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Design Dilemma Bedroom kids room

Too much gray in boys nursery?

Elizabeth Woodward

6 years ago

I'm working on our 2nd child's (first boy) nursery. Let me just preface this by saying I love the neutral paint colors and my husband thinks our home lacks color (he's a "rich" color-preferring person who would do everything in cherry wood if he could). My daughter's room is a light gray with white furniture and purple/pink accents. I'd like to do a blue/gray color scheme for the nursery. Maybe throw in some mint? I've been looking at light gray paint colors and dark gray furniture and i'm just wondering if that's too much gray (if there is such a thing). Would white furniture be better? I tend to think white isn't a great color for a growing boy. Or should i consider a very light blue or other color for the walls and do gray furniture?

For reference on decor, I am considering a very subtle Harry Potter theme for the decor, while maintaining that color scheme - think notable book quote prints on the walls, maybe a navy and white "flying keys" rail guard on the crib, a white owl in a cage on the dresser, etc.

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

Here is a few photos of grey as a backdrop to more interesting colours. I wouldn't get a white crib for any of my kids, girl or boy! :) I would do a darker wood stained crib to bring some warmth to the room

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Comments (9)

User
6 years ago
Grey is fine if you use it as a backdrop for a brighter or bolder colour. Houzz has some good inspiration photos of grey kids rooms. My whole house is varying shades of gray that I use to showcase art or decor pieces.
K Laurence
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
While I’m a “neutral “ loving person, I think children’s rooms need color & the mental & visual stimulation it provides. The room should be “fun”, not necessarily decorated as you would with other rooms in your Home.
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Blue/Chocolate bedding for sure! Would love that with something like the airplane wall decoration in pic #1 Look around at your other stores for accessories that maybe aren't just "airplaney" Bringing a "pig" piggy bank in with mostly the same colors but maybe one "new" color will all some eclectic look. Check etsy to some wall decals that may give you an idea of what to put on the wall or other things that you may want to incorporate. You can order those or paint something like them...My mother suggested we paint a tree on an empty wall in my baby girls room, so I went on Etsy, and have a tree, some birds, squirrels, nuts, etc. that my parents painted based off the decal. For something else on the walls, I would love to see some basic frames with shapes or letters in a boyish colored plaid inside them. Or maybe check Target for some wall decor "words" in boyish prints/plaids...above my babies crib is "Dream, Dance, LAugh" in girl prints. I put one in the middle on the top row and the other 2 on the bottom row. I thought it would be a lot of words, but love it. I also got one of those book shelves that hang on the wall from Target, but have seen them at PB or landofnod. Pick some books to display in their that coordinate with your colors but don't have airplanes...this will give you a picture that isn't out of place but helps with the overly matchy. A basket of baby blankets or burp blankets will add more pattern and texture to the room. Don't forget Hobby Lobby!
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The bedding is charming! What color is the furniture in the room? Does the room tend to feel dark or light? Is the chair rail up yet, and if not are you sure you want it? The reason I ask is that the chair rail really has no purpose in bedroom unless you really want to divide the colors on the wall - and once you have the chair rail, you are sort of stuck with that two color thing as long as it is up. Are you sure about the Resolute Blue against the light blue of the bedding? At least in my fan deck, it reads with a definite green undertone. And you are right, Netsuke is very green.
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You might do a little research on what is best for babies. High contrast helps their eyes and their eye coordination develop. I used to work with a girl who did her whole Nursery in black and white, but I think that might have been going to a bit of an extreme LOL. I know that in the past people used to use soft pastels, but it seems like something with more darks and brights or darks and lights might be better.
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I definitely think grey is great long term- just change out the accessories. But I wouldn't do grey accessories with grey walls. it'll be too blah. Your taste reminded me a lot of the Emily & Merrit collection. Its geared a bit towards girls but there's a ton of great accessories that would work in your room. I adore their yellow and white pinstripe bedding, it would be great if you could find a crib option similar. curtains: https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/emily-and-merritt-circus-stripe-blackout-drape/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.12536 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/large-check-panel-boy/?pkey=cboy-window-panels-and-shades&isx=0.0 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/stitched-border-panel/?pkey=cboy-window-panels-and-shades&isx=0.0 rugs: https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/emily-and-meritt-circus-stripe-rug/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.10726 or https://www.pbteen.com/m/products/the-emily-and-meritt-tassel-rug/?pkey=cemily-meritt-collection&isx=0.3.11744 or https://www.potterybarnkids.com/m/products/mercer-rug-boy/?pkey=cboys-rugs&isx=0.0
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Elizabeth Woodward
Original Author
6 years ago
K Laurence nurseries and kids rooms are two different things in my opinion. I feel a nursery should be calming, not stimulating. I have no doubt that i'll be changing things up once he gets to the toddler stage...while the furniture and paint color will stay, i'm open to making it more "fun" and colorful in accents.
K Laurence
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Btw, my neighbors ‘ nursery, and their entire house actually, is decorated in nothing but grays & whites. The poor child must think he’s colorblind, growing upon a gray & white world! But, in the end, do what you think is best for your child :)
Elizabeth Woodward
Original Author
6 years ago
There will definitely be color in the room! I just find it hard to choose paint colors, so i stick to neutrals and then color everything with the accents. In my living room i have taupe walls because i have rich emerald green velvet chairs that i love!
lefty47
6 years ago
HI -- The last few years there has been the grey trend . And people have taken it on so much and then ending up with flat dull rooms . The grey trend is coming to an end now , and color is happening again. If your unsure of what your doing then pay for some consulting time with a Interior designer.
Laura Mac
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I love your idea of a beautiful blue or blue (with a gray tone). There are so many gorgeous shades. Benjamin Moore has this amazing little tool on their website. Pick the color you like, then click on it, then click on view in a room to see it on a wall, and similar shades. I have a green/gray shade in my son's room and love it. It's calming and looks great with his white painted built in, antique brown dresser with black marble top, etc. I agree, gray walls are out and too boring. Go BLUE! (I'm a Dodger fan so I can say that)! ;-). Also, I did about a %75 lighter shade of the same color for his ceiling (matte paint), so it's really beautiful. 'White Dove' paint on his crown molding and baseboards, and his room is beautiful.

Wait on the Harry Potter theme until he's much older. Some of that stuff can be creepy for kids, especially scary looking owls, etc., sorry, just not a fan of that for a baby or toddler even though you might like it. Then in 5-7 years when he's older, he may want a newer, current theme. Colorful wall maps for decorations, flags, USA theme, alphabet letters, animal pictures, cars, trucks, etc., so much great educational info to decorate with. Have fun!

https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color-a-room/1526/living-room-1?color=1627&source=%2Fen-us%2Fcolor-overview%2Ffind-your-color%2Fcolor-a-room%2F&combination=OC-117,OC-117&room=1526
er612
6 years ago
Here's some Harry Potter inspiration:

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