Baby + Kids
31 Timeless Modern Nursery Ideas
How do you style a nursery? From picking out decor to assembling a crib, this is a special place for your baby’s early days in the world. To help you during this exciting time, we’ve compiled our go-to modern nursery ideas for an elegant and practical space.
Modern Nursery Color Schemes and Themes
When you get started on designing your nursery, deciding on a color scheme early is one of the best ways to get started. This will help you coordinate everything, from the main furniture pieces to the finishing touches here and there.
1. Calming Pastels
Soothing pastels can create a quiet and calming modern nursery. Soft, muted pink brings a rosy blush to a space, without being precious. Pair this color scheme with plenty of soft, plush fabrics and decor to complement the look.
2. Minimalist Neutrals
Neutrals give a warm sophisticated look to a modern nursery. Layer soft grays, shades of white and touches of cream for a room they can grow with.
3. Bold Lines
Just as you can create a serene, calming space with modern hues, you can also have fun with colors and patterns. Bold lines and statement pieces can adapt to any color scheme, and they perfectly accent your space in a rug, piece of wall art or baby blanket.
4. Adorable Animals
What’s more adorable than an animal-themed nursery? While you’re likely familiar with the classic plush zoo animal look, have a little more fun with bold pieces. We love a statement piece of dimensional wall art for this theme.
5. Prints and Patterns
Prints and patterns are ideal for a small nursery—they can add personality in a tight space and help make the room more interesting. Effortlessly incorporate a bold pattern with self-stick wallpaper or pick out an elegantly printed rug.
6. Classic Mid-century
Mid-century style is timeless and classic. Our Mid-century Nursery Collections are GREENGUARD Gold Certified and made from sustainably sourced wood. Warm wood tones with clean lines define this design style. In your baby’s nursery, this look will create an elegant yet cozy theme that can grow up with them.
Modern Nursery Furniture Tips
Once you have a theme established, now it’s on to the fun part—picking out furniture! Here are our essential tips for picking the perfect modern nursery furniture.
7. Choose Essential Pieces First
First things first, pick out your basics. We’re talking about your crib and other large pieces for the nursery. Look for GREENGUARD Gold Certified, which meets or exceeds stringent chemical and VOC emissions standards. Once you have your dream crib picked out, you can style the rest of the space and furniture around it.
8. Opt for Clean Lines
Clean lines throughout your furniture will help define your baby’s modern nursery. For example, we love a set of angular floating shelves above a dresser—the perfect spot to display your favorite odds and ends.
9. Focus on Storage
Storage is so valuable in any space and especially so in your nursery. As a parent, you’ll want to make sure this space works for you and your little one. Pick a bookshelf that can hold all of their soon-to-be-favorite picture books without taking up too much valuable floor space.
10. Set up a Cozy Glider
Late-night feedings, evenings spent rocking them to sleep and afternoons spent snuggling with a picture book—a comfy glider can make these special moments even more memorable. We love a clean neutral, like gray, and accenting with a plush throw pillow.
11. Multipurpose is the Way to Go
Making the most of every inch in your baby’s nursery will ensure your nursery works for you. For example, a dresser or changing table with plenty of built-in storage will keep essentials, like diapers and wipes, close at hand, while also creating plenty of room for everything else, from their onesies to tiny socks.
12. Think About the Future
It’s very possible that your little one will grow up in this nursery, and ensuring that the room grows with them is essential. Think about pieces that can evolve as they grow. For example, a toy chest can store their favorite stuffed animals in their earlier years and then their bed linens as teenagers.
13. Keep It Fun
What’s a nursery without a little whimsy? Incorporate a bit of fun into your modern nursery theme with details like animal-shaped storage baskets. Tuck baby blankets and stuffed animals inside for a cute way to maximize nursery space.
14. Make Room for Play
While your baby may not be old enough to play on their own yet, ensuring their nursery has a designated play area is valuable for their development. Incorporate a play tent or a fun play rug to spark their imagination early and have an ideal spot for tummy time.
Modern Nursery Organization Basics
In order to make the most of your nursery storage and furniture, keeping things neat and today is a must. Here are some of our go-to modern nursery organization ideas.
