Baby Nursery Room Decorating Ideas

Pick a Bold Wallpaper

Top-to-bottom pattern is a quick way to infuse a nursery with personality. The floral wallpaper in greens, pinks and blues is the main source of color in this space with a plush, light pink rug underfoot. Streamlined, neutral furnishings act as a foil against the abundance of hues and decoration.

Work With What You Have

When you're working with a space that already has exposed brick walls and large windows pouring in natural light, you don't have to do much to create a haven for your little one. Simple, minimalistic furniture in natural woods and soft whites, a laid-back mixture of textiles and a smattering of sweet elephant decor all combine for this urban baby oasis.

Think of an Out-of-the-Box Mobile

Babies start out their new life spending a lot of time on their back, and having an interesting mobile over their crib helps develop focus and motor skills, as well as keeps them entertained. This sweet arrangement of feathers makes for an eye-catching vignette and is safely out of reach.

Try Out a Different Crib

Not your typical crib, this clear acrylic baby bed is completely modern and guarantees you'll always be able to see your little one. Gray wallpaper in a subtle texture plays against the bold blue-and-white geometric accent wall, while a chunky woven area rug establishes tactile appeal.

Create a Museum-Worthy Moment

Gallery-inspired artwork might not be your first thought when planning a nursery, but designer Vanessa Antonelli shows how oversized prints of orchids create a breathtaking backdrop for this contemporary abode. Pulling from the one spot of color on the white orchids, she uses notes of yellow throughout the space.

Opt for Grow-With-Me Furniture

Look for furniture that grows with your kid. A convertible crib, like this 4-in-1 option, can be converted into a toddler bed, daybed or full bed, and the dresser will last throughout childhood. For the nursery of the HGTV Smart Home 2016, designer Tiffany Brooks layered playful orange patterns over bold teal walls. She selected neutral furniture that can be used for years to come.

Frame It In

Make an impact with wallpaper without papering the entire room. Simple molding borders geometric wallpaper behind the crib in this sweetly contemporary nursery, and pendant globes flank either side to create a soft glow.

Blushing With Delight

Texture starts from the ground up in this sweetly serene nursery with a plush flokati rug. The light pink-and-white color palette combines with gauzy curtains, brass accents and chunky knit throws for an airy yet warm atmosphere. Overhead, blush wallpaper is studded with golden stars so baby can fall asleep to a celestial sky.

The Mountains Are Calling

Surrounding this nursery, cool blues and grays combine for a peaceful mountain mural inspired by the Alaskan wilderness. Warm woods bring a touch of the forest indoors, and a faux bear blanket is a playfully rugged addition. Open cube shelving allows the mural to shine through while providing storage spots for favorite books and toys.

Where the Wild Things Live

Let your little one sleep with the lions…and rhinos, elephants, zebras and water buffalos. This black and white wallpaper brings the jungle straight into your baby's space, adding playful contrast and striking pattern.

Embrace a Theme, Subtly

A themed nursery doesn't mean the space has to be dripping with cartoon characters and childish accessories. It's easy to create a beautifully sophisticated room with tiers of neutrals. Tone-on-tone wallpaper features safari animals, while other creatures are hidden throughout the room. A pair of hide area rugs — one with glam metallic polka dots and the other a furry shag — soften the natural wood floor.

Step Back to Prehistoric Times

Instead of traditional white or wood molding, the millwork in this nursery is painted a deep teal blue that matches the hues found in the dinosaur wallpaper. Rich wood furniture trimmed in natural wood detailing and cane back sides forms a notable contrast and adds warmth to the cool blue room.

Create Cabin Fever

Designed to mimic a cozy cabin, including an adorable bearskin rug, this sweet nursery is surrounded in natural pine wood and shiplap. Wrought iron and bronze sconces flank the crib with barn-like style, and a fiddle leaf fig infuses the space with a bit of life.

