How to Choose Paint Colors for Baby Nursery Room Walls

There is no real list of "best" nursery paint colors as each individual has their own favorite.  One thing that decorators will agree on is that while wall paint is the most inexpensive item on the list of supplies for your project, it also may be the most important decision in the decorating process.

And choosing a color palette is just part of the equation; we, as DIY ers, not only need to know a bit about color theory but we also need to know what type of paint to use for specific areas of the room.


You may be confused by this point if this is your first painting project but stick around and it will all become clear.

Nursery Paint Color Ideas

What Kind of Paint to Use on the Nursery Walls

Flat paint is traditionally used to paint the ceilings of any room in the home including the nursery. Many decorators also prefer to use flat paint on the walls, but satin or eggshell paint is an excellent choice for a baby's room because it has a smooth, less absorbent finish. The slick finish makes it easier to clean the inevitable gooey fingerprints and stains that appear wherever kids may roam.

There may be a need to step outside of what is considered traditional for those with unique nursery wall painting ideas in mind such as a mural, stenciling a pattern or should you want to paint a crib. Research into what type of paint is best for sponge, rag, brush or stenciling may be required.

Go HERE to Learn What Kind of Paint Should be Used in a Nursery

We could discuss the various nursery paint color palettes and the latest color trends for this year for hours but nothing helps as much as examples and pictures. Luckily, we have a gallery of baby nursery pictures that is filled with ideas to help you to see the effect that different colors have on various projects.

Ideas for Colors to Paint a Neutral Nursery

Neutral colors are the obvious choice of parents who need flexibility. Neutral colors can be flexible but many have definite undertones that may include just enough red, yellow and blue to cause problems. Take care to choose neutral colors with undertones that work with your plans.

Baby Girl Nursery Wall Painting Ideas

Pink has been the most popular choice when it comes to the paint color trends for a baby girl nursery for decades. Designers have begun to introduce purple, orange and even blue as possibilities but many couples that are decorating for a girl are only willing to experiment with variations of pink such as blush, shell and the much brighter and bolder choice, fuchsia.

Baby Boy Nursery Paint Color Ideas

When looking at pictures of baby boy nurseries it is plain to see that blue is the most common choice for a boy's room. Trends have moved toward earth tones and darker neutrals and navy blue in recent seasons but as we know "blue is for boys" and that is unlikely to change. What is new and exciting is the combination of blue with other colors such as grey, red and bright yellow as accents. Take a look in our photo gallery to see how baby blue is getting a complete makeover and to pick up tips for your own project.

MATCHING PAINT COLORS

Paint matching can be a real pain. How many times have you picked out a stunning color off of those cards in the rack at the paint store only to find out that once you painted the walls with it that it clashed with all your stuff? The way to get the best color for your nursery is to take your baby’s comforter with you to the paint store. Paint colors on those color charts and chips are rarely accurate. Take it from me that they are often just close enough to be ugly! Don’t leave the store without seeing your paint dried on a wooden paint stick. It’s not one hundred percent fool proof, but it beats nothing. Another tip is to use a paint store that has computerized paint matching and will work with you (patiently and without a bad attitude) on custom color mixing. Once you have gone through this torture to select colors, place the paint in small swatches on your baby’s bedroom walls in close proximity to the baby’s crib and other decorative elements to see how it looks on location. If it’s funky looking in your lighting, make a mental note of what is wrong and return it to the store for a formula correction.

I hope that this helps you to know how to choose a paint color. A baby’s nursery is a very special place and you deserve the beautifully decorated and painted décor that you always dreamed of where you can enjoy spending time with your infant.

Please return to Unique Baby Gear Ideas to ask for opinions on a particular paint color palette that is being considered or to post pictures of your nursery project when you are finished.