What Colour to Paint a Nursery Based on the Psychology of Colour

Searching for answers on what colour to paint your nursery? Use these colour schemes to channel your inner Martha Stewart and create a dreamy (and stylish) sanctuary of sleep for your little one.

One of the biggest (and most exciting) parts of designing your baby’s nursery is choosing the colour scheme. But the decision actually has more of an effect than just how the room looks – we're talking about colour psychology.

Depending on the colours you choose, the colour of your baby's nursery can actually impact the mood of your little one, and this is what we mean by colour psychology.

Some shades will stimulate your baby's senses, while others will have a calming effect. So, doing a bit of research into what the best colour is for their nursery is a great idea, and we're here to help you.

What is Colour Psychology?

Colour psychology suggests that different colours have the power to evoke various emotions and feelings, influencing our moods, decisions, and actions.

You may not realise it, but colour psychology is used all around you.

This knowledge is especially valuable in environments like nurseries, where selecting the right colours can help create a soothing, inspiring, or joyful atmosphere for your new baby.

What is the Best Colour to Paint a Baby’s Nursery?

You might not have considered colour psychology when choosing your baby's nursery paint before (or even known what it was!). But hopefully, you can now see how important it is.

Mums and dads, since you'll spend a lot of time in the nursery too, you also want it to be a room that you enjoy looking at yourselves. So, let's get into our charming colour schemes that will create a tranquil space for you and baby.

Here are our favourite nursery paint colour ideas currently trending while also considering colour psychology…

1. Neutral Colours – Grey, White, & Black

One of the best colour schemes for your baby’s room is a neutral and monochrome palette. As we mentioned earlier, these colours are known to create a calming and soothing environment, perfect for helping babies sleep better.

It’s also a very versatile choice, so you won’t need to switch around the colours when your child grows up. And if you’re choosing to keep the gender of your baby a secret (or raise them in a gender-neutral environment), these are great colour options to go for.

They won’t go out of style either – greys, whites, and blacks are timeless. Just look at this nursery with accents of black dotted around; we think it looks effortlessly beautiful.

If you do choose to use a black colour scheme, be careful not to make the room appear too dark or moody. Instead, opt for accents in black, like in the nursery furniture or soft furnishings – this will add depth and interest to the room without making it feel too heavy.

2. Natural & Neutral Shades

Natural-inspired nurseries are becoming increasingly popular, and one that we definitely love.

Natural shades like brown, beige, and green create a calming and peaceful atmosphere in the baby’s room. They bring a touch of nature indoors, making it feel more organic and earthy.

You can incorporate wood elements into the room through the nursery furniture you choose, like the crib, dressing table, and wardrobe.

Our Scandi-inspired Natural Edit includes a beautiful collection of baby furniture that embraces natural wood tones like oak, walnut, and ebony. You can create a cohesive space by matching the crib to the wardrobe or mix-and-match it with different wood shades for a more eclectic look.

This neutral baby nursery design, shared by @_homewithlucy, is a work of art. It perfectly showcases the natural Skandi style.

3. Pastels

Pastel shades of blue, green, and pink are excellent paint choices for creating a tranquil and calming space for you and your baby. They're also a great starting point for introducing non-natural colours to your baby's nursery.

Pastel blue, often associated with the sky, evokes feelings of calmness and serenity, making it ideal for creating a restful environment.

Green is reminiscent of nature and promotes feelings of freshness and health.

And pink is soothing and uplifting, creating a beautiful dreamland.

You can then add complementary or contrasting accent colours to create depth and interest in the room. For instance, if you've chosen blue as your main colour, you can add pops of orange or coral for a fun and energetic feel.

Just look at this cute pastel under the sea-themed nursery design shared by @pinkelephant.uk. We think it's the perfect mix of calming colours while heading towards a creative vibe.

4. Darker Earthy Tones

Darker earthy tones, such as forest green, deep blue, and terracotta, are compelling choices for a nursery. They provide a twist on traditional colour schemes and match well with the neutral and natural colours of our nursery furniture.

These rich, warm colours invoke a sense of comfort and security, creating an inviting and soothing space.

While the initial thought might be that darker shades could create a gloomy ambience, the opposite can be true. When paired with the right accessories and balanced with lighter furnishings, these tones can add depth and elegance to the room.

This cosy nursery design shared by @no.18_ understood the assignment to a T.

5. All White

Opting for an all-white palette in your baby's nursery can lend a modern, chic aesthetic to the space. This minimalist approach is not only timeless but also offers a clean and airy feel, creating an illusion of a larger and brighter room.

