13 Inspiring Boy Nursery Ideas You Need to Try
Think outside of the baby-blue box!
With a baby boy on the way, decorating a nursery from scratch might seem like a daunting, overwhelming ordeal. But don't worry – we've got you covered with these 13 creative (and classic) baby boy nursery ideas to help you get inspired when decorating your little one's first bedroom.
1. Experiment With Chic Modern Rustic
This modern rustic nursery features the perfect blend of nature-inspired and modern elements, which creates a compelling yet cozy aesthetic. To get this look in your baby boy's room, combine nature-themed accents (woodland animal prints and playthings, birch bark–inspired wallpaper, light wood furniture) with a muted palette and streamlined furniture pieces.
Use different textures to create the perfect baby boy nursery. To achieve this look, consider adding a variety of materials throughout the room using wood furniture for a natural wood grain pattern and chevron-style flooring. Add another layer of texture with a woven area rug and fabric laundry baskets. Wainscot the walls in the nursery for a refined touch that completes the room.
A cool, bohemian vibe makes for a relaxed space. Fresh shades of green and faux plants or wallpaper prints are easy additions to achieve a bohemian look in your nursery. Earthy elements and color palettes full of greens and browns help to create a natural feel for your little one. Opt for a patterned area rug and cozy blankets to add more boho details and comfy touches to the space.
There's nothing wrong with sticking to conventional color palettes because they're timeless. Start with a basic, light combination of white and neutrals (see the crib, dresser, and ottoman above) and embellish with the four unique hues – red, yellow, green, and blue. These colors can be displayed boldly on big decor pieces like the curtains or the rug, or they can come in more subtly as toys, books, and other nursery accessories.
A bright blue color palette, typical of a coastal theme, doesn't have to be exceptionally bold to make an impact in a space. In this boy's nursery, a few pops of bright blue (the wall art, throw pillows, rug pattern, and curtain stripes) create a fresh, coastal look. The minimally designed cubby, play bike, and crib paired with the striking floor lamp modernize the room's finished look.
On-trend and ultra-stylish, a mid-century modern theme would look gorgeous in a baby boy's nursery. Think furniture pieces with exposed wood legs, sleek lines, color blocking, and minimalist accents. In the photo above, the minimalist wall art, mid-century modern accent chair, and uniquely designed mobile help give this room a curated feeling.
Let's face it: Classic coastal themes look absolutely adorable in boy nurseries. If you want to style your baby boy's room with a coastal theme, stick with a basic color palette of blues and white and choose textiles with nautical and marine motifs (like the anchors and whales in the above image). Look for coastal decorative accents for the walls and shelves, but otherwise, just keep it simple.
Tip!
Read How to Decorate a Nautical Nursery for more coastal nursery ideas.
8. Add Lots of Room for Reading
Putting books on display in your baby's nursery has two benefits: The books are easily accessible for reading time, and they can act as stylish decor when not in use. Just like wall art, books displayed on shelves add pops of color and artistry to any space. In the nursery above, books are displayed on both wall-mounted shelves and a fun, tree-inspired bookshelf.
Hints of elegance certainly have a place in a boy's nursery. Coastal themes are super conducive to glamorous highlights, like the gold drawer hardware, gold-accented wall art, and industrial floor lamp in the boy's bedroom above. Big, bold patterns, as seen on the area rug and in the background of the wall art above, are also glam signatures.
If coastal isn't your style, invoke nature another way by decorating your baby boy's nursery with forest-inspired elements. Dark wood furniture pieces, textiles with motifs of trees and leaves, wall art depicting mountain ranges or a buck with stunning antlers, and woodland animal toys give this room a forest feel. Plus, the tree branch curtain rod takes the space to the next level.
If minimalism isn't your thing, you still can decorate your boy's nursery with a modern theme. Attain this look by keeping furniture pieces simple and emphasizing geometric shapes (like those seen on the rug or the square floating shelves) in the decor above.
Scandinavian interior design – marked by a bright, neutral color scheme, modern furniture, and simple, eye-catching patterns – is a gorgeous choice for a baby boy's nursery. Think unfinished wood pieces with straightforward designs, light bedding, and a touch of plush playfulness like the faux fur area rug pictured here.
Take traditional boy nurseries to the next level by crafting a color scheme that packs a punch. Utilize color blocking and bold patterns to keep it interesting. Make sure to add splashes of each color in areas all around the room – the walls, crib, floor, and decorative accents – so that the finished look is polished and unified.
