How to Decorate a Gender-Neutral Nursery

Pretty in pink or baby blue works well if you know your baby's gender, but staying gender-neutral is ideal if you wait until delivery day to find out. Some parents simply prefer to go neutral so the nursery works for future siblings. You don't have to lean toward cutesy girl themes or blue-hued boy themes to create a stunning nursery. By sticking with neutral colors and a general theme, you create a suitable space for your new prince or princess.

Things You'll Need

  • Paint
  • Wall decor
  • Crib sheets

Instructions

    • 1

      Pick an inspiration piece to guide the rest of the nursery decor and theme. Look for a pillow, bedding set, curtains or piece of fabric that creates the feeling you want for the nursery.

    • 2

      Pull a color palette from your inspiration piece that works for either a boy or a girl. Green and yellow are two popular colors for gender-neutral rooms. Blue also works for a gender-neutral room, even though it is traditionally considered a boy color. Add black, gray or brown as an accent color for contrast. Color combination ideas include gray with red, yellow with turquoise and blue with brown.

    • 3

      Choose a gender-neutral theme that works with the inspiration piece and palette you chose. Ideas include birds, insects, zoo animals, nursery rhymes, alphabet, beach or a favorite kids' book.

    • 4

      Paint the walls in one of the gender-neutral colors from your palette. A light wall color brightens the room and allows wall decor to stand out, while dark or bright colors create a bold look in the nursery.

    • 5

      Hang wall decor that fits your selected nursery theme. For an alphabet theme, hang painted wooden letters, for example. Position wall hangings and decor away from the crib or changing table so the items don't fall down on your baby.

    • 6

      Cover the crib mattress with a snug fitted crib sheet in a color that matches the theme and room palette. Skip the pillow-style bumper pads, which are considered unsafe by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. Choose a mesh-style bumper pad if you want one in the crib. Keep all pillows and blankets out of the crib, as they present a smothering risk.

    • 7

      Accent the room with colorful or themed items, such as lamps, rugs and pillows for the rocking chair. Choose colors that contrast and complement the colors in the rest of the room. For example, place a white lamp with white shade on the dresser next to a chocolate-brown wall.

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