15. Install Wall Hooks
Wall hooks are such a useful organizer and we love to put them everywhere. By the door, in the closet or close to the changing table, you’ll have plenty of space to hang up little hoodies and your diaper bag so you’re always ready to go.
16. Expand Storage with Baskets and Bins
What can’t you put in a basket or bin? From toys and extra linens to their tiny shoes, there’s always a way to organize with a few baskets. Pick your style: Whether you prefer natural rope or organic cotton, any style can fit in with the rest of your modern nursery ideas.
17. Add Extra Storage with Wall Shelves
If you’re working with an extra tiny space, your wall shelves can serve double duty as storage and decor. Line a few book organizers along the wall above the dresser so you can get the most out of every inch.
18. Stay Organized with Acrylic Bins
When you’re up for a late-night diaper change, the last thing you want to do is go searching for the diaper cream or wet wipes. Sleek acrylic bins, either inside a drawer or along the shelves of your changing table, can keep your essentials always within reach and accessible.
19. Keep Drawers Tidy
Drawers in the nursery dresser or changing table are the ideal spots for clothes and smaller items, but without an organization system, things can get cluttered pretty quickly. Focus on folding everything neatly and organizing everything by style, color or size.
20. Know Where to Find Everything
If you want to take your drawer organization to the next level, using dividers and baskets to give everything a place will help you always find what you need. Plus, you can easily pull out a basket of diapers if you need to take it to another room or refill it.
21. Sort Out Your Closet
The closet is often a catchall space for all the things you otherwise can’t find space for. In order to keep with your modern theme and keep things organized, a storage unit with drawers or a hanging organizer can help you make the most of your closet organization.
22. Go Low
For those odd spots underneath a crib or in awkward nooks, low woven baskets can provide the storage you need and fit with your modern nursery theme. We love using these for items you don’t necessarily need on a daily basis, like extra sets of baby bedding and those backup packs of diapers.
Nursery Decor with a Modern Touch
Decorating your modern nursery is a fun way to put your mark on the space. Here are some of our favorite modern nursery decor ideas to help inspire you.
23. Hang a Mobile
No crib is complete without a mobile. Let your little one dream about reaching for the stars with an outer space mobile or opt for an elegant geometric piece to align with your mid-century decor.
24. Roll Out a Rug
A favorite decor piece for any room in your house, a rug is one of our staples for a nursery. This is a surefire way to make the space cozy and comfy, as well as soft and cushy for whenever your little one starts crawling.
25. Stick Up Decals
Similarly to wallpaper, a wall decal (or multiple decals!) can make an elegant and modern statement. Plus, since they’re removable, it’s easy to change them out as your little one grows up and begins to define their own style.
26. Have Fun with Wall Art
From macrame to tapestries, wall hangings are a wonderful addition to a nursery. This soft statement piece can help make your modern nursery cozy, while also bringing in a pop of color and texture.
27. Make It Cozy
We know how important it is for your little one to get their much-needed sleep. Whether you need to block out the sun for an afternoon nap or the moon is especially bright, a pair of blackout curtains can help create the cozy cave they need. Plus, the better they sleep, the better you’ll sleep!
28. Reflect the Light
As your baby begins to discover the world around them, a mirror can be a fun addition to their nursery. Whether making faces or learning to recognize themselves, an accent mirror is a great piece of decor to hang on the wall.
29. Keep Track of Time
While they won’t be telling time for a little while, a wall clock is a timeless piece of modern decor that will help complete the modern nursery theme. We love a piece that coordinates with the overall color scheme of the nursery.
30. Frame Inspiration
Always ensure they know how special they are. A bold piece of framed wall art with an encouraging message will help brighten up their nursery.
31. Light the Way
Warm lighting is a staple in any nursery—from gently lighting your way during a late-night feeding to helping soothe them to sleep. A gentle papier-mache light over their changing table can provide the perfect amount of light for you.
Whether you love a minimalist look or can’t wait to incorporate fun colors and patterns, a modern nursery theme is a wide category that can give you plenty of inspiration. From furniture to decor items, we hope these modern nursery ideas spark your interest.
