Beautiful Baby Nursery Ideas That Design-Conscious Adults Will Absolutely Love

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With all the options and nursery design trends available, a baby’s nursery no longer has to be a traditional, pastel-colored affair. If you love modern design, we’ve compiled a collection of  baby nursery ideas that are cool enough for baby to love and design-conscious adults to appreciate, too.When creating a nursery that is practical, safe and will look great as baby grows, keep the following tips in mind:

• Add a dimmer to lighting. It’s an easy project that will allow you to adjust the mood of the room as needed
• Select durable, washable fabrics and rugs that can be easily cleaned
• Select furniture pieces that can evolve from nursery to a teenager’s room
• Think about furniture placement and safety as baby starts getting mobile. Some good baby-proofing ideas include covering wall outlets, keeping the crib away from window treatments and cords and placing valuable items on higher shelves
• Focus on creating an uncluttered nursery with plenty of storage options that make cleanup while holding a baby easy
• Allow for plenty of floor space so baby can have floor playtime

Here are our favorite baby nursery ideas: 

Find a Cool Crib 

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When selecting a crib, there are many new and modern designs to choose from. Try something modern or different, like an oval crib.Consider using a crib that converts into baby’s first bed when a crib is outgrown. And because the crib is the most used item in a nursery, order it ahead of time. Delays happen, cribs get damaged during the delivery process and you want to allow yourself the time required for any unexpected delays.

Grey is the New Yellow

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If the sex of your baby is a surprise, go with timeless and modern grey as your nursery’s main color. Grey works with any bold accent shade making it modern but classic. And for the most visual bang, try layering different grey shades and patterns.

Utilize Bold Colors and Patterns 

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Good news for modern design lovers, soft pastels are not the best nursery choice. According to parenting guru Dr. Sears:

“The best way you as a parent can stimulate baby’s vision is using black and white stripes or light and dark contrasting colors. So what about those nice soft pastels that used to be so popular in baby toys and nurseries? While these may look pretty to you, they do nothing visually for your baby. Research has proven that black and white contrasts register powerfully on baby’s retina and send the strongest visual signals to baby’s brain. Stronger signals mean more brain growth and faster visual development.”

And black and white are not the only colors that babies are attracted to. Any bold, contrasting colors in graphic patterns will work.Great places to include pattern are:

• a wallpaper or mural wall
• upholstery and other textiles
• an area rug

Our favorite place to add pattern and contrast is our next tip.

Don’t Ignore the Ceiling

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Now that you know how important contrast and pattern are to baby, add impact where baby notices most – the ceiling.

Add Motion in Fun Ways

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Babies love to be rocked to sleep. And adults don’t mind the soothing effect of rocking, either. Why not rock baby to sleep by using a hanging chair or cool, contemporary rocker?

Design a Nursery That Can Grow With The Baby

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Select modular furniture that can be used beyond the first year. Many crib styles nowadays convert into children’s beds, while changing tables are often a regular dresser with a detachable dressing tabletop. And don’t forget to add fun elements to a nursery like a tent or animal rocking horse that baby can use as he/she grows into a toddler.

Fully Commit to a Nursery Theme

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When deciding on your baby’s nursery theme, be bold and fully commit to your theme. Use elements of the theme on the walls, in the accessories, and the rest of the decor. That’s what makes so many of the featured nursery ideas in the featured gallery so appealing.

Customize A Baby’s Nursery With Their Name

Find creative ways to display the baby’s name in their room. Some ideas include:

• Framed letters on the wall
• Monogrammed sheets or pillows
• Accessories with baby’s initials or name
• Baby’s name in marquis light-up letters that double as a night light

Add a Comfortable Area for Adults

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Adults tend to spend time in the baby’s nursery getting baby to sleep or watching over the baby. Incorporate comfortable seating like a sofa or a daybed that encourages nap time for mom and dad, too.

Add Plenty of Storage in a Nursery

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It’s incredible how many things a small baby needs. Create a combination of easy storage, like cabinets, baskets, and drawers where clutter can be easily stored, with beautiful, modern open storage like a bookcase wall to display your baby’s favorite keepsakes. Paint the back of the open shelves in a bright, contrasting color to liven up the room. Add some of these fresh, modern nursery ideas in your baby’s nursery. The nursery is the perfect place to introduce your baby to a lifelong love of good design. You’ll create a space that is beautiful, cool enough for a design-loving adult to appreciate, and a space that baby can grow into as well.