An all-white nursery can serve as a blank canvas, allowing decorative elements, toys, and artwork to stand out, injecting bursts of colour into the space.

However, it's crucial to strike a balance by incorporating different textures and patterns to prevent the room from feeling too sterile or bland.

Adding in some texture with soft rugs, throws, or cushions is a great way to make the room feel cosier.

We also recommend adding comforting touches to the room with your accents, such as adding the light-up SnüzCloud Baby Sleep Aid or the Baby Mobile.

We think our SnüzKot Skandi 3 Piece Nursery Furniture Set in White is the perfect choice for this nursery colour scheme. The contemporary design of the cot, wardrobe and changing unit, all in a white finish, will help create a modern, minimal and gender-neutral nursery space.

See how this nursery design shared by @kemp_home is super fresh and aesthetic, but the addition of the plush giraffe gives a comforting feel to the room.

6. Yellow & Green

If you want to add a bit of colour and brightness to your baby's nursery, yellow and green are a great combination! This cheerful palette will give the room a sunny, vibrant atmosphere that your baby will love.

Choose shades of pale, bright yellow like lemon or canary, and combine them with muted greens for an uplifting effect. You could also use sage green as an accent colour to add some depth and warmth.

Adding plenty of white furniture helps keep the room feeling light and airy, too. And if you want to add a bit more playfulness, why not try adding in some colourful wall art or wallpaper?

Just look at this adorable nursery by @thepaddockhouse. The subtle inclusion of yellow amongst the forest scene is perfect for creating a sunny atmosphere without overpowering the senses.

Popular Gender-Neutral Nursery Colour Palettes

If you know the sex of your baby, it can be easy to fall into the trap of using traditionally gendered colours.

For example, when deciding what colour to paint a baby boy’s room, you might lean towards blues, greens, and greys. Or, if you know you’re having a girl, it's common to gravitate towards traditionally feminine colours such as pinks, purples, and whites.

Whether you know the gender of your baby or not, the best choice is to opt for a gender-neutral palette.

Having a neutral base for your nursery, including the furniture, gives you extra freedom to add personal touches and pops of colour.

Plus, it allows the room to transition easily as your child grows and their interests change.

Ways to Add Colour to the Room With Nursery Decor

Decor can significantly elevate the aesthetic appeal of your nursery, infusing it with depth, character, and visual interest.

You could match the tones of the decor to the walls to create a cohesive, monotonal interior, or choose contrasting colours to make certain pieces stand out. Whatever you choose, be sure to have fun with it and let your creativity flow.

For example, we love the look of a neutral nursery with natural wood pieces and tones. Exposed wood or wood-effect decor makes the whole room look far more natural, which can be a nice contrast to the amount of plastic toys and bits that babies require.

If you wanted to add more colour, you could hang pictures on the walls or even faux plants.

Incorporating Patterns & Textures

We also love incorporating patterns and textures that are super easy to change when we get bored or as our baby’s personality begins to change.

At Snüz, we have an extensive collection of cot bedding, so you can easily change the accent colours and patterns in your nursery.

We love the look of the Colour Rainbow fitted sheets in a single or monotone nursery to give a pop of colour.

Not to mention the Cloud Nine duvet and pillow set, which will add depth to your baby's nursery. The simple, clean pattern brings a subtle texture to the room.

Why Does the Colour of Your Nursery Matter?

Soft pastel colours, such as baby blue, mint green, or soft pink, tend to create a sense of calm and tranquillity, helping your little one relax better.

Neutral and muted palettes, like shades of grey and white, also evoke peacefulness and maintain a soothing atmosphere.

The reason delicate and natural shades like these promote serenity is that they don't overstimulate the brain. In short, they’re ‘easy to look at’ and don’t create too much visual noise.

See? It's not as complicated as it sounds.

Final Thoughts: The Best Colour to Paint Your Baby’s Nursery

When it comes to painting your baby's nursery, it's about creating a nurturing environment that aligns with your aesthetic preferences while catering to your little one's developmental needs.

We love the look and feel of a neutral nursery, and our Snüz parents enjoy creating one that’s stylish, sleek, and filled with natural materials.

With our range of neutral colours, stylish nursery sets and stand-alone pieces, you can easily transform any nursery into a dreamy oasis where your baby will form their first memories.

For more nursery decor or design ideas, check out our Sleep Centre blog, and don’t forget to shop our beautiful nursery furniture to bring your baby’s dream room to life.

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