Color Psychology For Nursery Rooms. Learn How Color Affects Your Baby’s Behavior

When decorating a room, we base our color choices on our preferences and, while that’s ok most of the times, color selection is not exactly a simple process. Each color has different effects on the human body and mind and it’s important to take these into consideration, especially when decorating the nursery room. After all, you want what’s best for your baby. Learn how color influences the development and behavior of your child and find the best color for his or her room.

Warm Colors.

Brown nursery room design
Modern color scheme

image by Chad Jackson 

Warm colors usually stimulate the mind and energize the body. They make large spaces feel cozy and welcoming. However, they are not particularly relaxing so they’re not that great during the bedtime, especially for very energetic kids.

Orange.

Brown nursery room design
Use a touch of bright orange for a modern punch
Brown nursery room design
For a balanced décor, combine warm and cold shades

Warm, comforting and cozy, orange is a stimulating color which inspires social interaction and communication. However, too much orange, especially if it’s a bold shade, can be over-stimulating.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Yellow.

Brown nursery room design
Use yellow in combination with a more neutral color like gray to tone it down
Brown nursery room design
Play with different shades of yellow and a touch of blue for contrast

Yellow is a cheerful and energetic color which gives the room a sunny and bright look. It’s a color associated with happiness. Depending on the shade and intensity, subtle yellows stimulate concentration while brighter shades can stimulate the memory.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Red.

Brown nursery room design
Use red only as an accent color and in combination with cold colors

Red is one of the colors which are not recommended for the nursery room, the reason being that the color is associated with aggression, inability to focus and headaches. Of course, this only happens if you use it in excess. If used correctly, red can actually have good effects such as energizing the body and increasing athletic ability.{image source projectnursery}.

Pink.

Brown nursery room design
Such a décor rich in all shades of pink can be ok but for a short period of time
Brown nursery room design
A much better option is a balanced combination of pink and white

This is the universal color associated with girly things and princesses and that’s no coincidence. Pink is a calming and relaxing color and it evokes femininity and empathy. Initially, it has a calming effect but be warned that it can lead to agitation and anxiety so don’t decorate the whole room with pink.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Cold Colors.

Brown nursery room design
Bold

Compared to warm colors, cold tones usually have a calming effect on the body and mind. They make rooms feel spacious and relaxing. Dark shades, however, should be used in moderation to avoid creating a gloomy atmosphere.

Blue.

Brown nursery room design
The white and blue combo is wonderful if you’re trying to create a calming and serene décor

Blue is the opposite of red. It has a calming effect, it lowers blood pressure and decreases anxiety and aggression. Blue is also a good color choice if you wish to create a cool environment in a hot and humid location. Some particular shades however, such as gray-blues, can create a rather sad ambiance.{found on 4wallsandroof}.

Green.

Brown nursery room design
Green is a calming and nurturing color so you can’t go wrong with it
Brown nursery room design
Green is abundant in nature so use this as inspiration

Green is associated with nature and symbolizes health and well-being. It has a soothing effect on the body, increases concentration and some studies show that it can even increase reading ability. This makes it the best color for learning environments.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Purple.

Brown nursery room design
Purple takes on the attributes of blue and red, depending on the shade
Brown nursery room design
This color is also glamorous and mysterious, perfect if you want a more sophisticated look

This color is associated with royalty and luxury but also with wisdom and spirituality. Pastel shades like lilac and lavender are calming and serene while darker shades pack a punch.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

White.

Brown nursery room design
Add a little bit of warmth to a white décor with some subtle earthy colors
Brown nursery room design
Break the monotony with strong contrasts like black and white

Angelic and pure, white is associated with innocence and promotes a calm and breezy atmosphere. White is also associated with secretiveness, modern, so it’s best to also add a splash of color to evoke openness.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Gray.

Brown nursery room design
A few subtle touches of pink, green and purple create a beautiful balance
Brown nursery room design
Yellow is the perfect accent color to cheer up a gray décor

Even though gray can be perceived as a gloomy, sad and cloudy color, it also evokes other emotions. For example, gray inspires you to contemplate and thus has a calming and relaxing effect. Still, it mostly promotes loneliness so use it in combination with warm tones and brighter colors.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Black.

Brown nursery room design
Most often, black is used on furniture and displayed in bright decors
Brown nursery room design
Although not a conventional option, a darker décor can be relaxing

Nursery rooms rarely include black features. That’s because this is a color that should be used in moderation. It’s powerful and dark so use it if the room has big windows, lots of natural light and in combination with contrasting shades.{image sources: 1 and 2}.

Brown.

Brown nursery room design
Use contrasts to your advantage to draw attention to certain accent features

Earthy, warm and grounded, brown is a great color for a nursery. However, try to use either dark browns or light beige to avoid creating an unpleasant décor because of the associations with, well, ugly things.