is moisture resistance, and the second is how the material "breathes". Vapor-permeable paints do not retain moisture, and the likelihood of mold formation is minimized.
Instagram @dizain_interior_ufa
Acrylic
Emulsion in water, safe and environmentally friendly. After application, it forms a thin protective film, which is wear-resistant and resistant to moisture. It is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio.
Sold as a white base. To get the desired shade, you need to add color pigment. This can be done both in the store and at home on your own.
Instagram @dianayarullina
Latex
Aqueous emulsions based on latex polymers. Such an emulsion is stronger than acrylic, it is even more wear resistant and resistant to water. However, its price is also higher. Often rooms with high humidity are decorated with a latex emulsion. But, in addition to this, it is also used for wallpaper for painting and creating textured plaster.
Unsplash
Silicone
This emulsion contains silicone resins. However, it is rare in its pure form, most manufacturers offer acrylic-silicone mixtures. It is universal: it can be used both for finishing inside and for decorating the facade of a building. She has good indicators of resistance to mechanical damage, exposure to sunlight and antiseptic properties. But the price is also the highest.
Instagram @o.lisovetchenko
The easiest way to paint the walls in a nursery is evenly in one tone. And you can decorate the room with paintings, posters and any other accessories.
Another option is to create accents. Here are some wall painting ideas for the nursery:
- Vinyl stickers. Of the pros: easy to stick and peel off, you can change at will. But it is unlikely that such a room will be unique.
- Hand painted. You can paint by hand with acrylic paint yourself or entrust it to specialists, depending on the idea. The process is quite laborious, it will take time and effort.
- An interesting "adult" version is a textured surface. It can be either a plaster decor or a layer of wallpaper for painting.
- The classic combination of bright wallpaper and paint is also available. But in this case, it is desirable to select expensive products, the creation of an emphasis on which will be justified.