I just welcomed my second daughter last month, and researching baby room ideas for her nursery was one of the most exciting parts about preparing for her arrival. Baby rooms should be comfortable and highly functionally — but like a lot of moms, I wanted the details to beautifully reflect our taste.
When shopping around Pinterest, blogs, Instagram, and design magazines for baby room ideas ideas, I was overwhelmed by how creative and fun modern nurseries can be. Gone are the days of picking out a “set” somewhere and throwing it together; today’s baby rooms are cohesive yet surprising. And of course, filled with personal meaning.
Themes are still prevalent, but they’re less heavy-handed than back when my mom was decorating our nurseries. A theme now is more like a spot of inspiration around which an entire concept develops and grows.
Designing your child’s nursery? Check out my round-up of baby room ideas, from sophisticated neutrals to full-on girly fun.
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Baby Room Ideas
Bright Florals
Pastels are still important, but brighter hues are having a major moment right now. Mom-blogger Kristina of Dear November Days paired a peachy-coral crib with stunningly bright floral motifs on the sheet and wall art. Another trend-driven detail? Text on the crib sheet. This one reads, "Love the Little Things."
Photo: Dear November Photography
Monochrome Love Story
I can't get enough of the bright, black-and-white goodness going on here. Custom details like the name on the wall and printed muslin blanket bring warmth to a colorless scheme. The sign in the corner lets you spell out different sentiments to create your own story for the room, or even the day.
Photo: Instagram.com/dayswithlennonandgrey
Rainbow Colors
Spark your baby's imagination with a rainbow of fun hues. What I love most about this gender-neutral nursery is that anything goes -- you don't need to be precious about shade-matching. Adding a big-kid item, like the teepee in the corner, lets the space grow with your child. It's no wonder that the mom of this lucky little boy owns a shop, Oliver Plus Kit , hand-making colorful blankets for babies.
Photo: Instagram.com/olivermatalon
Girly & Brave
Dive in with a mix of feminine details, inspiring quotes, and pretty florals. Pale blue walls pull together a mix of pastels, brights, and metallics in my baby girl's room (shown here). A gallery wall can be anything you like it to be: We wanted the space to feel personal and special. Pieces like a framed photo from our wedding and a candle that belonged to my grandmother blend effortlessly with modern touches like the paper tassel banner and floral wall decals.
Photo: Instagram.com/ourlifeinrosegold
Neutrally Yours
Gender-neutral nurseries are gaining popularity and grayscale is a gorgeous choice. I find these rooms work best with some kind of metallic detailing to keep the eye moving. This mom picked a fun chandelier, curtain rod, floor lamp, and foil prints to frame, which all brighten up an otherwise neutral room. This space just feels like a warm, loving hug. And how about those tassel-edged curtains?
Photo: Instagram.com/all.my.ari
Bohemian Fairytale
Pure grace and elegance infuse this ethereal baby girl room. The sweet, cloud-like wall decal and the swan shelf bring elements of nature while frothy femininity gleams in the elegant wooden baby gym, metallic wall name plate, and accent pillows throughout the space. The room is both glamorous and nature-inspired, making it the perfect spot for sleep and play.
Photo: Instagram.com/harlowandwinter
The Sweet-Dream Safari
An animal theme is at once classic and creative when infused with a watercolor painting and neutral, uncluttered walls. I adore this modern take on the "safari" look, especially with the freestanding initials and metallic elements throughout the space.
Photo: Debbie Sheetz Quila
Super Baby
Superheroes inspire, and when one pops up in a baby room, it's always a cute idea. In order to keep a Batman nursery modern and chic, this mom chose a monochrome baseline and added signature yellow with just a handful of character motifs throughout. The industrial-inspired chest and mix of wood and metal further enhance this cute baby boy room.
Photo: Instagram.com/livingtheqlife
Alternative Blooms
Who says flowers are the only way to nature-up a baby girl's room? The cactus trend makes a stunning addition to this ultra-feminine space. I can't lie, I'm having major rose gold crib envy over here, too. The beautiful wooden plaque reading "Bloom Where You are Planted" is handmade by the mama of the baby girl who gets to sleep here.
Photo: Mod Wood Co.
Little Adventurer
For another take on the cactus trend, this boy or neutral theme focuses on exploring. Smaller spaces are well served by a mini-crib like this one, plus you can pack a whole lot of cute into corners with a minimal color scheme and easy floating shelves. The leather pouf is probably my favorite piece, but I couldn't be trusted not to steal that from the little guy and take it for myself!
Photo: Instagram.com/petite_pearl
Tiny Dancer
When the inspiration behind the baby room is tutus, you know it's going to be sweet. This mom went all out creating whimsical touches throughout the space, but manages to keep things uncluttered. The elegant dress rack features frocks from baby to bigger-girl sizes so there's something to look forward to (or share with a friend). Star-shaped wands and other fairy-inspired details will have her dancing to Dreamland.
Photo: Instagram.com/eleanorsroom
Vintage Mini-Man Cave
Between the gorgeous period dresser, antique map, and gold-tone bar cart reimagined for baby storage, I am floored by this unique baby room. It feels like stepping back into the late 1970s for a moment, but with a modern point of view. A handmade buffalo plaid throw and large circular mirror enhance the look of this beautiful space.
Photo: Instagram.com/Taryn.and.Jovie