Gender neutral nurseries allow you to be more flexible with your decorating choices. Choosing versatile paint shades like soft mossy green or muted sage makes it easier to change things up when your child is ready for a new look.
Choose wall decor that can grow with your child, such as a wood-framed clock that won’t tick loudly in the baby’s sleep. A night light can also be a nice touch, adding a cozy glow to the room for both kids and adults.
1. Mix It Up With Black and White
A dark statement wall can make a powerful impact in a gender neutral nursery. Opt for a neutral shade that can work with any decor theme and pair it with bright or pastel accents to avoid competing with the wall. However, ensure the space isn’t cluttered.
Add natural elements to your neutral nursery with planters and storage baskets made from wood or woven materials. Real plants add color and freshness to the room while improving air quality. When selecting plants for your nursery, look for safe options that don’t require a lot of maintenance and can grow in different sized planters.
You can also go for a more dramatic space by painting a starry sky on the ceiling or wall. This works well with any theme, from a boho garden to a musical motif. Adding a night light can help ease fears about the dark for both baby and parents.
2. Go All Out With Rainbow Colors
Many parents choose not to know their baby’s gender before birth. If that’s the case for you, a gender-neutral nursery is a perfect choice for your baby to grow into.
You can still have fun with a color scheme by choosing bright colors that work for both boys and girls. Then, add in neutrals and accents like yellows and greens to maintain a balanced look.
Adding plants is another great way to brighten up a nursery without introducing too much color. Make sure to use safe plant options that aren’t toxic if your baby accidentally ingests them or touches them. These greenery additions also help improve air quality, making them a smart choice for any decor theme. You can even incorporate a few artificial plants for an extra pop of color.
3. Add Greenery
A gender-neutral nursery doesn’t have to lack color. Incorporate a few greenery accents to add some depth and balance to the room. Look for plants that have soft or round shapes, as well as non-toxic options that are safe for newborns and toddlers alike.
You can also find black and white nursery wallpapers with sketch-style plant patterns that work in a neutral palette. Try pairing this option with wooden furniture and natural materials for a cohesive look.
Whether it’s an Arctic adventure with bears and igloos or woodland fairytale with enchanted forest creatures, a nature-themed nursery can be the perfect backdrop for your little one’s adventures. Pair this theme with a few hand-woven accessories to complete the look.
4. Keep It Simple
For a gender-neutral nursery that’s as stylish as it is practical, choose a soft moss or muted sage green. These earthy hues complement any color palette, and they won’t overwhelm your baby as easily as pastel blues or pinks.
If you can’t resist a bold print, limit it to one wall. This will keep your nursery from feeling too busy, especially during those 4 a.m. feedings.
If you and your partner love to travel, consider incorporating that into your nursery décor. Hang a world map or a cute print of hot air balloons for a fun and meaningful gender neutral design. Plus, it will inspire your future adventurers! A tepee or a tree-shaped planter is a great way to bring the outdoors in. These natural-looking plants require less maintenance than real ones, and they’ll still make your nursery feel calming and inviting.
5. Make It Fun
Gone are the days when nurseries were painted pink for girls and blue for boys. Instead, create a gender neutral nursery that is both fun and serene with a theme that fits your style.
For example, if you love music, decorate the nursery with old records, instruments, sheet music, or other musical accessories. Alternatively, you could go with a farm-inspired nursery, decorating the space with rustic furniture and soft pastels.
Other fun themes to consider include polar bears, igloos, or woodland creatures. These are all great options for a gender neutral nursery that can be enjoyed by both children and adults alike.
6. Incorporate the Alphabet & Animals
Gender neutral nurseries are a great idea for parents who want to encourage their children to express themselves and explore creatively. For example, instead of decorating your baby boy’s room with cars or trains, consider a rustic woodland theme to inspire a love for nature from an early age.
Green is one of the most popular gender-neutral nursery ideas, thanks to its calming effects and wide array of hues. Sage green is a particularly popular choice, and it pairs well with both animal-themed nursery decor and light-colored wall art or decals.
A mobile is an essential piece of nursery decor that serves both a functional and stylistic purpose. A rocking horse is a classic option, but try something more unique like a bear or elephant-shaped mobile to add a splash of color and fun to your baby’s space.
7. Add Some Music
Decorate a ceiling with a whimsical or calming pattern for a neutral nursery that is sure to impress. From a patterned forest to a calming map design, a patterned ceiling adds style and comfort to your nursery.
Consider a gender-neutral nursery theme that will evolve with your baby. Clean lines, simple colors, and natural accents will be easy to redecorate as your child grows.
Add a breathable crib mattress to reduce the risk of suffocation. This new generation of mattresses like the Newton Baby are 100% breathable to help regulate baby’s temperature and support their developing brains. They also come in a variety of styles that match any nursery decor theme. Add a coordinating night light to provide gentle lighting while easing fears of the dark as your little one sleeps. Choose from a variety of sizes and shapes to fit any room.
8. Paint a Starry Sky
If you don’t know the baby’s gender or if you have twins, decorating a gender-neutral nursery is an excellent idea. This will allow your child to explore all kinds of things without being confined by any restrictions or being forced into a specific color scheme.
For example, painting a starry sky on the wall or ceiling is a great way to make a room unisex. You can use a blue shade, or go for a more muted look with greys and beiges.
Another option is to tap into your travel and adventure dreams and create a world-themed room. You can go all out with a map covering one wall or incorporate other travel-inspired decor like globes, hot air balloons and vintage luggage. You can also add a touch of nature by adding photos of trees and woodland animals, or play with patterns by introducing subdued shapes and geometric designs.
9. Add a Floor Lamp
Using a floor lamp to add lighting to a room is an easy way to keep the color scheme neutral. Plus, it can be a great addition for a reading nook.
Beige may have lost its neutral crown to cool shades of green, but it’s still a great choice for nurseries. In this nursery from Leanne Ford Interiors, wide taupe-and-white stripes accent weathered wood furniture and seaside-inspired decor. A striped rug, woven stool, and pompom-edged valances complete the look.
By opting for a neutral palette, you can ensure your baby’s room will be just as gorgeous when they become a toddler as it is now. Plus, you won’t have to repaint when you find out your child’s gender. Schedule a free design consultation with a Decorilla designer to get started on your dream nursery! We’ll connect you with top-rated designers in your area.
10. Get Creative
Whether you prefer a gender neutral color or a specific theme, you have plenty of options to choose from when designing your nursery. The key is to find a style that jives with your family’s aesthetic.
If you prefer a more modern design, use geometric shapes on furniture and wall hangings for a clean, simple look. You can also add wooden touches with drawer pulls and a low dresser that doubles as a changing station or desk for when your baby grows up. Adding multifunctional furnishings like a bench with a storage compartment or an ottoman with a lift-off lid is a great way to save space.