Blog, Kid's room design, Nursery design
The white nursery. Why not?
Nov
Forget pink, and forget blue. Instead, let’s take a closer look at neutral nursery styling.
And more specifically, the charm of the white nursery interior design. It’s calm yet expressive, timeless yet easy to refresh, and it offers endless ways to make your baby’s room feel both modern and cozy.
To me, a white nursery is the simplest and most timeless choice. However, I know it’s not always the most popular one, mostly because it doesn’t seem very practical. Still, there’s something beautifully easy about white walls — especially when you pick the right shade (read more below).
Nowadays, modern paints are both stain-resistant and easy to clean, which makes white much more realistic than it used to be. Of course, I understand — it can still feel like a constant cleaning challenge sometimes.
On the other hand, a neutral background gives you incredible freedom. You can style it with almost anything you already have from previous home decorations. For instance, if you own oak furniture, it works perfectly for storage and adds natural warmth — see some examples below.
You can also play with contrasts. A black-and-white Scandinavian scheme always feels clean and balanced, while a small pop of colour adds just the right amount of personality.
Pros and cons of the white nursery
For a start, why don’t we look into the pros and cons of the white nursery space? White paint for a nursery you say? Why not?
The advantage of the white colour scheme
- Ideal neutral colour for parents who keep their baby’s gender a surprise
- Amazing backdrop for colourful toys, decoration, rugs and wall posters
- White colour adds a feeling of a bigger space to a room
- Nursery in white looks fresh (and sometimes crispy)
- To make the room look bigger, white paint lights up the walls and creates a bright space
The disadvantage of the white colour scheme
- White nursery space may look bland. Or even clinical.
- In psychology, white colour could be translated into isolation (but it also evokes quietness and friendliness….)
- From a practical point of view, white walls take all the dirt. Sooner or later, it will also take your child’s creative power (but contemporary wall paints can handle this, no problem)
The right white: warm white and cold white tones
Although white and its many shades often dominate modern interiors, it’s still not an obvious choice for a white nursery. At first glance, it may seem like the simplest option — and in many ways, it is. However, parents very rarely decide on a completely white colour scheme for their baby’s room.
On the one hand, white brings a sense of purity, openness, and cleanliness. On the other hand, when used too much, it can make the space feel cold, flat, or even a little empty. Finding the right balance is what turns a plain white nursery into a calm and welcoming space full of light and comfort.
Do you want this in a nursery? Purity? Yes. Cleanliness? No, but rather cosiness.
So, first of all, if you are looking for warm shades of white, go for white with yellow, orange or pink undertones. These warm undertones create cosiness and are best in north-facing spaces.
So, shades like Ivory, Vanilla, Eggshell, Seashell are shades with warmer undertones like yellow, orange and pink. This makes the white not totally white but warm white (see these tones in the ‘Colour Code: White‘ clip below this post).
Cold shades of whites contain blue or grey undertones and are best for south-facing spaces. Honestly, I wouldn’t go for Alabaster, Snow, Porcelain or Frost types of white for a nursery. They are cooler shades with blue, grey or green tones.
White nurseries – style it as you like it.
Boho White Nurseries
White can work beautifully in almost any space, and in fact, it often makes a room look brighter and feel more open. However, without the right balance, it can also appear cold, empty, or a little uninviting. That’s why it’s important to introduce a few soft accents and warmer textures. For example, you can add a faux fur rug for comfort, or use natural materials like wood and wicker to bring in warmth and cosiness. As a result, your white nursery will feel softer, calmer, and much more welcoming.
Thinking about a nursery refresh?
Try adding a few white or off-white details — soft, simple, and always beautiful.
Pop of colour White Nurseries
A kids’ space is never boring, and that’s exactly the beauty of it. You don’t need any special skills or fancy accessories to make it work with white walls. In fact, with just a few simple tricks, you can easily turn it into a vibrant, playful room that feels full of life. Add a splash of colour here, a soft texture there, and suddenly the whole space comes alive — fun, easy to live in, and even easier to love.
Natural White Nurseries
Pure white nurseries feel just right for those first, gentle months of a baby’s life, at least until they start walking, talking, and leaving their little marks everywhere. Still, even the purest white can feel warmer and more inviting with the right touches. By adding wood accents and natural tones, you instantly soften the look, creating a cosy, balanced space that keeps its sense of purity while feeling truly lived in.
Black and White Nurseries
Scandinavian style is popular for a long time. The Black and white combination is very aesthetic, clean and creates an ordered space.
The examples above show just a few ideas for white nursery styling, but there’s so much more you can do. If you’d like to go deeper, check out my new Nursery SOS Guide, where I walk you through all the practical aspects of creating a nursery on your own.
This 116-page guide is filled with real, hands-on advice, from rearranging your home and making it safe and beautiful, to saving both time and money by planning your baby gear according to your child’s development. It’s designed to help you stay calm, organised, and confident every step of the way.
You can read the full article here to see what’s inside the guide. I hope it inspires you to start creating your own ideal space, safe, warm, and ready to welcome your baby home.
Thank you for reading. Share your comments, share this post.
Gosia
Colour Code for your Interior Design Project: White
