How to ‘pinkify’ a baby girl’s nursery
Colour plays a crucial role in the mood of your wee one
I’m stuck on what colour pink to paint the walls for our baby girl. We are going for an elegant look with white furniture, very few pink accents and light pink walls. I don’t want the room to scream “PINK!” I want it to scream feminine and classy. Can you help?
Congratulations on the new addition to your family! Selecting colours for babies and kids is different than if we were choosing for ourselves. Before the baby is 12 weeks old, they only see things in black and white. The first actual colour they see is red, followed by the rest of the spectrum over the next three months.
Selecting the right colours for your nursery is much more important than you may think. As with adults, colour plays an essential part in the mood of your wee one. Loved all over the world by little girls, pink creates a calming atmosphere. However, too much or too bright can become irritating and lead to agitation.
To create a peaceful comforting haven for your little girl, opt to keep it light and airy by pairing with creamy whites. The more contrast in the colours, the more stimulating it will be.
I would suggest a soft, light hue as an overall colour. Should you choose to use brighter pinks, use sparingly as accessories, such as bedding, window treatments or an area rug.
You also want this to be a room in which she can grow. Her tastes and yours will evolve over the next five years and you want to have some flexibility when it’s time for a big-girl room. You aren’t limited to using pink as an accent to the wall colour. White is delicate and elegant. Layer with varying tones and textures. Buttery yellow and mint green are classic pairings. For a more contemporary combination, use grey or brown.
Look for paints with low VOC or zero VOCs. These refer to volatile organic compounds, solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. Many major paint companies are now offering healthier options for their interior coatings.
You can add visual interest with patterns that have staying power, such as stripes, chevrons and geometric shapes. You can also find ecofriendly wallpaper as well.
Don’t forget the 5th wall — the ceiling. Babies spend much of their time on their back — give them something to look at. Perhaps stars, clouds or birds. You don’t have to be an artist to do this. Wall decals have made it so easy to add some whimsy. The best part is that they can be easily removed to be relocated or when they have outgrown them.
If you are going to do a focal wall, generally it would be the wall behind the crib. It can be a complimentary colour, darker shade of the main colour or wall paper. As for the finish, I always recommend eggshell for easy clean up from sticky little fingers.