Take on the High Contrast

Bold black and white stripes adorn the ceiling in this modern glam nursery, starting a striking juxtaposition from the top down. To soften the walls, curtains are hung from the ceiling to the floor, and a subdued blue rug makes for the perfect spot to roll, crawl and explore. Acrylic ledges keep books easy to spot and, of course, color coordinated.

Pick a Color

Whether you're a decorating novice or pro, starting with one hue guarantees a pull-together look. This cheerful nursery is decked out in yellow — the striped rug, Roman shades, graphic wallpaper and crib bedding. Touches of teal enhance the sunny shade.

For the Love of Flowers

The large-scale floral wallpaper in earthy neutral shades sets the scene for a romantic but not-too-girly nursery. Pillows pull their hues from the wallpaper, and a variety of textures creates a warm contrast against the contemporary acrylic crib. Underfoot, a herringbone rug in pearly whites delivers tone-on-tone pattern to the room.

Cosmic Space for Twins

Let them drift off to dreams of the stars under a map of constellations. Crib skirts featuring illustrations of planets further the stargazer theme. To accommodate twin cribs without losing tons of floor space, the two cribs are placed end to end against the wall.

Create Drama When Necessary

Silk flowers create a pale pink three-dimensional wall behind the crib in this delicate, pretty nursery. Nods to traditional style — from the tufted crib to the crystal chandelier — deliver a timeless aesthetic that's literally tied up in pink bows.

Plan a Shared Space

Create a tiny spot for your littlest one in a shared room. This space has plenty of room for the crib and bunk bed, which stands ready for when baby grows up. Topped with a changing pad for now, the dresser provides essential storage, and colorful shelves in playful shapes display favorite books and toys.

Lively and Colorful

Go on and embrace color and whimsy. Light gray walls balance the brilliantly colored floral curtains, which are sweet and playful but also worthy of growing up with your baby. Bright teal and pink accents carry energy throughout the space, and a graphic-patterned rug grounds the room in contemporary style.

Make It Moody

In addition to creating a sense of drama, a dark shade of navy pushes the wall back, visually expanding this nursery. A vintage rug adds color to the neutral carpet, and bright white walls create a balance to the deep-hued accent wall.

In My Own Little Corner

Petite spaces with unusual architectural details are calling out to be nurseries. Here, an angled nook is transformed into a cozy spot perfect for a sleeping baby. Whimsical cacti wallpaper is a quiet background to the modern crib, floating shelves house stuffed animals and books, and exposed-bulb sconces add a soft glow to the space.

Create Definition Through Architecture

Bring dimension to your space with can't-miss millwork, like the diamond-and-octagon moldings in this pattern-filled nursery. To pull the array of graphic prints together, the color palette is limited to the trio of black, white and pale pinks.

Classic in Blue

Blue damask wallpaper creates a preppy setting for the simple wood crib and gallery wall of prints and colorful monogram. The gray glider with white piping gets a shot of color from a sunny yellow pillow, and the blue-and-white striped rug perfectly reflects the hues of the wallpaper. Picture shelves keep books on hand for parents and kiddos alike, making it easy to find the bedtime story he wants.

Bring in the Past

Days of yore have a certain nostalgia, and this antique airplane wallpaper exudes vintage charm. The star-spangled carpet creates an Americana base to the brass crib and clean-lined rocker.

Elegant Nest

Animal themed without going on safari, this sophisticated nursery is covered in wallpaper featuring beautiful black and white animal illustrations. The long, narrow space lends itself to a galley-like environment with the shelves and dresser, as well as the crib and play table, sitting opposite each other, while a comfy sofa takes its place at the head of the room for parents to enjoy the dreamy atmosphere.

Modern Retelling

Peter Rabbit heads to the city in this urban take on the classic book. Graphic wallpaper creates a focal wall behind the clean-lined twin boys' cribs. Simple bunny silhouettes and a rocker nod to the beloved tale, while a heathered gray sofa is the perfect place for parents to feed bottles, snuggle up for story time or grab a much-needed nap.

Minimal Sensibility

Pale woods and white walls create a room that refuses to be about the fuss and muss. Simple geometric prints are a lovely artistic display and ideal for baby's developing eyes. Woven baskets with lids are the heroes of nursery storage. Stow away toys or stuffed animals, extra blankets or dirty clothes, and no one is the wiser.

Down-to-Earth Glamour

Try this twist on the traditional monogram and put your kid's name in lights. The rustic pine plank wall is an intriguing juxtaposition against the Hollywood styling of the marquee letters and the soft gray color palette. Curtains with a brown and white leaf motif usher in a delicate pattern.

Dashing Contrast

Sparse in color yet rich in textures, this nursery offers eye-catching contrast with its black-and-white color scheme. Textiles play a major role in conveying coziness: A faux fur rug is layered on top of textured carpet, a knitted pouf is paired with the rocker and wool lettering makes a statement above the crib.

Understated Charm

Babies come with stuff (so much stuff!). Keeping their nursery minimalist is pleasing for you and for them. Clean white walls, streamlined furniture and sparse accessories mean you have room to breathe and enjoy being in a calm setting. Subtle animal theming, from the panda mobile and fuzzy sheep blanket to the faux flamingo taxidermy, injects an element of fun into this room.

Sunshine Days

Head to the tropics with this sunny nursery full of color-drenched fabrics and elements of green, from the fiddle leaf fig to the vibrant cubby storage. The Eames rocking chair is a clever option for smaller nurseries that don't have room for a glider.

Incorporate a Rustic Vibe

Rustic and modern, this warm, welcoming nursery starts off with a reclaimed wood wall and a soft taupe paint color. Contemporary signs enter through an acrylic crib, giraffe print and geometric rug. Industrial-inspired clocks showcase different time zones, getting this little world traveler ready for adventures.

Retro Contemporary

Painted in blue, yellow and white stripes, this nursery's ceiling is not only eye-catching but also creates happy interest for the baby to look at. The bold mix of patterns works together since there are three dominant hues: peacock blue, bright yellow and black. Pop art adds vivid colors and an entirely vintage feel to the room.

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In the Pink

Oh, the wonders of a daybed. Whether you need a grow-with-me space, a room that can double as a guest quarters or a place to lay your head when baby is having a restless night, a spare bed is the essential you didn't know you needed. This pretty-in-pink bedroom pairs with calming gray and just a touch of glam gold for a delightfully feminine nursery.

Out of Africa

Send your little one out into the wild without having to leave the comfort and safety of his abode. This nursery with a blue sky ceiling serves as both sleeping quarters and a play space, complete with a play tent, child-size table and chairs and full-size sofa for the grown-ups. Faux fur accessories, Africa-inspired stuffed animals and even lush foliage bring the safari feel to life.

Wholly Uncomplicated

This completely white nursery gets its tiny bursts of color from toys, making it a blank slate that you can easily redecorate on a whim. The simplicity creates a calm respite from the chaos of everyday kidness. An oval crib is a major space saver if your kid's room is on the tiny side.

Color Counterparts

Interesting ceilings are fast becoming a favorite in nurseries since babies spend so much time looking up. This ceiling takes it to the next level with its intricate damask design. Below the molding, the room takes a decidedly different tone with simple stripes and streamlined furniture. Bright orange accents enrich the blue-on-blue color palette.

Made for Adventures

Get your little one ready for the world beyond with a nursery fit for an explorer. Birch tree wallpaper complements the gray and white crib and creates a lovely backdrop for the gallery of places to see. Kelly green, blue and yellow flourishes bring a punch of color to the space.

Into the Woods

Head into the forest with this monochromatic nursery. Shades of taupe flow from the carpet to the crib to the tree-lined wallpaper, and a faux taxidermy head and live-edge wood side table continue the woodsy style.